Rennie Grove Peace Hospice Care took care of Michael from Hertfordshire in his final weeks while he was suffering from renal cancer and chronic kidney disease.

Michael’s cherished companion during this time was his rescue cat, Coco.

Rachel, a healthcare assistant at Rennie Grove Peace, said: “We visited daily to help with personal care, such as making sure he was clean and comfortable, and making breakfast – for him and his cat.

“We always made him a cup of his favourite Chinese tea.

“He was very appreciative of the visits, as he lived alone.”

She spoke of how much Coco meant to Michael, and how this was his main concern as he neared the end of his life.

Rachel said: “Coco was his constant companion.

“She sat on his lap all the time and they were really loving and affectionate with each other.

“I know he was worried about what would happen to her when he died.”

Rachel quickly took action after Michael’s daughter, Mary-Anne, told her she had promised her dad she would find Coco a new home.

She said: “Mary-Anne couldn’t take Coco because she already had a cat and wasn’t sure what to do with Coco – a 13-year-old lap cat who was used to being the only pet.

“I knew how much Coco meant to Michael, and I wanted to give both him and Mary-Anne peace of mind that she would be okay.”

Michael died at the end of August after spending his final days in the Rennie Grove Peace Inpatient Unit in Watford, leaving Coco suddenly without her beloved owner.

Rachel helped Mary-Anne to share Coco’s story on a local cat rescue Facebook page.

Within hours, a 70-year-old woman, who also lived alone and was looking for an affectionate companion, stepped forward to adopt Coco.

Jackie Tritton, chief clinical officer at Rennie Grove Peace, said: “Michael’s story is a powerful reminder that hospice care is about much more than medicine.

“It is about supporting the whole person – their relationships, worries, and wishes – and helping families prepare for what comes next.

“That might mean symptom management, emotional support, or in this case, making sure a much-loved pet finds a safe home.

“Hospice care is about dignity, compassion, and helping people to get the best out of every day while living with a serious illness.”