San Joaquin Sunsets Rest Home for Cats (2024)

Most people don't expect to share their homes with more than a few companion animals -- you know, a couple of cats and a dog, maybe a rabbit or some small animals like guinea pigs, hamsters, or rats. But then you move to California's San Joaquin Valley, a stray cat gives birth in your backyard, and you can find homes for only three of the five kittens she had. In this moment, the San Joaquin Rest

Home for Cats opened and has been sheltering at least six cats since 2010. The rest home was never officially accepting new residents, but new refugees came nonetheless. Now, given the caretaker's cancer diagnosis, no new residents can be accommodated. The costs are significant, but what can be done? Sometimes you are the only person who is going to step up for an animal in need: a cat who has had countless litters on the streets or has fought other cats on an eternity of nights for a little bit of food that won't even fill a hungry belly. San Joaquin Sunsets Rest Home for Cats has taken in cats like these and others who could tell stories of hardship and precariousness. At least one resident here was plucked from the kill list of a Central Valley shelter. Doing the right thing isn't easy. This rest home venture has busted up relationships and sidetracked a caretaker's life, and it continues to tap a bank account that barely has enough. Help if you can by making a donation, or let this page inspire you to open your home as well to these feline refugees of domestication who are depending on humans for security, sustenance, and the opportunity to have a life lived well. If everyone did a little, no one would have to do more than they reasonably should. Thank you.

21/08/2024

It's update time again, unfortunately after another long absence. I'm not so good with this social media stuff. Back in December, a PET scan showed that the weekly chemotherapy I was receiving had failed and metastatic breast cancer was again growing in my liver. At that time, I was prescribed a new chemotherapy agent that has fortunately resulted in a complete response for now. There were a lot of unknowns at the time I began this therapy. Without a treatment that worked, I was looking at the possibility of dying within 3 months. A scary prospect. Fortunately, that didn't happen, but it was a wake-up call about how quickly things might change in the future.

Now that my husband's children have relocated from Minnesota for jobs and life experiences, we've decided to return to Fresno for better weather, more-epic outdoor opportunities, the company of friends, and solid end-of-life options. We'll be relocating soon.

Since my last update, the rest home lost two of its residents to illness, Dottie and Cinnamon. These were cherished companions and the grief is enormous. While I'm relieved that they will not have to adjust to life without me, I'm devastated that they will not be returning to California with us to spend with me the days I have left. Life is always ups and downs. Amid the great happiness that I have more time on the planet, I feel immense sadness that that time will be spent without these wonderful animals.

Again, I'll say that I will try to keep this page more updated so that the new posts aren't so big and unexpected. I'm delighted to be returning to California. It's the place I consider home and I can't wait to return the cats to their little habitat there that they love so much.

Here's to safe travels and easy settling in!

25/11/2023

No comment needed 😂😂😂

19/05/2023

If you're smart, instead of dumb like me, you'll do this type of thing before you're diagnosed with a fatal disease. Because let me tell you, doing it during what may be the last months of your life only adds misery to the monstrous depression you already feel. I've set aside one page to list the advantages of being dead, because there are quite a few that I've come up with, and that makes me feel better about what has happened to me.

11/05/2023

A lot has happened at the rest home, and I apologize for the lack of updates. I was just ... happy. After chemo ended in September 2021, I started feeling better. My cancer was apparently controlled, and even though I was still immunocompromised and having issues with cancer markers going up and down and problems with platelet count, I was doing OK on maintenance treatments. In November 2021, I started trying to get back in shape, and in the process I met a running partner who turned into a good friend who turned into a husband. During 2022, I continued to make progress with my health, and I got married and relocated with the cats to Minneapolis over Thanksgiving.

All was pretty good with my health until a few weeks ago, when a PET scan showed that my cancer had returned in my liver and a couple of lymph nodes. It's devastating news, and I'm back to chemotherapy and lots of unknowns. At this point, without being able to get a durable response to treatment, I'm told that my cancer is essentially incurable.

The good news is that my cats are safe with my husband. Against all odds, I've met someone who will care for the many cats who will outlive me. And this means that I won't have to rehome them, adding more sadness to the already present devastation of likely losing my life sooner than hoped and saying goodbye to everyone and everything I love.

There is a still a lot of happiness in my life. I'm still getting first line treatment, which might help get the cancer back under control. I have hope and am putting my efforts and strength toward getting through treatment and maintaining the wonderful new life I have here in the Twin Cities.

People have sent messages and posted comments, and I am so sorry that I've been remiss in responding. It was a lot of work to get ready to move so far, from Fresno to Minneapolis. And I was caught up in the surprise of an unexpected love affair that turned into so much more.

I'll try to keep things more updated, with photos and such. Thank you for following along and staying interested in this story.

05/01/2022

Chemo wrapped up on September 21, 2021, and despite antibody treatments, all cancer markers are rising again. I don't yet know for sure, but this may be the beginning of the end. I know I should begin making strides toward placing the animals in my care. My progress in that regard has been slow because I was hopeful that the treatment might work -- and it has been more painful than I even imagined to let go of my only family members. Please bear with me as I come to terms with what is happening to me and try to find the courage to do the right thing for these cats.

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Dottie-Dot doing her best imitation of an otter.

San Joaquin Sunsets Rest Home for Cats