Some cats come into your life for a season. Others become part of your story.
Yesterday, we said goodbye to Jerome, who passed away at an estimated age of 18.
Jerome first came to Planned PEThood around 2012, not as a pet, but as a community cat. He was brought to us through our Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return (TNVR) program by a kind man named Jerome, whose name he would proudly carry for the rest of his life.
At the time, Jerome had been on the losing end of a serious catfight and arrived with wounds that required antibiotics and several weeks of confinement while he healed. During that time, we discovered what an incredibly sweet, gentle soul he was. It didn’t take long before everyone fell in love with him.
We briefly tried to find Jerome a home of his own, but something became clear whenever he returned to the clinic for visits to the cat room; he already felt like he belonged.
And then there was Biscuit.
Many of you will recognize Biscuit as the beloved cat featured in the Planned PEThood logo. Biscuit needed a companion, and Jerome was the perfect match. The two quickly became inseparable. Over the years, other clinic cats came and went, but there was never another friendship quite like the one Jerome and Biscuit shared. They were the clinic’s famous duo, bringing smiles to staff, volunteers, clients, and visitors alike.
When Biscuit passed away several years ago, Jerome continued to charm everyone he met. He eventually left clinic life behind when he was adopted by our Foster-Placement Manager, Karen, who gave him a loving home for the final years of his life. Karen cherished Jerome, and we are deeply grateful for the care, comfort, and happiness she gave him.
Jerome was FIV-positive, but he never let that define him. His diagnosis didn’t stop him from living a long, joyful life filled with affection, playtime, cozy naps, and people who adored him. He is a beautiful reminder that cats living with FIV can thrive and enjoy many wonderful years when given the chance.
Jerome’s journey began as a community cat in need of medical care. Because someone cared enough to help, and because so many people opened their hearts to him along the way, he lived nearly two decades surrounded by love.
We will miss his sweet face, his quiet presence, and the memories he leaves behind. We like to think that somewhere beyond the Rainbow Bridge, Biscuit was waiting for his best friend, ready to pick up right where they left off.
Run free, Jerome. Thank you for every purr, every head bump, and every reminder that sometimes the cats we rescue end up rescuing us.
View Jerome’s photo album here.
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