I'm sorry for your loss. It's never easy to cope with a loss of a loved one, especially when they disappear leaving us wondering . Too many people think, It's just a cat/dog etc. Those people need to think again and a bit harder. .He looks a lot like a long-haired version of one of my cats who disappeared some time ago named Artemus (Named after Artemus Gordon, from the Wild Wild West). He was such a friendly cat, and I fear his disappearance was due to the neighbors' unrestrained dog. They would always come into my yard and terrorize my cats.
Those who have had encounters with an animal that clearly likes your companionship and stays by your side on your adventures do not feel the same way as those people which look at animals as something dispensable and replaceable.
At least to me they become family. Maybe not the highest ranking members but family nonetheless.
Sorry but English is my second language and I over edit everything I write, so it might look cold and lacking context