Through every word of this, I relived the time I spent with "Mama Kitty", our eighteen-year-old cat that passed several years ago. She faded quietly at home, as you described. I spent hours laying beside her, stroking her, and letting her know she had been a wonderful friend, and it was ok to go. She wouldn't until I left her alone for a few minutes to go upstairs. I came back. She had ceased to draw those precious breaths. She wouldn't go while I was with her. The perfect friend until the end. Namaste to you.