There is nothing more devastating than looking into the eyes of an animal who trusts you and having to say, “I’m sorry, I can’t save you.” It haunts you. It breaks your heart.
This is what happened time and again when I worked as an animal care technician at an animal shelter from 2013 to 2016.
Often, the animals that didn’t get saved were older cats. They were either brought in by their guardians or found as strays. They were euthanized because they were older and had a health-related issue such as needing a dental, or because they were fearful and shy. They were considered not suitable to be placed on the adoption floor.
All I could offer these cats were some tasty treats, kind words, lots of love and apologies… Or gently hold them, whisper to them, and let them feel my love in their last moments as they were euthanized.
But I could also dream… which I did. I walked around the shelter thinking about starting a rescue to save these kitties.
When I left the shelter in May 2016 I told my mom that I felt in my soul there was more I needed to do, that I wanted to start an older cat rescue. She looked at me and said three words: “Just Do It.”
And so in June 2016, with a small group of volunteers, we founded Golden Oldies Cat Rescue.
We set out to make Monterey County, CA a better and safer place for cats 6 years and older who are at risk in area shelters or whose guardians can no longer care for them. That remains our mission today.
All Golden Oldies cats live in our volunteer foster homes until permanent homes are found for them. Older cats are not as easy to find homes for as kittens, but we have a philosophy of “one cat at a time.” Each cat we help is one more who will live out their Golden Years in a safe and loving home.
We are here because of all the older cats that did not make it out of the shelter alive. By taking in cats directly from guardians, we keep those kitties out of the shelters, ensuring they will be in homes not kennels. We also take cats from area shelters if they are at risk. We commit to these cats for the rest of their lives. This eases the minds of guardians or the family and friends who are trying to place the cat when someone has died, and enriches the lives of adopters.