Christians have always believed God cares for animals. Jesus said not one sparrow “is forgotten before God.” St Francis of Assisi preached to birds and called animals his brothers and sisters. And in recent years, St Gertrude of Nivelles, a seventh-century abbess traditionally invoked against mice and rats, has been adopted by cat lovers as an unofficial patron of cats.
Historical Context
A Prayer for a Sick Cat
Lord, you made every creature and you love them all.
My cat is sick, and I’m worried.
Please ease their pain and bring healing.
Guide the vet in finding what’s wrong and how to treat it.
Help me know how to care for them,
and give me peace whatever happens.
St Francis, pray for my cat.
Amen.
Before a Vet Visit or Surgery
Lord, keep my cat calm and safe today.
Steady the vet’s hands.
Bring them home to me.
Amen.
For an Old Cat Near the End
Father, thank you for all the years with this cat:
the purring, the sunny windowsills, the company on hard nights.
Keep them comfortable now.
Give me the wisdom to know when to let go, and the grace to do it gently.
Amen.
Best Times for This Prayer
- When your cat stops eating or seems unwell.
- Before a vet visit, test or surgery.
- When facing an end-of-life decision.
- On 4 October, at a Blessing of the Animals.
Scripture Connection
“Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?” — Luke 12:6
If God remembers sparrows sold for pennies, he hasn’t forgotten the cat curled up on your bed.
Related prayers
For other pets, see the Dog Prayer and Prayer for Horses. For the patron of the sick, the St Rocco Prayer.