We'll have to agree to disagree on this. To me, perhaps it's about different experiences. My father died suddenly after a routine operation. Horrors! He'd had different cancers, which metastasised to the liver + he was given three months to live. Long story short - my parents were devout Catholics. My SIL suggested Mum take Dad to Europe, they loved travelling. Mum was worried that if Dad died o/s we'd be upset, we said yes, but take him, as long as he's happy that's all that matters. They were away for six months + 12 years later Dad did of a massive heart attack following surgery. Yes, it was sudden! No cancer was found at his post mortem. He died quickly, not from a lingering cancer death! He was blessed, my prayers were answered + he died a very happy, blessed + loved man. Our last words together were Dad: "Love you!" Me: "Love your too, see you later aligator." Dad: "In a while crocodile."
When Mum died, it was because she starved herself to death, which was horrible. When she was dead, she looked so happy + finally at peace. Mum was 90 y.o. + I couldn't want her to live!
Both my parents had wonderful lives, faced adversity with courage + died with dignity. I'm able to accept their deaths.
Whereas my cats . . . my angels in catsuits. Who know nothing of death, who live in the present, fighting one minute, licking one another the next, then curled up together asleep. You earn their love + they love you unconditionally. But their lives are too short. I accept it's different for parents, but for me, my cats are my babies + my life. Let me add, that as someone who has a debilitating illness + doesn't lead a normal life, my cats are my World. Isolated, stuck at home + limited by what I can do, my cats keep me going. Always there, my reason to get out of bed each day, who motivate me to keep going + who love me no matter what, whether I'm fat or thin, happy or cranky, bed-ridden or languishing on the sofa, or worst of all spending way too much time on BF, they love me unconditionally. There are human deaths, which distress me. My cats deaths make me inconsolable.
Teri, I'm not saying you are wrong or I'm right, I'm saying it's different. I don't distinguish between the value of a human or an animal, I'm an Ecclesiastes believer.