Adopt A Senior Pet Month on November, 2024: November is adopt a senior month?

November, 2024 is Adopt A Senior Pet Month 2024. Have an Older Kitty?‎ Cornell Feline Health Center has Info on caring for older cats.

Definitely the older ones, although I agree with you that most people think that any cat over about 6 years old is past it (how stupid is that?). My reason for liking the older ones is that what you see is what you get. Their personalities and characteristics are formed and you know that when you take them home they are only going to improve as they get happier. With kittens, there is no way of knowing how they are going to turn out as they start to mature - will they become territorial, will they become feisty or intimidated by other cats?

My youngest cat is about 4 (we have only had her a few months) and the rest were all adopted at 10 and over.

I have a kitty of 7 months and an old lady of 85 wants to adopt him what do u think?

Hi, we do some fostering / adopting out. I know what it is like to be concerned about where an animal will go!

I would look at her individual situation. Is she in fairly good health for her age? Would someone be willing to contact u if she DOES pass away if no one in her family will take the cat so it does not go to the shelter / become homeless? We always make it clear when we adopt out that for ANY reason, if they can no longer keep the pet, contact us and we will take the dog/cat back and try to re adopt or keep ourselfves, that way it is not taken to a shelter, turned loose, given to someone that we do not know,etc. Even if someone would take the cat if she passes, I would still want to know , just to know what kind of family / person has teh cat.

Did she request the cat or did u offer it to her thinking it would be good company? Maybe tell her try it for a couple of weeks and if it doesnt work out, she could give it back to u.

Possibly something to think about wuold be an older cat. Some shelters have senior pets for senior humans. The activity level usually matches up better and life expectancy of both matches more.

I know this is kinda blunt, but these are the harsh realities of life. We worry a LOT about what would happen to not only our 4yo son if , God forbid, we both passed at the same time ,car accident,etc.but to our pets. I know our son would be in good hands w/ grandparents, uncles, cousins,etc. but I worry about my dogs and cats - 4 housecats, a Rottweiler, a Husky mix, and currently 1 foster dog. Even tho all ours are neutered/spayed, shots, boys (dogs) been to Obedience CLass, I still dont know if they could find a good home.

If u know her well, u might suggest she make arrangements for her pets for after she passes. I know some older folks who have done this and we are thinking of doing it ourselfves even tho we r younger (ages 23 & 29) simply for the peace of mind.

Talk to her honestly about your concerns and ?s. If she is in good physical and mental health , wants the kitty, and arrangement could be made for the cats well being if something WOULD happen to her , I see no reason not to try it out!!

GOOD LUCK

Brandi

Adopting a 13 year old cat?

First of all, thank you for taking on an older cat. I volunteer for a shelter and it is heart-breaking to see the older ones sitting in pens for months, waiting for new homes, being passed by in favor of a fluffy kitten or younger cat.

Older cats can need more food as they don't absorb it so well or less as they are less active. Many pet food brands do a version for older cats (senior) just as they do for kittens, this takes account of the differing needs. You also need to take into account the fact that he or she may not be able to jump up as high as the younger ones. When the cats do get together, watch out for the fact that your younger cats may want to play with the older cat, while he or she just wants to snooze.

To introduce the cat to your current cats there are two different ways, either way you need a room that the new cat can call her own, this may need to be your bedroom but if possible use a guest room or box room, somewhere quiet.. I strongly recommend using that Feliway diffuser and spray, get it online, it's much cheaper. You get a plug in diffuser, like one of the plug-in air freshners, put that in at least a week (if possible) before your new cat arrives. It calms cats down. Use the spray on the blankets for your new cat to make her feel safe. Before any introductions, allow the new cat to settle into her room. Get some identical blankets for the cats, again use the spray on them. Swap these about so that they get to smell each other before meeting.

First, there is the cage method. This is best done in a main room of your house. You will need one of those cages they sell for travel or for a dog, they will be about $40. Make sure your other cats are shut in a different room, then take the new cat out of her room and put her in the cage in the main room, with a litter tray and a bowl of water. Bring your other cats into the room. Allow them to sniff each other. Then you provide some nice food, something that is a treat like chicken or some prawns. Put the bowls of the cats at a distance from the new cat (don't forget to feed her too!). This makes the cats associate each other with something nice. When they've finished, remove the other cats, then put the new cat back in her room. It is really important not to show affection to the new cat in front of the others.

The next day, put the other cats in the cage and allow the new cat to explore the room. Again, provide nice food then put the new cat back in her room, then let the other cats out of the cage to smell the newcomer's scent. Keep doing this, turn about, moving the bowls closer and closer together (if necessary you can use cat food after the first few time, but use nice stuff if possible), you can do this more than once a day after the initial contacts. When they are eating happily with the bowls up against each other, you can let them meet without the cage. Again, provide food, with the bowls at a safe distance.

The other method involves allowing the cats to meet at a distance, like at the end of a long hallway. Like in the cage method, you keep it short, basically allowing them to see each other before separating them and providing food. You allow the time they see each other to get longer, then start providing the food without separating them. Again move the bowls closer and closer together.

As your new cat is elderly and has been declawed, you have to be really careful when they meet, as he or she cannot defend herself easily. If a fight does break out, use a pillow or cushion (keep a couple handy) to separate them. Gradually allow them to spend more and more time together, but do not leave them alone together until you are certain that they are happy together and never leave the house the first few times you do, just in case.

As for your daughter, the same sort of idea applies. Try to find out if the cat has lived with children before. If not, bring the cat into your daughter's room for a short period. Allow the cat to have a good sniff of the room, then get your daughter to give the cat her dinner. The next day, bring your daughter into the room the cat is in, again a short visit with your daughter feeding the cat. Do this a few times before your daughter gets to stroke the cat a few times. I know it is difficult to restrain a four year-old who just wants to cuddle the new kitty, but try telling her the kitty is old and needs to be treated differently to your other cats.

Of course all this may prove unnecessary. The new cat and your current cats may get on well enough to be allowed to meet quickly and your new cat may leap onto your daughter's lap for a cuddle within three seconds of meeting her. This is just an idea that can be adapted.

Good luck with this and enjoy your new cat.