'We both lost someone we loved very much': As his final wish, grandpa asks his granddaughter to take his 2 beloved cats, and one heartbroken feline slowly opens up, and the two of them find comfort in each other's love

Author image for Mariel Ruvinsky
Mariel Ruvinsky • Writer and Editor
Jul 17, 2026 1:30 PM EDT

Cats can feel grief just as strongly as humans. 

We always talk about how losing our cats is our worst nightmare. We look at them every day, napping peacefully, dreaming, their paws twitching, and seeing it brings us so much joy that even the thought of that being gone one day breaks our hearts. But there is a worse thing than losing your cat, and that is your cat losing you. Cats can feel grief just like humans can. It's strong, it's painful, and unlike us, they don't understand what it means when, one day, we just disappear. For a cat to lose its owner, its bonded human who they rely on for love and peace, is one of the worst things that can happen to it. 

On r/cats, a person kindly shared the story of their cats' loss. Her 92-year-old grandfather had passed, leaving behind two cats who he absolutely adored. And his final wish, as would be ours as well, was that his granddaughter take his cats and love them like he did. Thankfully, she was more than happy to adopt these cats and give them a warm home. But after a loss like this, adoption doesn't always go smoothly.

One of the cats had an easier time adjusting, but Gary… she wasn't ready for any of it. It took weeks and weeks of hiding and coaxing for this cat to open up to its new human. The grief was so strong, and her new human couldn't blame her, because she was grieving as well. But then, a beautiful thing happened. One day, Gary came out of her shell and gave this new situation a chance. And just like that, a switch was flipped, and both the granddaughter and the heartbroken cat started the healing process together. 

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    "I think my grandpa sent me my best friend. This is Gray’s story…"

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    Many months ago, my 92-year- old grandpa passed away. He lived alone in a very remote part of Appalachia, and his two cats were his entire world.
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    During his final hours while he was on life support, one of the last things he wanted to make sure of was that I would take care of them. And of course I promised him I would. Oreo, who only has one eye, adjusted pretty quickly.
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    Gray was different though. She watched the person she loved disappear, then strangers came into her home.
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    She hid for weeks, and we couldn't get anywhere near her. We finally had to set a humane trap just to bring her home, and even after that she stayed hidden for almost two more weeks. I honestly wondered if she'd ever trust me.
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  • It's your patience that ended up winning her over. If you had pressured her, it wouldn't have happened this fast, and it may not have happened at all. You giving her time and understanding her is why she gave you this chance. 

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    Then one day she walked out and now she follows me everywhere.
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    I work from home, and she's become my little co-worker who just naps beside me all day. If I leave the room and shut the door, she waits outside until I come back. (It makes me sad she thinks once I walk in a door I may never return like Grandpa.)
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    She sleeps beside me every night, supervises my work, steals my chair, and somehow always knows when I need comfort.
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    Home | Salesforce Registration Fee Calculation X https://www.reddit.com/r/Bravo Real Housewives/ reddit Home Popular News Explore +Start a community GAMES ON REDDIT NEW Bubble Shooter Pro Burst Bubbles Hot and Cold lego.com 414 u/Sad Biscotti OH ANDY Political Discussion BattleBirds Zencrossbow Discover More + MODERATION O Mod Queue Mod Mail tab And 2 199 W " 3 E r Search caps lock A S D shift Z X ctri fn
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    Sometimes I catch myself talking to her about Grandpa. I tell her I miss him, and maybe it sounds silly, but I think she understands. We both lost someone we loved very much.
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  • We wonder if she really feels it, if she's able to take comfort in staying close to him through you. We hope she does. 

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    I never expected honoring my grandpa's final wish would end up healing a part of my own heart.
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    Gray is finally safe, happy, and loved. And every time she curls up beside me, it feels like a little piece of Grandpa is still here.
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    I miss him every day. But I'm so thankful he trusted me with his precious girl. Thank you Paw Paw. We miss you so much.
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    Welco ope you re p
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    Bonus pic of one eyed Oreo
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aww wholesome cat adorable adoption heartwarming cute adopted loss story Cats rescue
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