Jessie's Story: The Cat Who Changed Our Business Forever

Some cats leave paw prints on your heart.

Jessie left them on our business too.

One of the most common reasons families come to us today is because their cat requires medication, particularly insulin injections for feline diabetes. Looking after diabetic cats has become one of our specialist services, but that wasn't always the case.

In fact, we owe that part of our journey to one remarkable little cat called Jessie.

I first heard from Jessie's mum, Abbie*, through a routine enquiry. She explained that she and her husband hadn't enjoyed a holiday together for the entirety of their relationship because Jessie had been diagnosed with feline diabetes and due to this, required injections at 9am and 9pm exactly, everyday.

Like many owners of diabetic cats, they simply couldn't find anyone they trusted to administer her insulin safely.

At the time, we weren't trained to give injections.

Most businesses would probably have declined the booking.

Instead, we saw an opportunity to learn.

As Abbie* shared more of Jessie's story, it became clear that diabetes wasn't the only challenge she faced. Jessie also had additional complex needs, making it even harder to find appropriate care. On one occasion, when her owners had arranged for family members to look after her, Jessie became seriously unwell the night before they were due to leave.

Whether it was coincidence or simply fate, it was enough to convince them that Jessie needed professional care from someone who understood both her medical and emotional needs.

As cat owners ourselves, we understood that feeling completely.

Abbie*, who is a registered nurse, kindly invited me to learn how she administered Jessie's insulin. She patiently demonstrated the process, explained Jessie's routine and taught me what signs to look out for. That experience marked the beginning of our own training in administering injections safely and sparked a much deeper interest in feline diabetes and caring for medically complex cats.

Feline diabetes occurs when a cat's body can no longer regulate blood glucose effectively, usually because they don't produce enough insulin or their body doesn't respond to it properly. Many diabetic cats require insulin injections every 12 hours, often at the same times each day, alongside careful monitoring of their appetite, water intake and behaviour.

Consistency is incredibly important.

Missing injections or dramatically changing a diabetic cat's routine can lead to unstable blood sugar levels, making reliable, knowledgeable pet care essential whenever owners need to be away.

As our confidence and experience grew, something unexpected happened.

We began receiving referrals from other pet sitters, veterinary practices and catteries who weren't trained or insured to administer insulin injections. Families who had previously believed holidays were no longer possible suddenly had another option.

Looking back, we can honestly say that much of our early growth came because one family trusted us enough to learn.

And that family was Jessie's.

Throughout every visit, Jessie amazed us.

She accepted her injections with incredible patience, quietly teaching us that cats are often far more resilient than we give them credit for. She became one of our greatest teachers, helping shape the calm, compassionate approach we now use with every medically complex cat we care for.

Sadly, some time later, Jessie crossed the Rainbow Bridge.

Her passing was deeply felt—not only by her wonderful family but by us too. When you care for a cat over many years, they become much more than a client. They become part of your extended family.

To honour Jessie's memory and everything she gave us, we donated 10% of our profits for three months following her passing to charities supporting feline diabetes and feline cancer research.

It felt like the smallest way we could say thank you.

Jessie taught us new skills, opened new doors for our business and, most importantly, gave countless other diabetic cats and their families the confidence to know that safe, compassionate care is possible.

For that, we will always be grateful.

*Name changed for privacy.