Thank you all, lovely people, for your kind and profound words.
Cat was indeed a cherished and much loved member of our family and we are in mourning. My kids were fine yesterday during the day, but then it hit them hard when they went to bed.
My body went into some sort of lock-down Thursday evening, I had been crying a lot and afterwards I developed a splitting head-ache, my jaws started hurting badly, even my teeth hurt. I couldn't do any pipe-breathing, so I only did the meditation.
I have learnt to love our animals more deeply because of this forum and because of my kids. For that I am very grateful. These past few weeks before her death I had been very aware of her presence, cherishing the moments when she followed us while my dog and I went for a walk, or when she joined me in the garden. Maybe it was because of the thread about Pepperfritz or maybe because I had some sort of a premonition, but I felt very grateful and happy that she was there. The last evenings before her death she even seemed to tolerate my dog running towards her (which she normally didn't do). That was an extra gift from her.
My eldest thinks she was hit by one of these insane tractors with their huge tentacles, coming through the bend and that she miscalculated how close this monster was. There was no blood on her and just one dent on her head.
She was very careful with traffic. She would flee when she heard and saw a car or tractor.
Her death brought home to me again that this world is a horrendous place for all creatures.
Thank you again for your support.