In-home hospice care for cats is an ongoing program of comfort-focused veterinary visits for pets with a terminal diagnosis or approaching end of life. The idea of “hospice” is not synonymous with “euthanasia”, though often that is the final step. With hospice, our team visits your home on a schedule tailored to your cat’s needs — daily, weekly, or as-needed — with the goal of maximizing comfort and quality of life for whatever time remains.
Hospice is about Living.
Hospice is about loving and giving and enjoying the time you have left with your pet to the fullest extent possible. Generally, families utilizing our Cat Hospice Service are facing a terminal diagnosis for their pet, or the inevitable loss of their pet due to age — usually within weeks or 3-4 months.
Our cat hospice service is customized to the needs of your pet and your family. Our doctors and veterinary nurses have a deep interest in providing care for senior or terminally ill pets nearing their end of life. We can also provide referrals to social workers, and other support providers.
Our team can visit daily, weekly, monthly or whatever seems appropriate to the situation. We can set up regular visits or can come on an as-needed basis. We will make recommendations as to rechecks and you can decide what is right for your family and your pet. Hospice care can help improve the quality of life for your cat during this time in their life.
What Hospice Care Includes
Every hospice plan is customized, but common elements include:
- Regular veterinary visits — Scheduled check-ins to monitor your cat’s condition, adjust medications, and address new symptoms as they arise.
- Pain management — Medications, supplements, acupuncture, or laser therapy to keep your cat comfortable. Pain control is the cornerstone of hospice care.
- Nutrition and hydration support — Guidance on appetite stimulants, diet changes, or subcutaneous fluid administration that you can learn to do at home.
- Mobility assistance — Recommendations for bedding, ramps, litter box modifications, or other support to help your cat navigate their environment.
- Symptom management — Addressing nausea, breathing difficulty, anxiety, or wound care as they occur.
- Family support — We are here for you as much as for your cat. We provide honest updates, emotional support, and referrals to pet loss professionals when desired.
- End-of-life planning — When the time comes, we can transition from hospice to compassionate in-home euthanasia without the stress of involving a new veterinary team. We can discuss aftercare options and ways to memorialize your cat that seem like a fitting way to honor your dear friend.
Is Hospice Right for Your Cat?
Hospice care may be appropriate when:
- Your cat has received a terminal diagnosis (cancer, kidney failure, advanced heart disease) but is not yet in immediate distress
- You want to keep your cat comfortable at home rather than pursue aggressive treatment
- You are not ready to say goodbye, and your cat still has good days
- You want professional guidance on pain management, nutrition, and comfort care during your cat’s final weeks or months
Hospice is not about prolonging suffering. Our veterinarians will never recommend continuing hospice if your cat’s comfort cannot be effectively managed. We will always be honest with you about when the balance shifts, and we will help you recognize when it may be time to consider euthanasia.
Please feel free to contact us if you are curious about whether hospice is right for your situation.
Hospice and Your Family
The hospice period can be emotionally challenging for everyone in the household — including other pets. Our team provides support beyond the medical:
- Honest communication — We keep you informed about your cat’s trajectory so there are no surprises.
- Guidance for children — If you have young children, we can help you talk to them about what is happening. You may also find our page on helping children through pet loss helpful.
- Anticipatory grief support — The grief that comes before a loss is real and valid. Our page on anticipatory grief offers guidance.
- Referrals — We can connect you with pet loss support groups, counselors, and other resources in the Portland area.