There is no simple, straightforward or correct answer to this question. The answer usually depends upon the adopter’s personal circumstances and preferences.
I could stop there because there is no single correct answer and I don’t want to go through every permutation. So, I’ll try and answer the question on the basis of what is best for cats – not a bad way to make the decision. However, I expect a lot of people to leave the page here because they are seeking clean answers.
On the basis that all cats should be adopted from rescue centres (which is an excellent starting point from a moral standpoint) then the answer is very much simplified.
As kittens are often the first to be adopted from rescue centers, and as older cats are less popular you could strongly argue that an adopter should choose either a one-year-old cat or a 10-year-old. There are some wonderful older cats at rescue centres. Of course, a 10-year-old will have his or her own character; well formed and settled. You will have to decide, as will the cat, whether you can get on.
Incidentally, if you already have a cat in the household you should think very hard about adopting a new cat because there are too many instances of cats not really getting along in multi-cat households although it should be said it can work really well. It’s just a tricky thing to do because of the inherent, solitary character of domestic cats.
Reflecting on it, you could argue that a one-year-old cat is the least likely to be adopted because there are some people who wish to adopt older cats. The point that I’m making is that you should choose the cat which you prefer and which is the least likely to be adopted if you want to base your choice on what is best for cats.
This is a great way to choose cats at rescue centres because it makes you feel good about what you’re doing. You are saving the lives of cats; you’re improving their welfare generally. This is a big reward and a great starting point in your relationship with your new cat companion.
It is an interesting thought; to put aside completely your preferences with respect to cat appearance when adopting from a rescue center. If you select on character and the needs of the cat i.e. whether he or she has been left behind, you may find that, in the long term, you have a better and more fruitful relationship. You should find that your cat’s appearance become secondary to his character and his companionship.
A cat’s appearance is not as important as the relationship. At the end of the day you don’t see what your cat looks like in an absolute sense, you see your cat through his or her character and the strength of the relationship.
The great cat ‘owners’ adopt cats that come to them. They don’t choose in the way the question suggests. The cat chooses and the person accepts. Sarah Hartwell (messybeast.com owner) comes to mind. All her cats walked in the backdoor and stayed. That won’t suit everyone. However, it’s good to shake up the usual criteria for selecting a ‘pet’. To think out of the box and ask some fundamental questions about how and why.
Another thought to consider with older cats: Many come in with their housemates. Please adopt them together! Splitting them up makes them grieve for each other and severely affects their personality and wellbeing.
Most of my cats have been personal rescues of different ages. Some have passed and many have new homes through adoption, especially since I was evicted almost a year ago.
I tend to keep the special ones; the ones with fears or dietary needs, the older ones. I was allowed to adopt a rescue-only senior cat that needed eye surgery because the shelter knew I would take care of all vetting. She’s now with a great couple.
I have a senior cat with allergies and personality issues. She’d be hard to adopt out. I pulled her almost for years ago. My other cat will be four the same month as the Diva. He’s afraid of other humans but bonded with me. He’s a great cat but scared of people.
If I were to get back into rescue or add to my kitty family, I would have to consider my current kitties. Kittens would pose less of a threat, but older cats have known personalities.
I hope people that do not have any kitties will start with an older cat at first.
I will say that I’m not against home breeders aka hobby breeders. Hobby breeders are not in it for the money, but to improve or maintain the breed. By the time the pup or kit is adopted, it’s been fully vetted and cared for. In addition hobby breeders fully socialize the litters. I think breeders should be licensed and that the standards should be strengthened.
The cats whom no one else wants, the cats who get ignored due to disability, not being conventionally attractive, the truly elderly/infirm & of course, the FIV+ cats who are routinely killed by vets in the UK, despite the well established evidence that these cats can live normal healthy lives with good care. Killing is easier than education for too many vets here. Intelligence & prejudice are as mutually exclusive as ever.
Most of the cats of my life have come straight from the street and been in a dreadful state.
I have only officially adopted one cat from a rescue. He is FIV+, has serious behavioural, psychological issues, partially from a traumatic, injured life on the street, and partially from the rescue’s attitude and behaviour towards him. The rescue lied to us about him and how he had been kept. They became very aggressive when we asked them about his time in rescue and seemed to think they could just swap him out with any FIV+ cat that they had available. That spoke volumes.
Quite a few rescues here are little more than cat flipping services. Totally unethical. The cats who fair worst in these environments are the types of cats I listed above. Rescue should never only be about numbers and box ticking.
We kept him. He thrives. His understanding of love & safety increases every single day. He is happy and will have our care for life.
A senior for me. So many adopt the younger ones and the seniors sit patiently waiting for forever homes. The young ones will become seniors as well. I love seniors because they are calm and set in their ways. They are the perfect kids for a seniors and all really. It breaks my heart to see them passed up.