[ ah. now that's a topic shylock is familiar with all too well. ]

I understand. Even humans have the same sentiments, you know? They will soon outlive their pets, no matter how much they take good care of them.

[ and he knows that murr, too, will one day reunite with the moon no matter how much shylock tries to delay the inevitable. yet he continues to smile despite knowing all this. ]

But it does not change the fact that your pets -- or anyone you meet or anything you cherish, for that matter -- have loved you in return for a majority of their lifetime. If you think of it that way, it isn't so bad.