‘Provide the cat a loving home’: Manitoba rescue trying to connect seniors with feline friends

An animal rescue is looking to connect seniors with cats to help address loneliness. Danton Unger explains.

A Manitoba cat rescue is working to match seniors with some of their rescues.

Whisker Warriors Manitoba is starting a new program called Silver Whiskers.

The goal is to match cats that may not be good with other pets or a busy family with seniors 60 and older and provide companionship for both.

“This is going to be best case scenario for the cats and it gives seniors a chance to have a companion, whether it’s for six months or six years,” said Dana Shaw, one of the founders of the rescue.

As part of the program, all costs would be covered by the rescue, including food, litter and any vet bills. If the senior is unable to take care of the cat anymore, Shaw said they will take the cat back.

“The only thing the senior has to do is provide the cat a loving home.”

Shaw has spoken with a number of seniors who worry about the cost of owning a pet and hopes this program will get rid of that burden for many who are wanting a furry friend in their home.

When going through the adoption list on the rescue’s website, Shaw said these cats will be labelled as comfort cats.

There are currently five cats that fall into this category– Mojo, Nevaeh, Rocket, Daisy and Delilah.

Shaw said if a senior eventually wants to fully adopt one of the comfort cats, they will be able to do so at a reduced cost.

‘Increases connectedness and companionship and reductions in loneliness’

Corey Mackenzie, a professor of clinical psychology at the University of Manitoba, said having a pet can be very beneficial to someone’s mental health, especially seniors.

While most research around this topic is focused on having a dog, he believes the sentiment would still apply to cats as well.

“Reductions in symptoms of anxiety and depression, increases connectedness and companionship and reductions in loneliness,” said Mackenzie.

Like any pet owner knows, Mackenzie said they immediately become part of the family.

“There’s a really interesting relationship that develops between species, but it’s a really strong, often very positive relationship that people have with pets.’

He notes there is also research that shows looking after an animal can help create a heightened sense of purpose and meaning in someone’s life.

“There’s something about caring for something, tending to something that relies on us, that can provide that meaning, that purpose that can really make a big difference for people in their lives.”

Currently, Whisker Warriors Manitoba has a promotion for the month of March where all cats over seven months of age are $99 compared to the normal $175.

If people are interested in joining the comfort cat program or are looking to make a cat a permanent member of their family, the adoption form can be filled out online.

Whisker Warriors Manitoba has been in operation since August 2025. The rescue has adopted out over 60 cats so far and has roughly another 60 cats in foster care.