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Things to Consider | Cats available for Adoption | Examples
If you’re thinking of adopting a cat as a new addition to your family, you might be wondering why would I adopt an older cat instead of a kitten, and what would be my primary concerns when adopting an older cat?
Older cats are still cats. They enjoy life as much as a kitten. A warm spot, a good meal, and playtime are high on the list of priorities for an older cat. They may not play as much as they did in their younger years, but they cherish playtime enrichment just the same. As an adopter of an older cat, you will feel the rewards of caring for an animal grateful for your attention.
Older cats age into three groups: “mature” at 7-10 years, “senior” at 11-14 years, and “geriatric” at 15+ years. Cats can also be categorized into one of these age groups prematurely if health conditions shorten their projected life span. These groups are helpful for understanding the needs of a given cat, but they don’t define the quality of life or physicality expectations of a cat.
Things to consider
When considering adopting older cats, first think about your home and daily schedule. Cats thrive with routines, and this increases with age. Many older cats also become more sensitive to stimuli, like noises and lights, as their hearing and eyesight changes. Older cats also need warm and soft surfaces to rest their aging bones. Think about these questions: What is the noise level in my home throughout the day and night? Does my home provide safe and comfortable cat areas so the cat can retreat during chaotic times? Do I or does my family have reliable schedules so that the cat can be tended to at predictable times?
Second, think about your time investment. Older cats can take longer to adjust to new surroundings compared to kittens and young adults. You will need to spend time observing them to learn their preferences and fears. Interact with them on their schedule and to their preference. Never pull a cat out of a hiding spot, if you can avoid it. Instead, coax them out through a predictable routine of food and caring interaction. This adjustment can take months or as little as a day. It depends on the personality of the cat and how stressful their transition has been from their previous home.
You can reduce how long this takes by preparing your home prior to the cat’s arrival by giving them a contained-but-comfortable transition space, such as a bathroom with a window or a cozy corner in your bedroom. You want to avoid spaces that receive no natural light or are completely removed from routine, like closets. Basically, you want to invite them into your home, not encourage fearful hiding by passive neglect of their space.
Litterbox use (and misuse) is a primary way for cats to communicate their health and wellbeing. Consider it part of their communication to you, and read up on how you can prepare his or her litterbox. You can also decrease their adjustment time by talking to them in your normal voice and addressing them by their name. It will increase their familiarity with you more than you might initially realize. Behavioral studies on cats have shown they have a wide vocabulary, and as with the aging population of any species, communication is key to maintaining positive mental health and behaviors.
Which brings us to our third concern for older cats, health issues. Adopters sometimes hesitate to adopt older cats because of the increased likelihood of veterinary costs. But, this isn’t really the case. A younger cat has just as high a likelihood, and you could be looking at many more years of those costs. Preparing your budget before adopting decreases the stress, and pet insurance can actually be a big help. To be completely practical about it, when adopting an older cat you’re looking at less years of responsibility than adopting a kitten. It may seem callous to think about adopting in this way, but you’ll have a higher chance at a less-stressful and more successful adoption if you take the time to consider the potential lifespan of the animal and how you see the animal in your life for the next five years, the next ten years, and the next twenty years.
When you adopt through meowWOOF, you can be confident that the cat has been observed for many hours and that their needs have been carefully considered before being matched with you. Our cats have come from homes with loving owners who have either passed or have medical care that eliminates their ability to care for their cat. Our mature, senior, and geriatric cats expect human interaction and care. They are used to living with humans and need time, patience, and understanding to adjust to new homes. We strive to give our adopters as many resources as we can while the adopted cat adjusts to their new home. You will receive the cat’s medical history at the time of adoption, but we will also discuss their history with you before we finalize. If you are considering adopting an older cat, fill out our adoption form, and we will discuss any questions you may have.
Available for adoption
Examples
Below are examples of how mature, senior, and geriatric cats can fit into your home:
An aging man lives alone and uses a walker. He chooses to adopt a mature cat who requires affection and lap time but has already been identified as not a “trip hazard” and not a “door darter”. He and the cat benefit from their shared daily routines and an understanding of what it means to age gracefully together.
A teenager wants a cat but plans to live on their future college campus after high school graduation. The family decides to adopt a senior cat. The “homebase” for the cat becomes the teenager’s room with the litterbox nearby in the house, and the cat’s routine is mostly decided by the teenager’s schedule. The teenager (and by extension the parents) will not have the energetic demands of a younger cat, less interrupted sleep and less training required. After graduation, the parents will have fewer years in which they will have to take over primary care for the cat.
A new couple plans on having their first child but not quite yet. They choose a geriatric cat. They’re able to give their attention and affection to a grateful cat while they prepare their home and budgets for a larger family. And they know that if they have a child before the cat passes, the older cat will be less of a concern for accidental scratches. And they know that having indoor cats during pregnancy can reduce the likelihood of childhood allergic responses should they decide to adopt more cats later.
