Watch the climax of this arc to see the emotional weight behind Hoichi's struggle and Gintoki's intervention:
: Hoichi, an old stray cat who is actually a former human, fights a massive monster (a cat-like Amanto) to protect the other strays. Even when battered and near death, he begs his body to hold together for a few more moments for the sake of his "family". Gintama Episode 192
: Unable to move, Hoichi contemplates his life and the kitten he once protected at the cost of his own ears. Watch the climax of this arc to see
: The episode ends with Gintoki (back to human) walking past Hoichi. He sees a message written on a wall by Hoichi, simply saying "Thank you," signifying that Hoichi has chosen to continue living despite his hardships. : The episode ends with Gintoki (back to