November celebrates national Adopt a Senior Pet Month! I haven’t adopted a senior pet myself, but my cat Bambi is six now, and is starting to act like an old cat: he naps, a lot, doesn’t jump around much, and has gotten very happily fat.
The average age for a cat to be considered old is 7-10 years, although how cats age varies depending on a variety of factors, much like humans. Much like their younger counterparts, adopting furry seniors has its strengths and shortcomings, so here is a list of them for you!
Why you should adopt a cat
Set personalities - Since these felines have reached their last stages in life, they are much less likely to change personalities from when you adopt them, so you know what you’re getting!
Adoption fees - Since elderly felines are less desirable by new pet owners, adoption fees for these kitties are typically lower.
Care necessities - These cats have been around for a while, so most of their care needs are already known. With that, you know what to expect in terms of caring for your friend.
Beginner friendly - Most senior cats are already trained, so they require less time and supervision. They are also known to be more mellow and calm, making them great nap buddies. Just get them a nice cat cave for a bed and they’ll be happy!
Drawbacks to senior cat adoption (not really)
Old habits die hard - If you’re introducing your friend to a new environment or are trying to get them to take on a new routine, it may take some more patience for older cats. It was very difficult for Bambi to transition from being an outdoor to an indoor cat, and for a long time he would act out in retaliation. But with lots of treats and new climbing spaces, Bambi is much happier now!
Time - Adopting an older cat does mean that you may have less time to spend with your furry friend, but who said that everything is measured in quantity? As long as you have quality time, any time you have will be worth it.
Elderly care - Senior kitties may have more health complications that need your help, BUT you know most of these already before adopting, so you should be prepared :)
You can go to orgs like ASPCA to look into adopting your furry senior: https://www.aspca.org/
Tell us your story!
What are you experiences with older cats? Have you adopted one or know of others who have adopted any?
We want your feedback!
If you’d like to see more posts like this, or have any topic requests, please let us know at care@sweetpitaya.com <3
Our Sweet Pitaya felt cat cave bed is available now! Check out the Amazon link here: https://www.amazon.com/Sweet-Pitaya-Felt-Cave-Antibacterial/dp/B079Q9N3JY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1539022940&sr=8-1&keywords=sweet+pitaya+cat+cave
Written by: Alexandra Wei