Watch the climax of this arc to see the emotional weight behind Hoichi's struggle and Gintoki's intervention:
The episode shifts from typical comedy to a somber reflection on the value of life and the nature of a "stray": Gintama Episode 192
: 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". Watch the climax of this arc to see