On 17 July 2019, Josie, Lort Smith's resident cat, peacefully crossed the Rainbow Bridge with close friends at her side. A small but stoic calico domestic shorthair, Josie left us five months shy of her 21st birthday.
Josie was the first stray mother cat with kittens to arrive at the newly built hospital after it opened in 2000. Her three little kittens quickly found homes, but Josie's family was destined to be much larger.
While screening potential families in the Adoption Centre, Josie made it clear that no one was up to scratch. Staff remember her resolve to come and go as she pleased, prying open the latch on her door to roam the hospital at will.
While Josie's passing marks the end of an era at Lort Smith, her spirit lives on in all those who loved her.
Top cat
At a time when it was more challenging to rehome cats with a particular "cattitude", the team decided Josie would call Lort Smith home. She roamed the hospital for nearly two decades, at times with fellow resident cats Jeff, Cloud and Marge. While she occasionally shared her status as top cat, for the most part she ruled the hospital like the Iron Lady.
The benefit of living at Lort Smith was instant access to quality vet care, and her health and wellbeing were always at the front of our minds. For every vaccination there was someone to comfort her. When she had a toothache, we made sure she was treated with care and precision.
In 2012, staff were very concerned for her health after discovering her hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid gland). While many cats might tolerate twice-daily lifelong medication, Josie would not.
With her wellbeing in mind, Lort Smith arranged for her to have radioiodine therapy at the University of Melbourne veterinary school hospital, a treatment only performed at a few clinics in Melbourne at the time.
Josie spent a week at the external hospital, and a further two weeks in foster care to make sure she had a peaceful and complete recovery. After that, Josie had the other ailments most cats her age go through. Her arthritis, typical of a geriatric cat, was closely monitored to keep her quality of life as good as it could be.
Lort Smith staff and volunteers celebrated many milestones with Josie. Her 18th birthday was a grand affair. We had a special cake made, and a bottle of the finest Pinot Meow was labelled in her honour. As she reached her 19th and 20th, the team celebrated with the same enthusiasm.
Saying goodbye
Alas, while we hoped for the best, Josie's health steadily declined, until one cold winter afternoon the experts all agreed it was time.
The next morning, with tear-stained cheeks, we held Josie's paw and eased her pain respectfully, peacefully and with dignity.
Since then, many fond memories of Josie have been shared. From those who met her when she first arrived to the most recent members of the Lort Smith family, all agree she was a beautiful reminder that we never give up on any rehomeable animal.
Josie may be our last resident cat, as animal welfare has come a long way since she arrived in need of help.
Over the course of Josie's long life, Lort Smith has expanded its foster care network, lifting the burden of shelter life for those who need it most. These changes happened because people like you helped. Whether through donating a gift or donating your time, you've helped more animals find a brighter future more easily.
Adult cats are also not as overlooked in favour of kittens in the Adoption Centre. Social media lets us all share the animals available for adoption in new ways. This means Lort Smith can rehome a wider range of adult cats in a shorter time – that's a great thing, and you have helped us achieve it.
Josie and the residents who left before her symbolise how we all feel about animals: the need to make sure every animal has the best fighting chance, that we strive for better, and that we never give up on any rehomeable animal.
While Josie's passing marks the end of an era at Lort Smith, her spirit lives on in all those who loved her.