Providing hospice and palliative care to senior cats with chronic health problems
An important part of what we do at June’s is provide palliative care and hospice care to
cats who come to Hannah’s House to stay. While we love a good adoption story, many
of the cats June’s takes in are “unadoptable” cats with chronic health problems that most people won’t or can’t adopt because of the time, attention, and cost required to care for them. We provide these cats the long-term palliative care they need: specialized attention, regular medication, and sometimes a specialized diet.
These long-term residents may stay at Hannah’s house anywhere from a few weeks to
a few years. They settle in and find their place with us, have their own routines, and are
at home. It’s cats like Hunny Bunny, Jersey, and Buttercup, who form the heart of the rescue by greeting visitors, helping new cats settle in, and turning Hannah’s House into Hannah’s Home.
But one of the most meaningful—and most difficult—parts of our mission is providing
end-of-life care. It’s not something many people want to talk about, but when you care
for senior cats, it becomes a tender reality. We have to say goodbye to 15-20 cats each
year, when our trusted vet advises us that a cat’s health has declined past the point
where they are able to be helped.
We take comfort in knowing that each of these cats has found a place at Hannah’s
House and isn’t in a cage alone when they leave this world. Instead, they are
surrounded by love after spending their final days with comfort and love.
Our goal is to make sure every cat we take in lives out their golden years with comfort,
dignity, and love. And when the time comes, we’re there to ensure their final days are
filled with the same. These special cats deserve love and affection during their golden
years and last days, and it is a blessing to us that we can provide it for them.
Learn about some of our Golden Paws Cats’ stories here:
Ruggles
Sweet Pea