Leukemia Cat Was Living His Final Moments In The Maine Shelter Until A Woman Changed His Fate

Laurence, a Massachusetts resident, heard about an overcrowded shelter in Maine and decided to step in and help.

Every month, she made the six-hour journey to bring about twenty cats back to her local shelter, where they were quickly adopted into new homes within just a few days.

During one trip, Laurence discovered there was a special room for cats with leukemia, as she explained in a video:

“I have a really soft spot for leukemia cats.”

Sadly, cats with leukemia are often overlooked, spending their lives in shelters with little chance of adoption.

Laurence’s heart broke the moment she stepped into the leukemia room and saw them. She was shocked to learn that many visitors avoided the room altogether, fearing they might somehow catch the disease themselves.

Even among the staff, only one woman consistently went in to feed the cats, as it was too painful for the others to face. 

At that time, around a dozen cats were housed there, but one in particular – Bruiser – walked right up to Laurence as if he had been waiting for her.

He climbed up to her and wrapped his paws around her neck. He was holding onto Laurence tight and wouldn’t let go. As she remembers:

“When it was time to go, they had to actually peel him off of me and it broke my heart to leave him there.”

As much as it tore at her heart, Laurence initially believed she couldn’t take Bruiser home. 

With two cats already in her care, the idea of adding another – especially one living with leukemia – felt impossible.

Laurence discussed it with her husband, who firmly said no because they already had two cats at home. But Laurence just couldn’t stop thinking about Bruiser… She said:

“I thought about him every day. I just wanted him to have a family and to be loved and be a part of a family, and I didn’t care how long that was gonna be, whether it was gonna be a couple of weeks or a couple of years.”

Laurence added:

“The thought of not helping him was worse than what I knew I would go through emotionally.”

Laurence phoned the shelter and explained that she would speak with her husband again about the possibility of adopting Bruiser, though his answer was still no.

But when the shelter later followed up to ask what had happened, Laurence happily shared the news – her husband had finally said yes!

It seems she was confident her husband would relent, driven by her determination to offer Bruiser a fresh start. She said:

“I decided I was just gonna figure it out.”

Laurence jokingly remarked that she’d sooner consider divorce than give up on Bruiser, even quipping that her husband might be the one put up for adoption instead. And with that, Bruiser officially became part of their family.

But only a few weeks later, his health took a turn. Bruiser began to have trouble standing, often stumbling when he tried to walk, and the distressed sounds he made tore at Laurence’s heart.

Fearing the worst, Laurence rushed Bruiser to the vet, where she learned he was battling epilepsy along with several other serious complications. As she put it, he was dealing with “all sorts of crazy health issues.”

Regular vet visits every two weeks became routine, and during that time, Bruiser grew closer and closer to her. 

Their connection deepened so strongly that many believed they must have been soulmates from another life. Wherever Laurence went, Bruiser was never far behind.

If Laurence sat down, Bruiser would instantly climb into her lap. When she bustled around the house, getting the kids ready for school, he perched happily on her shoulders. 

And every night at bedtime, he curled up beside her, laying his head gently on her pillow.

Laurence admits she was nervous about adopting Bruiser at first, not only because they already had two cats but also three young children and two dogs. 

To her surprise and relief, Bruiser blended into the family perfectly, quickly becoming a favorite among the kids.

They were enthusiastic about helping with his care and even suggested adopting more cats with health challenges so Bruiser could have friends like him. 

Their sweet idea made Laurence think back to the cats she had seen in the leukemia room, inspiring her to look for another shelter closer to Massachusetts.

Thanks to Laurence’s efforts, the leukemia room at the Maine shelter soon emptied out. With the help of a closer shelter, the cats with leukemia were finally placed into loving homes, giving them the fresh start they deserved.

Laurence often found it a bit ironic that Bruiser, who wasn’t particularly fond of other cats, had spent so much time in that very room. 

At home, they worked around his preferences by installing two cat doors on the stairwell and setting up a rotating system to manage his time with the other two cats.

Bruiser loved spending his days playing with the kids, lounging in sunny spots, and watching birds through the window. 

To Laurence, he became more than just a pet. He felt like her very own emotional support companion. Inspired by him, she now hopes to adopt only leukemia-affected cats in the future.

When she first brought Bruiser home, Laurence didn’t know how much time they would have together, but she was determined to make every moment count. His life revolved around love, and her family gave it back to him in full measure.

Bruiser spent nearly four wonderful years with his family, enjoying every cuddle, every sunbeam, and every moment of love – living far longer than anyone thought possible. 

In time, though, his health began to fail, and it became clear his journey was nearing its end.

Laurence felt in her heart that he had stopped fighting. After those precious years together, Bruiser was taken to the hospital, where he couldn’t be saved. 

She held him close in her arms as they watched the sunset, remembering how breathtakingly beautiful the sky looked as he crossed the rainbow bridge.

Bruiser always nestled his head next to her neck, on her shoulder, but this time, Laurence felt his head gently drop. With tears in her eyes, she remembered:

“I always promised him that I would be there for him until the end. I’ll miss him every day. I was so grateful for every moment I had with him. I never took anything for granted because I knew it was limited. He was one of the greatest gifts of my life.”