Running a senior cat rescue can be hard work. Our seniors are no longer cute, energetic little kittens, and many of them have chronic health problems that require daily medication, specialized diets, and frequent vet visits. Cats like these are not good candidates for adoption or palliative care and generally stay at our main foster home, Hannah’s House. But this is where the quiet magic is, because these cats have found a loving home where we can care for their needs and provide comfort care during their last years. Our Golden Paws Care program provides hospice and palliative care to the many resident senior cats at Hannah’s House.
Ruggles was one of those residents. 18-year-old Ruggles came to us after his owner moved to a memory care facility. A few nights after he arrived, we noticed he was having trouble breathing and rushed him to the veterinary ER. There, they immediately placed him in an oxygen tank, and he was hospitalized for two days.
Tests revealed Ruggles had several health issues: thickened heart tissue and a heart murmur, thickened small intestines (from IBD or lymphoma), pancreatitis, possible nodes on his spleen, and hyperthyroidism. Poor Ruggles just couldn’t catch a break. We suspect his previous owner’s memory problems meant she missed Ruggles’ problems and let them progress.
When we followed up at Blue Cross Animal Clinic, our wonderful vet, Dr. Hamel, felt Ruggles had a good chance to recover and enjoy a good quality of life. She started a comprehensive treatment plan right away. After just a few days on his new medications, Ruggles began eating again and started exploring Hannah’s House. He loved to hang out with our founder, Janet, in her office, and he even found a favorite sunny spot on a cat bed by the window. We were hopeful.
Over the following weeks, we watched as Ruggles settled in. But we also watched as his light slowly faded. We visited the vet for antibiotics and anti-nausea medication. When we saw he was continuing to lose weight, we took him back to the vet, worried. His myriad health problems were worsening. They were willing to hospitalize him and give him fluids for a few days, but gently warned us that it would only help Ruggles so much, and that we would only be postponing the inevitable. We knew the kind thing to do was help relieve Ruggles’ suffering.
Being with our seniors during their final days is at the heart of what we do. It’s one of the most difficult—and most meaningful—parts of our mission. While losing a cat never gets easier, it’s an emotional burden we gladly take on. We take comfort in knowing that Ruggles had found his place—the window in Janet’s offuice—and wasn’t alone and confused when he left this world. Instead, he was surrounded by love after spending his final weeks with comfort and love.
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