Before I dip into the pros and cons of adopting an old cat from a shelter, I would like to briefly mention a story on social media about a woman (Sarah W) who adopted an old cat who suffered from chronic kidney disease. She knew that he had no more than about 12 months to live but adopted him nonetheless. She posted her experience on social media. She was surprised that her post was incredibly popular. People warmed to her. People recognised that she was doing something good. Interestingly, she became the focus of attention and praise.
It does show that the general public understand the need to adopt old cats from shelters of which there are quite a large number because they are not popular normally. We all know that kittens go first at shelters and black cats and old cats go last.
She named her cat Moses and he lived for about a year before developing pleural effusion and was euthanised. She did not regret adopting him and he had a good life with her.
She makes it clear that she is not a saint and not noble. She just has “a soft spot for elderly animals”.
And here is the first pro in the pro and con table:
Pros:
Reward: She said: “It’s really rewarding to make an old animal feel better. Yes, it hurts when they are ready to go, but if you’ve made them happy in the last months or years, it’s worth it.” The first pro is that it is a rewarding process for the adopter. It’s good for the conscience of the adopter. You are doing something good which boosts your self-esteem and makes you feel better. It’s important to focus on one’s self esteem, to feed it, massage it and grow it!
Saving a life: in an extension of the above pro, if you adopt an old cat, you can actually save their life because they might be earmarked for euthanasia. You are giving them a second chance and a loving home in a potentially life-saving process.
Lower energy level: older cats are less energetic. They tend to be more relaxed and calmer compared to younger cats. They demand less playtime and less mental stimulation. They don’t jump around all over the place as kittens do. This may suit a lot of people. They are just there, snoozing a lot, providing company but minding their own business.
Established personality: when you adopt a kitten you don’t quite know what you’re going to get when they become an adult but with an old cat, you get what you see. You have a better idea of their personality and behaviour. The shelter staff can provide information about temperament and preferences.
Litter trained: this is a minor pro because in my experience or personal knowledge, kittens will migrate to a litter tray instinctively because it’s the only natural substrate in the home on which to defecate and urinate. I don’t think cats need to be litter trained normally but with the older cat you certainly will have a cat that is thoroughly litter trained.
Gratitude and companionship: it is said that older cats will show their gratitude and appreciation when adopted. This could help to form a strong bond with their new owners. To be frank, I think this would apply to any cat but perhaps more so to an older cat because they might have been ‘left on the shelf’ longer than the other cats and therefore being placed in a forever home has a greater beneficial impact to them.
Cons:
Health issues: this is the big one. You’re probably going to have to take your cat to the veterinarian a lot more than normally which is an unpleasant experience for you both. An older cat might need a special diet and they may need medication if for example they are diabetic. There will be medical expenses and you’ll need to keep an eye on health.
Experienced caregiver: I would have thought that a caregiver more experienced in feline health matters would be a better matchup with an older cat. The cat needs an observant and knowledgeable caregiver particularly with respect to health issues.
Shorter lifespan: an old cat is at the end of their life. They might live one, two or three years. I think this is a pro and/or a con. It might be a pro because you don’t really want an 18-year commitment. On the con side it means you have to face up to the end of their life relatively soon. The end-of-life process is challenging for the cat caregiver. You have to make the decision when to euthanise a cat if it’s required. This is a big decision which I think needs to be made with the assistance of a good and experienced veterinarian.
Established habits: older cats have established habits and behaviours which are difficult to change. It may take some time and patience for them to adjust to their new environment. Counteracting that is the fact that an older cat will have more life experience and therefore probably better able to adapt to a new environment. It is likely that they will have an in-built calmness about new experiences.
Potential attachment to previous owner: this may be a con. And it may mean that they take time to adjust to a new home to form a new bond with their new family but I don’t think it’s going to be a big issue. After all they might have been at the shelter for a little while which would have broken the bond between them and their previous owner.
Knowledge about their past: shelters don’t always have knowledge of a cat’s history both in terms of health and behavioural issues. This lack of information may make it more challenging to understand the cat’s needs and preferences.
Conclusion:
When you look at the pros and cons you see more pros than cons! Perhaps I would say that because I’m trying to encourage people to adopt an old cat. But let’s say if my loved current cat companion died tomorrow (God forbid) I would adopt an old cat and the main reason would be this: the reward it would bring me. And for those who enjoy posting on social media the reward extends to praise from fellow social media users.
You could even set up a social media page on your old cat. These pages are normally are about glossy, glamorous and exotic pets but judging by the woman I mention at the top of the page, I think you would find success in blogging about the progress of your life with your old cat friend.
P.S.
You don’t have to be an old person to look after an old cat. Younger people can do a great job and receive a great reward in adopting and caring for an old cat.
