My wonderful cat just wandered away Sunday

Question:
 Hi...I'm new to this forum but definitely need sympathetic ears. My amazing almost 17 year old cat Tiger wandered off on Sunday afternoon, and hasn't been seen since. I'm going to forever blame myself for not watching him. Now that I've read this site, I've realized he showed all the signs of cat senility--I didn't realize it could be so real. Some of his newer antics were sort of cute, like forgetting his manners and just climbing up on a person eating chicken or tuna to share with them, or being far more vocal (and loud!) than he'd ever been. So when the weather changed, he wanted to do his typical summer thing--step outside, have a bit of grass, sunbathe on the driveway, stroll the yard. I thought it would be good for him, he always loved it outside, never went far, never stayed out more than a little while. I should have realized when he began aiming for the backyard with diligence that he might not have known where he was going. I should have watched him, but my children were outside, I thought they'd have an eye on him...and then my son finally asked, "hey mom, where's Tiger..." and I couldn't find him. I walked my neighborhood, but I'm not sure I did the best job I could have. I called the local animal patrol in case they found him, but not till the next day. I put up signs, but I feel like it was too late. The first few nights he was out, it was dry and warm enough, but yesterday was a thunderstorm and so cold at night, about 40 degrees. My boy would never be able to survive that. I tell myself and my children that someone took care of him, no one would turn their back on a gentle old cat like our Tiger. But the truth is, as I read the older cat section, I'm horrified to think that he was dehydrated, lost, looking for me, starving, maybe the victim of a predator...that maybe he just wanted to come home and had no idea where that was all of a sudden. I'm tormented by this. Do cats really go off to die? He was very old, very thin, but still eating, drinking, his litter was not bloody or anything (though he did miss the box alot, and had taken to a spot in the back of the living room...) Could he have known he was going to die and wanted to get outside to do so? Is that a REAL possibility or am I just fooling myself, and the truth is I let my marvelous companion of over 15 years down at the end, and let him die hungry and cold because I couldn't be bothered just to make sure he didn't wander away. I will never forgive myself. He was a good cat, pure and simple--never a biter or a scratcher, I don't even think I ever heard him hiss. He was gentle and sweet and patient and funny and clever and a joy to have in my home. I'm so sorry Tiger...you deserved better than this for the wonderful pet you were. Elizabeth
Answer:
 I'm sorry :( I hope he still returns, anything's possible. I hope you can find some peace, it's so difficult having to face the loss of any beloved pet. I just wanted to say, it IS a real possibility Tiger may have wandered off to find a quiet spot somewhere, both cats and dogs have such dignity, they do know when something's wrong, they exclude themselves socially. It might well have been his last gesture of respect and thanks to you, for the wonderful life he knew. May Tiger sleep well.
Answer:
 I'm sorry for your loss. Tiger sounded very special. Everything seems different when you loose a pet. Your life is upset. I'm going through the same sort of thing as my 17 yr. old sweet cat disappeared 8 days ago. She was doing a few senile things too like thinking it was OK to piddle around the litter box, sleeping in the closet alot and just staring at her food. She was trim, not skinny but didn't really eat that well anymore. I let her out into the barn very early in the morning last week and she slipped under the overhead door. That was the last time I saw her. She was an inside-outside kitty anyway but I was trying to be careful with her as she was getting older. She never went anywhere either, either in the barn or around the barn. I've looked all around, close to the house, by the street, around our fields and in the woods some. I put a sign on our house and told the post office lady. I called the Animal Control also. Maybe she did feel it was her time to go off and peacefully pass on but it's hard to really believe it. She wasn't sick and was well vetted. It's a mystery. Linde