Every visit is calm, unhurried, and tailored to your cat. We come to your home because that is where your cat feels safest — and likely where you prefer to be during this time.
Quality of Life Assessments & Consultations
Wondering if it is time to say goodbye is, itself, an act of love.
If you’re asking the question, it means you’re paying attention. It means you see the changes — the way your kitty has slowed down, the meals left untouched, the quiet that has settled where play used to be. You are not being premature. You are being present, and that matters more than you know.
During a quality-of-life visit, the doctor comes to your home to spend unhurried time with your cat in familiar surroundings. Together, we evaluate comfort, mobility, appetite, and joy — the markers that tell us how your cat is experiencing their days. We use a feline-adapted quality-of-life framework, not the standard scales designed for other species, because cats express discomfort differently and deserve an assessment tailored to them.
After the assessment, we talk — openly and honestly — about what lies ahead. There is no pressure, no timeline imposed from outside. Whether the path forward is comfort care, a return visit, or a gentle farewell, the decision is yours, and we will support it completely.
The Gentle Farewell
The whole experience is designed so that your cat will fall into a gentle sleep in the place they feel safest — your home. The entire process is peaceful, quiet, and centered on your cat’s comfort.
When your doctor arrives, she takes time to talk and address any questions you may have. When you are ready, she will meet your cat, read their body language, and let them acclimate to the visit. There is no rush. The process begins only when your cat is comfortable, and every step is guided by their needs. When the time comes, the transition is gentle and peaceful.
What happens during sedation?
The gentle farewell is a two-step process designed to keep your cat completely comfortable. First, a sedative injection is given to help your cat drift into a deep, peaceful state of calm. It takes just a few minutes usually for them to reach optimal relaxation and comfort. You can hold your kitty on your lap if you wish, as they become relaxed. We can be wherever you are most comfortable - and your cat is most comfortable, during this time.
Once your cat is fully sedated and unaware, a second injection, this time given intravenously, guides them through the final transition. This injection is very quick, and they will pass peacefully within a minute or two. You can hold them throughout this entire process if you want. You decide what feels right for you and for them.
After this second injection, the doctor will listen for your cat’s heartbeat with their stethoscope and provide you with assurance of your cat’s passing. It is normal for this to be a very emotional time, and everyone deals with it differently. We understand. The doctor will offer to leave the room, often going out to the car for a few minutes to give you some privacy.
How long does it take?
A typical visit lasts 30 to 60 minutes, though there is never a clock running. Often, the paperwork (the authorization form, decisions about aftercare wishes, and payment) is completed online before the doctor’s arrival. People tend to want to focus on their cat rather than on paperwork details. There is no rush, and often the conversation turns naturally towards stories about your beloved cat - how they came to be in your life, their favorite things, funny quirks they have - whatever you want to share, if anything. The transition itself is quiet and takes only a few minutes. We will walk you through everything in as much detail or as little detail as you want.
What will my cat experience?
Every cat is different, of course. We will offer tasty treats (unless your cat is nauseous) if you allow us to. The treats can be a nice distraction during the administration of the initial sedative injection. We try to slip the injection in without them noticing - that is the goal. The calming medicine produces a very deep relaxation— they will likely be able to hear you and feel you petting them, but they have no concerns about a stranger in the house or about what is happening.
Many families tell us their cat looked more peaceful in those final moments than they had in weeks. All cats deserve a peaceful, soft transition when the time is right to release them from their tired bodies and to prevent suffering.
Who can be present?
Everyone is welcome. Family members, children, close friends — anyone your cat would be comforted by, or anyone who needs to be there for their own heart.
Other pets in the household may be present as well. Many families find it meaningful to have companion animals nearby, though this is entirely your choice. You know your other animals and can do what feels right for your particular family. Sometimes people will decide to have their other pets be outside the room, but will give them a chance to see their friend’s body afterward - a chance to say goodbye or perhaps to provide closure. Often, the doctor will leave the home during this time to give the entire family, including other animals, privacy and freedom from distraction.
The Feline-Exclusive Difference
“Dog-free” is not a marketing phrase. It is a commitment to your cat’s sensory experience in their most vulnerable moments.
What to Expect
The processes and services provided by SoulCat Feline Farewells were thoughtfully designed for the unique needs and preferences of cats. We don’t have to concern ourselves with meeting the medical needs of other species or bringing equipment that will serve dual purposes. It is all about cats and the people who love them.
Knowing what comes next can ease the weight of uncertainty. Here is a walkthrough of the entire experience, from your first contact through aftercare.
Before the Visit
It begins with a conversation. You reach out when you’re ready — by phone or through our website — and we listen. There is no obligation and no pressure. We answer your questions, talk about your cat, and, if desired, schedule a time that works for your family. We usually give you an arrival “window” of one hour - the doctor will arrive sometime during that hour (and will text upon heading your way).
Once scheduled, you will be emailed an authorization form to complete prior to your appointment. Ideally, you would send it back to us - even by taking a photo of it and texting it to us. This allows us to be prepared for what aftercare arrangements you choose, and to quote you for the fees associated with your choices.
We will email or text you a secure payment link - most people prefer to make payment ahead of time so they can then focus solely on the sacred and precious time with their cat.
Before the Veterinarian’s arrival
You will get a text (or a call, if you prefer) when the doctor is leaving for your home, along with an estimated time of arrival. Once she pulls up to your home, she will text again to tell you she has arrived and ask if you are ready for her to come in. We know this is a nerve-wracking time for cat caregivers, and it can be full of fear and uncertainty. We try to ease this as much as possible, even before the visit, by providing clear communication. We don’t want you to be wondering what time we will arrive, and we are always happy to answer any questions.
During the Visit
Your doctor arrives and will talk about your cat and the situation. She will greet your cat gently and read their body language. She may offer them some treats if you think it is okay. Family members are welcome to be nearby — touching, talking, simply being with your cat.
When everyone is ready, the process begins with administration of a calming sedative injection that helps your cat drift into a deep, peaceful state. Once deeply relaxed and completely unconcerned about the doctor’s presence, the gentle transition follows the administration of a quick intravenous injection. Your cat feels no pain, only the warmth of familiar surroundings and the presence of the people they love. The veterinarian will confirm that your kitty has passed away by listening to their chest with her stethoscope. You can hold your beloved friend on your lap throughout the entire process if you’d like.
Afterward, there is time for you to say goodbye. You may choose to have Dr. Mesher or Dr. Dillon make ink paw prints of your cat’s little foot, or to take a fur clipping. We can do those things at your home, though some people choose to have us do that back at our office.
We will ask you if you’d like some time alone with your cat - we can step out to our car for a few minutes to give you the space and privacy you will likely want.
After
If you have chosen to have us take your cat for cremation (either communal cremation or individual/private cremation), when you are ready, we will wrap your friend carefully in a soft swaddle. This is a moment of reverence, a final act of care that honors who they were.
Unless you have chosen home burial or to take your cat for cremation yourself, our doctor handles all aftercare arrangements. Your cat is transported with dignity and care to our office in Tigard, where they will then be picked up by our cremation partner (Family Animal Services). If you have chosen a private cremation, ashes will be returned in a pretty carved wooden box. You can decide if you’d prefer to pick up the ashes (and/or clay paw print if you have chosen that option) at our office in Tigard, or from Family Animal Services in NE Portland. Regardless of whether you have chosen a private/individual cremation (ashes are available) or a communal cremation (ashes will not be available), memorial options — clay paw prints, ink prints, and fur clippings— can be arranged.