Angela Rafuse Is A Founder Of ‘My Grandfather’s Cat Charity’, Helping Seniors To Rehome Their Pets
Interview
Today, we would like to share a story about a special charity in Canada, dedicated to helping cats in need find their second forever home. “My Grandfather’s Cat” is a registered Canadian charity that provides a service to help seniors and terminally ill individuals arrange homes for their pets before they move into retirement homes or pass away.
The founder of this initiative, Angela Rafuse, came up with the idea of starting this non-profit when her own grandfather, who cared for a 14-year-old cat named Mackie, passed away in 2019. The family had to decide who would take care of the feline after his passing, and Angela chose to take responsibility for her. This story inspired Rafuse, and two years later, “My Grandfather’s Cat” was officially founded in Nova Scotia, Canada.
More info: Instagram | Facebook | mygrandfatherscat.ca
Meet Angela Rafuse and her cat, Mackenzie, the founders of the Canadian charity, “My Grandfather’s Cat”
Image credits: mygrandfatherscat
Bored Panda got in touch with Angela to find out more about this wonderful initiative. We asked her a few questions about My Grandfather’s Cat and the goals Rafuse has for her charity for the future.
First, we were wondering what the process of selecting and matching adoptive families with the cats looks like. Angela explained: “My Grandfather’s Cat provides a service to help seniors and terminally ill people find homes for their pets before they move into retirement homes or pass away. Our organization does not house the animals but rather works to move them directly from their human to their second forever home. We work directly with the animal’s current owner to interview families, and the current owner has the ultimate decision of who adopts their animal.”
Image credits: mygrandfatherscat
The inspiration for the charity came when Angela’s granddad passed away, and someone had to care for his 14-year-old cat, Mackie
Image credits: mygrandfatherscat
Asked what the main challenges in running a cat rescue organization are, the founder answered: “As we provide our service for free and don’t charge adoption fees, funding is one of our biggest challenges. We are so grateful for our kind donors, but we are always actively working to make sure we are able to cover our operating expenses and fund our latest initiatives.”
Image credits: mygrandfatherscat
At the time, Mackie had a reputation for being a mean and grumpy cat, and no one in the family was eager to adopt her
Image credits: mygrandfatherscat
Next, Angela was kind enough to explain the process of transitioning a cat from their current owner to a new forever home through her organization: “When a senior or terminally ill person is in need of our service, we work with them to interview potential families. When they choose a family to adopt their animal, they often do a meet-and-greet beforehand and then arrange transportation between the two families.”
Aware that due to her temperament, Mackie might spend her remaining precious years in a shelter, Rafuse chose to adopt her
Image credits: mygrandfatherscat
Over the course of the next year, Angela discovered that Mackie may have come across as aggressive, but she was truly a loving and adventurous cat with just a bit of attitude
Image credits: mygrandfatherscat
We were curious about the long-term goals and aspirations for My Grandfather’s Cat. We learned that: “Our goal is to expand our charity to other countries, as seniors and terminally ill people around the world are in need of our service.”
Image credits: mygrandfatherscat
This is why Rafuse often uses the cat’s full name, Mackenzie
Image credits: mygrandfatherscat
Lastly, we asked Angela Rafuse to tell us more about the available opportunities for people interested in supporting or volunteering with My Grandfather’s Cat. The founder of the charity said: You can follow along with our work on social @mygrandfatherscat. If you’d like to support our work directly, you can make a donation.
After adopting Mackie, Angela heard numerous stories of how many seniors worried about what would happen to their pets when they moved to a retirement home or passed away
Image credits: mygrandfatherscat
This is how the idea for “My Grandfather’s Cat” was born. It was designed to be a safe space for seniors to arrange second forever homes for their beloved pets
Image credits: mygrandfatherscat
On May 18, 2021, Angela shared her first post on her Instagram account, announcing the start of her charity, “My Grandfather’s Cat”
Image credits: mygrandfatherscat
This was a special and symbolic date, as it was her beloved grandfather’s birthday
Image credits: mygrandfatherscat
Within a month of operation, Angela received countless emails from terminally ill people asking to use her service
Image credits: mygrandfatherscat
Angela updates the list of cats looking for a second forever home whenever there are felines in need
Image credits: mygrandfatherscat
Image credits: mygrandfatherscat
She also shares heartwarming stories of cats who got a second chance at life with new loving families
Image credits: mygrandfatherscat
Image credits: mygrandfatherscat
Image credits: mygrandfatherscat
Image credits: mygrandfatherscat
In February 2022, less than a year after its launch, “My Grandfather’s Cat” was recognized by the Canadian government as a registered charity
Image credits: mygrandfatherscat
Rafuse celebrates every milestone and posts an updated number of successful adoptions that the charity has contributed to
Image credits: mygrandfatherscat
Image credits: mygrandfatherscat
Image credits: mygrandfatherscat
This year, at the age of 17, Mackenzie passed away
Image credits: mygrandfatherscat
Image credits: mygrandfatherscat
However, her legacy lives on, and “My Grandfather’s Cat” continues its mission, helping new felines every day
Image credits: mygrandfatherscat
Image credits: mygrandfatherscat
The charity operates in all Canadian provinces and territories
Image credits: mygrandfatherscat
It’s another story proving how the story of one, even a grumpy cat, can be an inspiration to create something that serves many others, both cats and people
Image credits: mygrandfatherscat
Angela continues to help felines in need and inspires others who want to volunteer with “My Grandfather’s Cat”
Image credits: mygrandfatherscat
Image credits: mygrandfatherscat
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Cats that some people think are mean and aggressive actually aren’t, if you take the time to show them you’re not a threat. You just have to know how to approach them, and be very patient, that’s all. We had a cat, Smudgy, who was standoffish and kind of aggressive at first. She was only about 6 months old at the time, so must’ve either been born feral, or dumped as a kitten with the local cat colony. But we took our time with her, and it wasn’t long before she was snuggling up to us on the couch and in bed. She turned out to have the sweetest temperament. However, whenever someone she didn’t know came into the house, she made sure to check them out thoroughly, and make sure they were friends and not threats. Because she loved us. She passed on, at 14, a couple weeks before Christmas 2022. RIP Smudgy, you are so very missed.
This needs to expand to the US, I would happily give a spot. I think I've only ever met one cat that didn't like me.
Rosie's Trust in Northern Ireland does the same, for anyone who might need help.
This is wonderful. So much ease and peace of mind given to these people in their final days knowing their beloved is taken care of. I can't imagine the stress and anxiety of impending doom that they would feel otherwise knowing that their pet's future is in limbo when they die
What a cool thing. I hope this charity is successful. This should be a real relief to those owners, to know their cat will be provided for.
Rescue pets are the best! My dear (and much missed) Ragamuffin was an alley cat right off the street. Helena, Aida and Chadwick are all rescues.
In Britain, we are very fortunate to have various organisations that will do this for our special family members.
This is one of the top 10 sweetest things I've ever read. I've shared to my Facebook page and hope we can support such a worthwhile cause in San Francisco!!!
what a lovely idea! My cats came from a shelter, 7 years old. In the Netherlands we have the "Dierenbescherming" - among other things they have pet shelters. Previous owners got divorced and neither of them could keep the cats. (why?) They are so well brought up and polite... happy with my cats
Cats that some people think are mean and aggressive actually aren’t, if you take the time to show them you’re not a threat. You just have to know how to approach them, and be very patient, that’s all. We had a cat, Smudgy, who was standoffish and kind of aggressive at first. She was only about 6 months old at the time, so must’ve either been born feral, or dumped as a kitten with the local cat colony. But we took our time with her, and it wasn’t long before she was snuggling up to us on the couch and in bed. She turned out to have the sweetest temperament. However, whenever someone she didn’t know came into the house, she made sure to check them out thoroughly, and make sure they were friends and not threats. Because she loved us. She passed on, at 14, a couple weeks before Christmas 2022. RIP Smudgy, you are so very missed.
This needs to expand to the US, I would happily give a spot. I think I've only ever met one cat that didn't like me.
Rosie's Trust in Northern Ireland does the same, for anyone who might need help.
This is wonderful. So much ease and peace of mind given to these people in their final days knowing their beloved is taken care of. I can't imagine the stress and anxiety of impending doom that they would feel otherwise knowing that their pet's future is in limbo when they die
What a cool thing. I hope this charity is successful. This should be a real relief to those owners, to know their cat will be provided for.
Rescue pets are the best! My dear (and much missed) Ragamuffin was an alley cat right off the street. Helena, Aida and Chadwick are all rescues.
In Britain, we are very fortunate to have various organisations that will do this for our special family members.
This is one of the top 10 sweetest things I've ever read. I've shared to my Facebook page and hope we can support such a worthwhile cause in San Francisco!!!
what a lovely idea! My cats came from a shelter, 7 years old. In the Netherlands we have the "Dierenbescherming" - among other things they have pet shelters. Previous owners got divorced and neither of them could keep the cats. (why?) They are so well brought up and polite... happy with my cats
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