A woman has shared the heartwarming moment her grandmother’s final wish was fulfilled when hospice staff allowed her beloved cat to spend her last day with her.
In a video with more than 2 million views on TikTok, Allison Kuhn shared the beautiful way her grandmother Elaine got to spend her final moments with her cat, named Baby.
“I’ll never stop thinking about how all my grandma wanted during her last month in hospice was her cat,” Kuhn said in the video. “The same cat, who during that month started dying and was diagnosed with a ‘heartbreak’ from being away from grandma. Hospice let the cat stay with my grandma on her last day. The cat didn’t leave that bed for 24 hours.”
Elaine, who had lived on a farm with over 50 outdoor cats at one time, shared an especially strong bond with Baby, her indoor cat. Kuhn explained that Baby was rescued and bottle-fed by Elaine when her mother stopped nursing her as a kitten. From that point on, the two were inseparable for 15 years.
Pictures from the viral video where Allison shared how thrilled she was that her grandmother was able to be with her cat on her final day.
@allisonkuhn3/TikTok
“My grandmother always said cats are like chips—you can’t have just one,” Kuhn told Newsweek. Although Elaine had numerous farm cats, Baby was her constant companion. Even after Elaine was hospitalized and placed in hospice care, she continued to ask about her beloved feline.
During Elaine’s final month, Kuhn’s family noticed that Baby had grown lethargic and refused to eat. Concerned, they took Baby to the vet, who gave an unexpected diagnosis. “The vet told us Baby was upset being away from my grandmother, and in simple terms, heartbroken,” Kuhn explained.
It was then that the family made a heartfelt request to the hospice, asking if Baby could stay with Elaine, even for just one day. After showing proof of Baby’s vaccinations, the hospice granted the request and let Baby and Elaine spend Elaine’s final day together.
Baby didn’t leave Elaine’s side for the next 24 hours, providing comfort and companionship during her last moments. Today, Baby lives with Kuhn’s parents, who continue to care for Elaine’s remaining farm cats.
The video struck a cord with viewers on TikTok who shared their reactions in the comments.
“When I was a hospice nurse, I always told family to bring in their pets. They have to say their goodbyes as well,” a viewer who was also a former hospice nurse said. While another commenter wrote: “When they say ‘soul cat,’ they mean it.”
Kuhn explained that she posted the video after rediscovering it in her camera roll, and reflected on the powerful connection between humans and animals. “I’m not surprised by the reaction,” she said. “Everyone knows or knows of an animal who demonstrates this level of love.”
