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“Kitty hospice” is a way to describe the period when a cat is nearing the end of life and their person is managing both daily care and anticipatory grief. It is not a standardized veterinary protocol. In a Catster interview, certified grief coach Wendy Van de Poll shares practical ways to cope: make a simple care list, focus on what your cat can still enjoy, ask trusted people for specific help, and discuss medical questions and end-of-life decisions with your veterinarian.
What “kitty hospice” means
The phrase describes an emotionally difficult stretch of care, not a set treatment plan. A veterinarian can explain your cat’s medical situation and help you consider options for that individual animal. The interview with Van de Poll focuses instead on the caregiver’s practical and emotional experience: how to keep track of routines, notice moments of enjoyment, and find support while facing uncertainty.
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Van de Poll says that receiving difficult news from a veterinarian can bring numbness, anxiety, and what she calls “mind chaos.” That reaction can make ordinary tasks feel harder. Her suggestions are ways to organize and cope; they are not medical guidance or a clinical rule for deciding when a cat is suffering or when it is time to say goodbye.
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Make daily care easier to remember
Write down the care tasks that need attention each day. A list can reduce the mental load when you are distressed and make it easier to keep track of important routines. Van de Poll also suggests including enjoyable activities, so the list is not only a record of care obligations.
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- Note the recurring tasks that are part of your cat’s routine.
- Include small activities your cat still enjoys, when they are comfortable and able to take part.
- Ask your veterinary team what care details should be tracked for your cat, rather than relying on a general checklist as a treatment plan.
The purpose is not to make every day perfect. It is to give yourself a practical aid when concentration is difficult and preserve room for time together.
Focus on what your cat can still enjoy
Van de Poll recommends making a list of what your cat loves and what they are still able to do. Those lists may not match: an activity that mattered in the past may no longer suit your cat’s current abilities. Let your cat’s comfort and veterinary guidance shape what you try, and look for manageable ways to share familiar pleasures or create new memories.
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This approach keeps attention on the cat in front of you rather than on an idealized version of how things used to be. It does not mean overlooking changes in your cat’s condition; concerns about those changes belong in a conversation with the veterinary team.
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You do not have to carry anticipatory grief alone. Van de Poll encourages people to seek help from friends, groups, and other trusted people, and to be clear about the kind of support they need. Practical help and emotional listening are different needs, so it can be useful to ask for one specifically.
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| Who can help | What their support is for |
|---|---|
| Your cat’s veterinary team | Explaining the medical situation and discussing questions about your cat’s care and end-of-life decisions. |
| Friends, groups, or other trusted people | Offering emotional support or practical help as you manage caregiving and grief. |
Van de Poll is identified in the interview as the author of My Cat Is Dying: What Do I Do?, which the article says is available through her website or Amazon.com. The interview also identifies her as founder of the Center for Pet Loss Grief; it does not establish current service details.
Think ahead about end-of-life decisions
Van de Poll encourages caregivers to consider the end-of-life decision in advance and discuss it with their support team. Thinking and talking before a crisis can make room for questions and support, but the interview does not offer a quality-of-life scale or a clinical decision rule. The right timing cannot be determined from a general article: ask your veterinarian to assess your cat’s individual medical circumstances and explain the options.
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If you are unsure what to ask, you can start with: What changes should I watch for? What signs would mean my cat needs prompt veterinary attention? What care choices may be available as their condition changes? Your veterinary team can answer in light of your cat’s situation.
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Van de Poll’s central advice is to make a plan, stay emotionally present with your cat, and look after yourself too. A written routine, moments suited to your cat’s current abilities, and support from other people can help you move through a demanding period without expecting yourself to manage everything alone.
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Read the interview with Wendy Van de Poll at Catster (displayed update date: September 15, 2026).
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