My Grandfather's Cat

My Grandfather's Cat is a Canadian registered charity (Business Registration Number 760821264RR0001) dedicated to supporting seniors and terminally ill individuals in Canada by helping them care for and rehome their beloved pets. The organization focuses on ensuring that pets can remain with their owners until the very last day possible and provides a compassionate transition by arranging second forever homes when their human companions can no longer care for them.

Mission and Services

The charity’s core mission is to help seniors and terminally ill people feed their pets and arrange new permanent homes for them without interruption in their companionship. Unlike many animal rescue groups, My Grandfather's Cat does not place pets into foster systems; instead, it facilitates direct transitions from the owner’s home to a new forever home. This approach is designed to minimize stress on the animals and maintain continuity.

Key programs include:

• Rehoming Service: A free service supporting seniors and terminally ill individuals who need to find new homes for their cats and dogs. Typically, this service assists people moving into retirement or care facilities, those diagnosed with terminal illnesses, or in situations where the owner has unexpectedly passed away and the family cannot adopt the pet. The organization vets prospective adopters, but the animal’s original owner retains final decision-making authority on adoption. The average age of animals rehomed is 12 years, including some with health conditions such as diabetes. This service is available nationwide across Canada and free of charge.

• Pet Pantry: A program providing seniors with free pet food shipped directly to their homes. This initiative helps alleviate the financial burden of rising pet food costs, preventing seniors from having to give up their pets due to affordability issues.

• Resource Guide: Additional support is offered to ensure that seniors and terminally ill individuals have the necessary resources to care for their pets during difficult times.

History and Impact

Founded by Angela Rafuse, whose own experience with a beloved senior cat named Mackenzie inspired the organization, My Grandfather's Cat has grown significantly since its launch. Angela leveraged her nonprofit experience and social media following to build awareness and support for seniors and their pets. The charity celebrated its third anniversary by distributing pet food to over 300 cats and dogs, highlighting its growing community impact.

The organization operates on a first-come, first-served basis, with priority given to cases involving Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID). Due to high demand and limited resources, there is typically a wait time of about three weeks from application to service initiation.

Recognition

My Grandfather's Cat is recognized as a registered charity by the Canada Revenue Agency, complying fully with regulatory requirements. Its charitable registration number is 760821264RR0001.

References

• My Grandfather's Cat official website and service descriptions
• CanadaHelps charity profile
• Media coverage on founder Angela Rafuse and the organization's mission and impact