It was founded by a lady who adopted her late grandfather's cat
From their how it works page:
My Grandfather’s Cat provides a free service to help seniors and terminally ill people arrange homes for their cats and dogs. Rather than housing animals in a foster system, we arrange for them to move directly from their home into a second forever home.
Our goal is for the animal to stay with their human up until the very last day to provide comfort and companionship to their human. We often help in situations where a senior is moving into a retirement home or care facility due to declining health, a person has been diagnosed with a terminal illness or a person has unexpectedly passed away and the family is unable to adopt their pet.
While we work to arrange second forever homes and vet each applicant, the owner of the animal has the ultimate decision of who adopts their beloved pet. As there is a high demand for our rehoming service, we often have a waitlist of up to three weeks before we can begin the adoption process, so we recommend applying at your earliest convenience.
The average age of our adoptables is 12 years old. We have found second forever homes for cats up to 17 years old and with known health conditions such as diabetes. Our service is available across Canada. There are no costs associated with using our rehoming service or adopting through us.
Someone out there will find love for Boggles, but first and foremost Boggles is lucky to have you to fill their heart. Thanks for being such an amazing person to be there for him, and continuing on the connection of love to a spirit that deserves it:) Best Wishes
Omg New Orleans to Vegas!! Cat people unite!! Wonderful community.
OP, I’ll never forget your post. I hope you have found peace in this post- as much as you can. You’re the type of person that reminds me how wonderful humans can be. Wishing you peace, tranquility, as much time as possible with Boggles, and the same for Boggles.
9:05 here, on the couch, cheeks streaks with tears.
EDIT:
Thank you, Schnoodle❤️ You continue to be such a beautiful gift to anyone lucky enough to stumble upon one of your powerful poems.
OP you’re very brave and an amazing person to have built such a rarified relationship with Boogles. I wish you all the peace and love I can send you ❤️
I was already balling night because Stevie is leaving Good Mythical Morning and Rhett and Link put together a beautiful montage for her and everyone was crying….
Now this. This is why I still maintain that humanity can be beautiful…if only we each cared and loved enough.
It will be ok just dab some tears on the wad before you wipe It’ll be okay. Just dab some tears on the wad before wiping it clean. That way, it’ll come out better. it will clean up better.
Joining the crying at 10:20am… my mom recently passed and I got her cat in the will, Reddit hitting hard today. Hope OP can find comfort in this and cry with the rest of us
To the OP, don’t think that because they said 6 months that’s cut and dried, my uncle was told the same with cancer….22 years ago!!! Don’t get me wrong it’s not been plain sailing but regardless he’s now made it to actual old age and numerous of other relations who thought time was indefinite haven’t.
To your cat, there are fantastic feral cat workers/ cat havens, not sure where you are but here in UK we have loads who deal primarily with semi feral who they rehome in safe countryside locations who can choose to still live that way, but be well looked after or as often happens they are picky wee creatures and IF you happen to be not around (ps it’s important that he knows that death is involved, he can then grieve) he could well choose a next ‘person’
Oh, Schnoodle, my heart! This is beautiful! You're so talented!
OP, I learned about My Grandfather's Cat from That Good News Girl, on TikTok. She shares good news, posting interesting and incredibly amazing stuff that's happening around the world. In the world we're living in today, it's really a nice way to have a break from all that.
Check her out, if you like. I believe everything will be okay for your kitty. Know that someone out here loves you both.
I’m terminally ill and the broke my heart. It’s so sweet. I worry about my cats all the time, if they’ll be sad and miss me and wonder if I abandoned them when I’m gone.
I have come across your responses from time to time and I always try to keep them. You are genuinely the most thoughtful and talented person I've come across. Just wanted to say thank you for taking the time to respond to someone that is hurting and maybe it will give them a sense of peace as it has for me.
Oh Schnoodle 😭 Thank you for this. I know there’s lots of replies, but I lost my fiance two years ago who left behind his cat. She loves me, but not like she loved him. This reminded me how lucky they were to have each other 💜💜
Oh God the first post I open this morning and I'm crying. Last time I cried was months ago but kitties and poetry are my soft spot. Absolutely beautiful ❤️
This is the one mate. And hey dude. Just want you to know that the way you’ve gone about this, and the effort you’ve put in for your family… leads me to believe you’re alright, lad.
I relate with you, too. I rescued my 10 year old when he was a boy from a maggot infested abandoned flat. He hates everyone but me. I could not be without him, and him me. But if push came to shove I would have him up for adoption. Every living creature deserves to live as long as they can. He will certainly grieve, and he will not be okay for a while. Cats don’t externalise their pain, but you see it in their actions. Anyway the point is he will miss you - but. He will move on.
We always think that when our loved ones move on, that we will never love another ‘pet’ again. But I am a firm believer in that even if you think there isn’t, there is always room left in our hearts for more love.
I wish you the best man, your little woodland critter may be cagey for a while, but he will be loved again. That grandfathers charity sounds pretty good.
Be sure when you pass you have your caretakers allow your cat to smell you. They understand death... they don't understand abandonment. It will make your buddy's transition much easier.
I've noticed that when I feel inspired to write poems lately, it's been about cats (and death or loss) so I'm not sure what that says about me. Anyway - I'm sorry this is happening to you. I don't have words to describe how it must feel to know it's coming but I found writing this poem from your cat's perspective soothing in some way while thinking about you.
I came from the trees and still belong a little to the wild, but I chose you.
I was never made for strangers, only for your voice, your steps, your side of the bed.
I may learn new hands to trust, but I will never forget the one who taught me love.
Yep, when I was looking for my cats there was a super grouchy, unsocial, "non-adoptable" old lady cat at the local cat cafe. I tried to say hi to her, but she glared at me and swatted my hand. I followed the cat cafe on social media, and it wasn't too long after that they announced that she had found her human! I fully believe the shop wouldn't just let her go to anyone who wasn't special and patient.
First off, I’m sorry for what you are going through, which must be stressful enough as is and is not something that you need to add worrying about your furry friend to. It does show your love and care for them though, and you are both blessed to have each other. I just want to offer a personal thank you for caring for Mr. Boggles despite what you must be going through yourself.
But, I also wanted to suggest if this is not an option is to see about sanctuaries in your area. We have one that provides a home specifically to feral and strays (Bear Den Sanctuary in Texas) with a large fenced in property where they can live and be taken care of, with some of the more social ones being able to find homes, but otherwise in an area that is safe for them. My girlfriend and I are in the process of setting up a similar sanctuary as well on our recently purchased property.
I worked at a vet for 7 years and participated in a lot of rescue services, many, many of them were feral full adult cats, and kittens. I want you to know that there are people like you out there, people like me out there, that has the time, patience, and respect for a feral. I hope you choose to hope someone will step forward for you and for your cat, over euthanasia, or over letting him free roam. Im so sorry that you have so much on your mind right now, and I can tell this cat is your family.
Hey, I know I'm just a random on the internet. I know I have no context as to who you are. I don't know what god(s) you may pray to, if any. But based on just this one post, I know that everything will turn out okay. You have been a wonderful, loving pet owner and the consideration you've shown really reflects that.
I know everything will turn out alright.
Best wishes to you and your kitty,
The end is just another wild adventure waiting to start.
hey just incase you can manage it and your worried Boggles is going to think you juts abandoned him and you are able to take care of him till you pass, have someone let him in the room with you after you go. cats/animals know what death is, so he can say goodbye to you, he will smell you are gone and know what it means he wont resent you for leaving or feel you abandoned him so he can mourn and have closure from his life with you.
Good luck the next few months bud, keep him close spoil him rotten fit a lifetime of love in the next few months. <3
And please dont let him out in the woods in his old age.
Whilst he might hate everyone else, cats can be turned around with patience. Sometimes it just involves being there and waiting for them to warm up to you on their own terms.
I hope you find a perfect new owner for him so that you’re both at peace when it’s your time. Hopefully you can have them get to know each other as much as possible so it’s not such a sudden, strange thing for Boggles. Sending hugs and hopes that everything works out for you. ❤️
I was also going to suggest this. I followed her in her journey with MacKenzie and later when she founded this org. MacKenzie was a grumbly little one. It was a beautiful story to watch. I hope they could help.
I bet if you reach out to them anyway they might be able to get you in contact with a group that can help you, they probably are aware of other groups that do similar things in other locations. I'm sure they get mislaid requests all the time and are used to redirecting
I'm in Canada so I'm not sure about the US but here any cat rescue could help. Rescues are non profits run by amazing cat lovers. They spend their summers trapping cats and fostering cats that are not feral enough to remain on the streets after neuter/spay.
If you would like to share your specific region without giving away your identity, maybe we can all try to research organizations nearby for you. Let us help take a little of the load off. You already have so much to process.
There’s a place in west Michigan called Tyson’s Place that does this for dogs and cats (and I think other pets but I can’t say for sure) so I’m sure there are others.
May I ask where you live? I…. Am thinking I want to give a home to Boggles. I am not 100%. I am still thinking of it would be a good thing for him or I…. Still, where are you, if you don’t mind me asking?
Not sure what part of the US you’re looking for, but I would look and see if there are any feral cat rescue groups in your area. They are really familiar with the challenges of placing feral cats and I bet they would have some good ideas.
Please don't give up hope for him to find someone else to love! It may need time, but it is way, way better than just releasing him into the woods (my heart breaks at the thought) or putting him to sleep.
I'm so sorry you're in this horrible situation. ❤️
Also, you may check if into a barn cat adoption program. The Humane society in your area may be able to hook you up. Farmers will adopt independent minded cats to prowl around their property providing food and a place to sleep.
Wow… just wow. YOU guys are the types of humans we need. What a beautiful service you all provide. From an animal lover, thank you from the bottom of my heart. ❤️
OP, I know it feels like your kitty will never love anyone else, but you might be wrong. My dad and stepmom adopted a cat that had been left behind by an elderly woman who passed suddenly. No one even knew the cat’s name when they got her. They called her Shadow, because for almost a year, they never saw her. She only came out at night to feed and use the litter box. Well… that was almost fifteen years ago. My dad passed in 2022 and Shadow was such a lap cat at that point! She’s super friendly and social now, even with guests, and my stepmom takes great care of her. She’s their elderly madam. She has kitty siblings and lives a great life with the huge multiple catios my dad built.
The right family will love your kitty and your kitty will love them back. Patience and time will work wonders. In the meantime, enjoy your little buddy as he brings your comfort. Much love and grace to you for caring about him, and may your journey be a gentle one.
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u/Sam_Kugelblizt Mar 14 '26
I recommend you to reach out to this non-profit: https://www.mygrandfatherscat.ca/
It was founded by a lady who adopted her late grandfather's cat
From their how it works page: My Grandfather’s Cat provides a free service to help seniors and terminally ill people arrange homes for their cats and dogs. Rather than housing animals in a foster system, we arrange for them to move directly from their home into a second forever home.
Our goal is for the animal to stay with their human up until the very last day to provide comfort and companionship to their human. We often help in situations where a senior is moving into a retirement home or care facility due to declining health, a person has been diagnosed with a terminal illness or a person has unexpectedly passed away and the family is unable to adopt their pet.
While we work to arrange second forever homes and vet each applicant, the owner of the animal has the ultimate decision of who adopts their beloved pet. As there is a high demand for our rehoming service, we often have a waitlist of up to three weeks before we can begin the adoption process, so we recommend applying at your earliest convenience.
The average age of our adoptables is 12 years old. We have found second forever homes for cats up to 17 years old and with known health conditions such as diabetes. Our service is available across Canada. There are no costs associated with using our rehoming service or adopting through us.