How Cats Help Elders

As I mentioned on my About My Life page, one of my life experiences included working as a caregiver for the elderly. For five years, I was employed by Comfort Keepers in Huntington Beach, California. This story uniquely shows how cats help elders.

The Tootsievention

A True Story by Blanche/Ghostwriter Marilyn Fuller

An unexpected perk of being an in-home personal care aide is being present for the rebirth of memories seniors share with their caregivers.

Sometimes, their stories make you laugh; occasionally, the tissues come out to soak up the tears; sometimes a story touches you so profoundly that your emotions well up, and you feel them as those chilly, visual bumps on your arms.

Survivor Blanche At 105

One Wednesday morning, while I was caring for this lovely 105-year-old lady who lived alone, the healing power of cats in her life surfaced.

After the personal care part of our routine was over, we spent time at Blanche’s dining room table catching up on each other’s personal news and current world events. While we chatted, she enjoyed a raspberry pastry and two cups of coffee with cream.

Artist

Our previous chats revealed that Blanche is an independent, intelligent, creative, and spirited survivor. She taught herself how to paint when she was in her early sixties. Her dining room walls are filled with her original artwork of favorite scenes from her travels to Europe.

One painting is the oldest windmill still working in Holland. Another is a young person standing on a bridge over a river contemplating Amsterdam. There is a church with its glorious steeple that she caught a glimpse of while on a train traveling between Rome and Florence.

Fashion Shop Owner

She had owned a fashion shop and proudly admitted that she did any job that provided for her children and paid her bills over the years. Blanche has a century plus of life experiences, and I thought how fortunate I was the morning she told me the story of Tootsie.

Three Cats

Blanche was in her early eighties when, one morning in May, three unusual guests arrived at her back door. There had been no knock. When she opened the door that fateful spring day, a mini colony of three cats were lined up in the middle of her driveway under the carport with their sides touching each other.

There was a large brown, fat, happy looking cat on one side. On the other side stood a gorgeous Siamese with blue eyes. Sandwiched between the two protective escorts was a small, dirty, all bones, gray and white kitten.

All three cats focused on Blanche holding her door open at the top of the stairs. The threesome walked in unison to the base of the steps, where Blanche could see the little cat was dying of hunger.

Compassionate Blanche

She urgently checked the fridge for something to feed them but only found cottage cheese. She put the cottage cheese in a bowl and placed it at the top of the stairs. The two healthy cats nudged the one in need and then waited at the bottom, while the little one made it to the top and gobbled up every bit of the kindness.

The little cat walked back down the stairs, got back in the middle position, and away they went.

Blanche was shaken about the condition of the little cat and feared it might have been mistreated. That same afternoon, Blanche had no peace until she went to the market and bought some cans of soft cat food. In case her furry friends returned, she wanted to be prepared.

The following day, the three cats reappeared in her driveway between 10 AM and 11 AM. Their intuition must have been that Blanche was a good person and their starving friend would be welcomed in her life.

Once again, all three walked up to the steps, but only the little one came up and ate the food. The other calmly waited by the foot of the steps.

Blanche’s New Companion

On the third morning, the little cat came alone, and Blanche never saw the other two cats again.

The grateful guest visited daily and got her cool, fresh water and food at Blanche’s Stairway Cafe. Up until that time, Blanche didn’t even like cats. She believed deeply, however, that the little cat had been purposely brought to her doorstep.

So Blanche took care of that little cat’s needs all spring and summer, but it slept outside near the house at night. When the cold nights of fall arrived, a new level of closeness began.

Roommate?

She started to bring the little one into the house to sit on her lap and watch TV together. No problem there. When Blanche put her outside for the night, the little cat stood by the door and cried. Blanche’s compassionate nature could not take the feline pleas that echoed, “Please. I just want to be with you.”

She called her daughters and said, “I will have to adopt Tootsie.” The name came to Blanche because her purring pal seemed like a Tootsie.

The Tootsievention

Her daughters, Diane and Joan, supported the divine adoption. They helped their mom take Tootsie to the vet where she was examined and given her shots. She was also bathed, groomed, and fleas removed.

And so, mutual needs mysteriously matched, Blanche and Tootsie became a happy family. Tootsie was a dear, wonderful little kitty. Over the years, Blanche is pretty sure that her little cat wiped out an entire family of lizards to show her appreciation to Blanche.

Tootsie loved the praise whenever she proudly displayed her hunting skills to her housemate. (I chose housemate because we know cats do not have owners!) Tootsie and Blanche shared many loving and playful moments together for nine years.

The Goodbye

Sadly, one day, Tootsie suddenly had no animation. Blanche called her daughter, and they rushed her to the vet. The vet kept her loved one overnight, called in the morning, and spoke these powerful words to Blanche: “You will need to say goodbye to Tootsie. I found an inoperable condition in her tummy.”

Blanche, with the help of her daughter Diane, made it to the vet’s office in time to hold her precious gift, known as Tootsie, one last time until she was ready to return to eternal kitty heaven.

How Cats Helped Blanche

After Blanche finished her story, I questioned what it meant to her to have Tootsie in her life. She told me that little cat was a huge blessing and a turning point since she had never been a cat person.

Blanche, an amazingly independent woman, was grateful to be able to reach over and pet the loyal friend by her side and instantly realize that she was not alone.

When she was having a difficult day, Tootsie would be there to comfort her through the pain and the blues. She was unfailing in her companionship role to Blanche.

Before I finished my shift with her, I asked if she had a picture of Tootsie. Blanche told me exactly where it was and confirmed I got the right photo by using a special magnifying device.

Family Reconnections

After Blanche shared her Tootsie story with me, I wanted to write a draft for her to review for corrections or additional thoughts. So, the following Wednesday, I brought the final draft to read to her since she was legally blind.

She loved it! There were no corrections or additions, and she asked if she could keep the story.

A couple of weeks later, when I worked with Blanche, she told me what she had done with Tootsie’s story. Blanche shared with me that, like in all families, there had been some bumps and grinds and disconnection with some family members.

She asked her daughter Diane if she would make copies and send everyone in the family a copy. Diane did, and the response, according to Blanche, was incredible. All the family members she missed and had lost touch with contacted her. She was so happy to tell me how that story made a positive difference in her life and reconnected her with loved ones. And I was honored to be her ghostwriter.

My Goodbye

A few weeks after we wrote the story together and the copies were sent to her family members, courageous, compassionate, and beautiful Blanche went into hospice.

I arrived at my shift to find a social worker and a nurse making that determination. After introducing myself, I went into Blanche’s bedroom. She was still but staring at the wall. She repeatedly asked me when her daughter would be there.

I sensed that she did not feel up for talking. So I held her hand the entire time and tried to reassure her that her daughter would be arriving soon. Diane made it about 45 minutes later; that was the last time I saw Blanche.

I will always value the time I spent with this inspirational woman on many levels. Her Tootsie story showed me in detail how cats help elders.

Thanks To All The Caregivers In This Story

The reason I titled Blanche’s story Tootsievention is because the word intervention means action taken to improve a situation to prevent harm or improve functioning.

• Wherever they might be, thanks to the cats that cared about the dying kitten and brought Tootsie to Blanche.
• Thanks to the daughters who made it possible for Blanche to adopt and care for Tootsie.
• Thanks to Tootsie for bringing daily comfort and joy to Blanche.
• Thanks to the caregivers who completely understand the importance and bond seniors have with their pets so they can enjoy a higher quality of life.
• Thanks to Blanche for the goosebumps.

Tough Cookie Tip: It is interesting how unexpected events have a way of changing our lives, usually for the good if we are open to it. You never know how someone or something you weren’t so happy about at first might be your new best friend or a better opportunity in disguise. Imagine the synchronistic possibilities.

Copyright © 2022-2025 Marilyn K Fuller. All Rights Reserved.

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