Therapy cat home visits in Austin?

December 18, 2016 10:14 AM

I'm looking for a service or individual person who is willing to bring a therapy cat into a home where a senior is receiving at home hospice care. So many snowflakes.

It's one of those "do everything you can to make someone happy at the end" things. A senior lady mostly confined to bed would like nothing more than a visit from a lazy feline once in a while--a cat who wants to lay around and be pet for an hour maybe once a week? She actively dislikes dogs so that's not an option.

She's had cats for nearly all of her life but owing to the circumstances over the past several years has not been able to keep one. It's impossible for any of her care team to take on the responsibility to care for a full time cat.

Every place I've found only visits facilities, but she's unable to leave her home. Absolutely willing to pay a fee or make a donation to make this possible. Hoping that the great minds and hearts of mefites can help!

posted by mrcrow to Health & Fitness (2 answers total)

Have you by chance contacted her hospice? The one I volunteer at has a therapy cat that travels to homes (this would be through your hospice's volunteer services which you should have been contacted by when your lady was signed up or you can just call the main hospice number to be connected to them). If they don't have a visiting cat, they likely will have other leads.
posted by nanook at 11:49 AM on December 18, 2016

Maybe talk to a cat rescue group? They often have people foster cats in their homes, and might have someone willing to do this as a fundraiser.
posted by metasarah at 4:20 PM on December 18, 2016