I have only felt totally connected to one cat and that was RB Bert. He died at the age of 17 - from cancer on his lung. I swear we had conversations with our eyes. I just knew what he wanted and he rarely made a sound. He would come when I called or even snapped my fingers. He knew my moods. Once, when we lived in Lousiana, we were in a very old mansion-type house and he got into the attic and fell down into the wall We could hear him on the second floor behind the wall, even called the police and fire department but there was no way to reach him. I sat and kept talking to him. Finally, his meowing stopped. I sat in a chair next to the attic door most of the next day - just "talking" to him in my mind....before long, he came sauntering out of the attic!!! His orange fur was so dusty he looked like a grey cat but he had somehow made his way up at least 6-8 feet of enclosed wall space between studs!! Somehow I knew he would be back - and I too had eyes swollen shut from crying yet still felt he was THERE! He is now buried right outside by bedroom window - at the head of my bed. I miss him VERY much!!
I have had many cats over time - but only one cat like Bert Guess that is why I love orange males so much!!