Sorry to hear about your cat, I don't want to think about not having Max or Ruby D:
It really annoys me when people abandon animals, I saw a TV programme where this guy had about 4 or 5 dogs and one got pregnant so he moved house and left them there. The RSPCA rescued them when the pregnant dog gave birth and they saved most of them, but sadly one of them (it might of been the pregnant one) had to be put down.
In the Crealy topic I spoke about some family friends, their 15 year old dog had to be put to sleep the other week and it was very sad, I technically grew up with him and he was like our dog too.
EDIT: I love that tumble dryer picture. Max has been in the washing machine twice and even fell asleep the second time. Ruby likes going in the dishwasher, and Ruby nearly escaped the house yesterday which would have been terrible because A, she hasn't been neutered, B, she's never been outside, so God knows what would have happened.