I had a black cat live to be 19 years old and the Vet. said his eyes were starting to break up and he could still hear quite well. He would still jump up into the big greenhouse window I have for the cats, so I knew he could see. He never meowed like others, he , all his life made a Maa-Maa sound. A few months after turning 19 , I had to have him put down, he would not eat or drink. I even set food and water on something high to make it easier for him and he just went Maa-Maa and looked at me, we thought that would be the kindest thing to do for him. He was very sweet and a good pet all his life. That was over 7 years ago. I remember and still miss all my past pets, for sure they enter your heart and never leave it.