Although kitties generally don’t need as much care and attention as dogs, they still can’t fend for themselves. Their pawrents know this and dread the future when they can no longer look after their beloved four-legged companions due to old age or severe illness. That’s why My Grandfather’s Cat is vital to Canada’s vibrant pet community.
This Nova Scotian charity aims to ease the anxiety of many seniors bearing the brunt of soaring pet food prices. The nonprofit has rolled out a program to ensure owners wouldn’t have to give up their fur babies just because they can no longer afford to feed them.
Spring of Compassion
On February 20, 2024, founder Angela Rafuse unveiled My Grandmother’s Pet Pantry — an initiative to provide 25 elderly households nationwide with free pet supplies every season.
Angela got the inspiration from her grandmother — an empathetic and generous soul with a soft spot for animals who never hesitated to share her pantry with those in need. With seasonal food drives, she keeps the family legacy alive. Someday, Angela dreams of expanding its reach worldwide to serve more aging feline caregivers.
Anyone can apply, and the organization shortlists recipients from the pool. The program allows cat owners to select up to $200 worth of items on Amazon and pick the brands they like for their pets.
My Grandmother’s Pet Pantry has two rules — the beneficiaries must reside at an address Amazon ships to and they can only receive assistance from the program once a year. Angela and Co. want to help everybody but must observe equitability for the time being due to limited resources.
Despite these limitations, the program will be a huge financial relief for many aging, cash-strapped Canadian cat guardians in the coming years. Experts expect the prices of pet food per unit in Great White North to surge from $3.34 in 2024 to $3.68 in 2029 — more than a 10% jump.
If you factor in Canada’s burgeoning solo-living phenomenon — which is common at older ages — you’ll realize many elderly feline custodians are feeling the pinch. The monthly incomes of senior families and single seniors are thousands of dollars apart.
Single elderly cat owners are highly vulnerable to inflation. They need all the help available to keep their households intact, be close to their confidants and stay mentally fit amid rising living expenses.
Endings and Beginnings
Angela’s original advocacy is pet rehoming — a service for finding cats and dogs a new furever home after their human becomes terminally ill or passes away unexpectedly. My Grandfather’s Cat steps in to bypass the foster care system and help pets move straight to their adoptive families.
The charity also caters to felines and canines whose pawrents must relocate to a retirement community or a long-term care facility. Most older adults in the country prefer to age in place, but they don’t always have that option because they lack access to home- or community-based care.
Chronic care management programs typically have requirements. For example, older individuals experiencing only one chronic condition — even if it could last for 12 months or more — may not qualify for personalized care and round-the-clock remote patient monitoring. The result is these patients are less likely to recover quickly at home.
The Canadian government has acknowledged this issue and launched a seven-year plan to develop innovations to support seniors who want to age in place. Until then, My Grandfather’s Cat hopes to alleviate the heartbreaking situation many aging pet owners find themselves in.
Since its foundation in 2021, the nonprofit has helped at least 210 cats and dogs start a new life in their second furever home. It never stops advertising adoptable pets with immediate availability to give more physically unfit pawrents peace of mind.
My Grandfather’s Cat — Supporting Aging and Terminally Ill Cat Owners
Nothing’s more painful to pet lovers than realizing they can no longer care for their furry friends the way they used to. Thankfully, My Grandfather’s Cat exists to help them stay together longer and seamlessly facilitate their separation when the time comes.
Since its foundation in 2021, the nonprofit has helped at least 210 cats and dogs start a new life in their second furever home. It never stops advertising adoptable pets with immediate availability to give more physically unfit pawrents peace of mind.
My Grandfather’s Cat — Supporting Aging and Terminally Ill Cat Owners
Nothing’s more painful to pet lovers than realizing they can no longer care for their furry friends the way they used to. Thankfully, My Grandfather’s Cat exists to help them stay together longer and seamlessly facilitate their separation when the time comes.