thx, guys. i am grieving as I write this. I feel I did not spend as much time with him as I would have liked. i work 2 jobs to make a livin. One day and one overnight for 2 days a week. i have no brothers or sisters so he was special. When I get home from work, I am always tired as I have diabetes. I felt so bad I could not play with him as much as I should have. he sinply jumped on the couch with me and slept. i hope to get a kitten this weekend and plan to ask the vet what to do about dental hygiene and if soft cat food should be the daily regimen for him/her. i suspect dry food was the culrprit in his kidney failure as I found out too late off internet that dr foods for a long time put excess precssur eon kidneys. Of course, noone says anything and i feel i got screwed without that info. well, hopefully I can get a new cat soon. i just wish i could stick to one job than have to work 2. i hate working overnights but need the money to make ends meet. again, thx. for all your sympathy.