By Danielle from Ark on the Edge
Over the last 4 weeks here at Ark on the Edge rescue centre we have seen a massive increase in the number of elderly cats being adopted. To name just a few: Pod, a 16 year old stray, Suki a 10 year old female black cat, Leo and Barley 10 year old ginger brothers and Binx 10 year old black female stray
So do older cats make better pets? Well, it depends on YOU! Older cats have a defined personality – which sometimes cannot be seen in young kittens until they get a bit older; Older cats tend to be fully litter trained; older cats tend to be less maintence than kittens (who usually have to watched as closely as hawks!)
When someone comes to my centre and they have never owned a cat before, they usually say something along the lines of “I’d like a kitten, so I can teach it right from wrong as its growing up”; however, I tend to recommend older cats for people who have never owned a cat, just from personal experience myself – my first cat was a 16 year old female with hyperthyroidism called Queenie (she is still going strong with me at almost 18 years old) and she taught me an awful lot on how to look after cats and she is no trouble!
Now, don’t get me wrong here – I’m not a kitten hater! Lol. But I think sometimes people don’t realise the amount of effort that goes into raising and looking after a kitten; most of the time, they haven’t quite worked out how to use their claws and teeth without unintentially hurting during play and they require an awful lot of attention as they can get themselves into a few scrapes.
Of course, this can happen with any cat of any age, but getting into scrapes tends to be more common with kittens (we once had a lady who had to call the fire bridgade out because a kitten had gone up her chimney and was refusing to come down!)
Kittens make fantastic pets, for people that have the time and drive into caring for them. And they are incredibly funny to watch rushing around at the speed of light; after some random thing that has caught their attention, and of course the joy, to have an animal from the very beginning of its life, to the very end is a wonderful; kittens normally are adopted like hot cakes. And yet the older ones, are always overlooked. Yes, older cats have their issues also; but I’d be interested to hear stories of your cats.
Thoughts??
Associated page: DYLAN The Fundraising Rescue Cat
Danielle
I work in a sheltered housing complex and one of my tenants wanted a cat. I agreed with only one condition; an older cat who was good with other cats. This was for various reasons; a. the tenant had poor mobility so less likely to fall over an older cat unlike a skittish kitten. b. My tenant was in his senior years so a kitten would very likely outlive him and have to be re-homed. c. I have other tenants to consider so a kitten tearing around communal gardens wouldn’t go down well (I have to consider everyone!) d. I have other cats living at the scheme so didn’t want to upset them.
Harry has been with my tenant for about 18 months now and he’s wonderful :). He was 8 when we spotted him on the CPL website, my tenant had the home visit and it was decided that with a lovely new adopted dad, a ground floor flat and lovely gardens Harry couldn’t wish for anything better!
He was so scared for the first few weeks and wouldn’t come from behind the chair because he had been with his first dad for 8 years who then died and Harry was sent to the CPL 🙁
Harry is now the most wonderful confident cat! Neighbours feed him and spoil him when dad goes on holiday and he couldn’t wish for a better life!
So its is possible to match an older cat with an older person!
I never would have chosen a kitten. But I caught Monty at about eight weeks of age and the rest is history. I’m enjoying the fact that he’s a little older now. He still does get rambunctious at times, but our routines are established, and that’s so nice. I know he won’t leave the yard– he simply does not climb over the fence even though he could. When he was young I didn’t know what he might do outside. We also discovered what trees he gets stuck in and can’t get out of by himself and we blocked his access to those with chicken wire.
Inside the house things are easier as well– he’s getting more snugly, tolerating more affection from us. He’s also getting better with company– he doesn’t hiss and growl at strangers as much. Of course, since Monty had no human contact before eight weeks, his socialization has been more of a challenge than for most cats. Had we had access to him at a younger age and had he been able to be with his kitty mom for a longer time, his personality would be quite different. But I love him just as he is: four years old, with a bit of a wild streak, but definitely bonded well to my husband and I, with a love of outside (and inside) adventures and exploring.