Thank you all for all your kind words. I finally could stop crying...on the outside at least.
Smokey was such a sweet old cat...he never hurt a thing, not even the baby chicks. The racoon pulled him (apparently while he was asleep) out of a sturdy plastic laminate dog house he often slept in that was right against the house alongside my front door. My friend came to bury Smokey and we found his intestines inside the dog house and saw that is where he was dragged out of.
I would never relocate a racoon or possum. I ALWAYS shoot them. Just couldn't get a shot off on this one; he is a pretty fast runner. My friend said to pull my p/u close to the gate and aim out the open window....should have a good shot. Usually I sit outside.
Will still have the trap loaded. I have other, younger cats outside so will have to try and bring them in so they don't trip the trap. My yard is totally fenced and all my cats are "fixed". Someone mentioned marshmallows as bait, anything else that my cats would not be interested in??
Again...thanks so much for all your posts.