Dear Most Esteemed and Knowledgeable Kitties:
My 84-year-old mother wants a cat. What should she get? A male? A female? Kitten or grown? She lives with my sister in a large apartment with two verandas. I am quite surprised that she wants one. She never spoke about it. When she comes to visit us, she is so taken up with our cat she can’t take her eyes off her. What should I do?
~ Brian
Thomas: Good thing you asked, Brian. Cats can really enrich an older person’s life, but there are some important things to consider when seniors are interested in adopting cats.
Bella: First of all, we recommend against a kitten for older people. Many older people have limited mobility, and a kitten’s antics can pose a risk for falls and other injuries like scratches to delicate skin.
Tara: Another thing to consider is how your sister feels about having a cat in the house. As much as you may hate to think about it, the cat your mother adopts may live longer than your mother, so your sister needs to understand that and be willing to not only assist in the cat’s care if your mother has trouble with chores like cleaning the litter box but to possibly become the cat’s primary caretaker.
Thomas: We don’t think the cat’s sex matters as much as the cat’s personality. What is it your mother likes the most about your cat? What would she like in a cat of her own? A snuggle buddy? An independent friend? Somewhere in between?
Bella: How do your mother and sister feel about a cat’s level of vocalization. Some people love cats that “talk” a lot, and others don’t care for that as much.
Tara: We’d recommend that your mother and sister discuss what they would and would not like in a feline housemate before searching for a cat of their own. I know what can happen when people end up not liking the cat they bring home … *sniffle*
Thomas: There, there, Tara, it’s okay. Can I give you a kiss on the nose and make you feel better?
Tara: Eek! I mean, maybe not right now, but thank you for offering.
Thomas: Okay. But you know we love you, right?
Tara: I guess so.
Bella: Oh, Tara, I love you right to the moon and back! Can I be your friend?
Tara: I’ll try, sweet one.
Thomas: Anyway, Brian, there’s this really cool thing that a lot of shelters do …
Bella: It’s called “Seniors for Seniors,” and it’s a program where if an elderly person adopts an older cat, the adoption fee is either deeply discounted or waived completely.
Tara: Don’t be afraid of adopting a “senior” cat — some people say cats become seniors at age 7, which is ridiculous! A well cared-for indoor cat can live into their late teens.
Thomas: We’ve even seen cats that lived into their 20s.
Bella: Senior cats can be perfect companions for senior citizens! Elder kitties tend to be a lot mellower than young cats, and they’ll be perfectly content spending lots of time close to your mother. The odds of trip-and-fall hazards are really decreased with an older cat, because they don’t tend to run under people’s feet.
Tara: Mama says she knows from experience that a lot of the older cats you find in shelters are there because their guardians passed away and nobody else in the family could take them. So if your mother wants to adopt a senior kitty, that cat will probably come with lots of experience around older people.
Thomas: And like we said, we’re sure a senior kitty would be able to provide your mother with years of good companionship and joy.
Bella: So we hope that your mother would be willing to consider adopting an elder kitty and making that cat’s golden years the best they can possibly be. And we hope your sister is willing to help with caring for the cat, too.
Tara: What about you other readers? Do you know of older people who adopted cats? How did it work out for them? Have you adopted a senior cat? Please share your stories and advice about helping elderly people find the best cat for them!
Senior cats are wonderful! The last two kitties I have adopted have been the best kitties ever and they were both considered seniors. The great thing about senior cats is that they know what the deal is – they know how to live around humans. My Kimi was a mama cat surrendered to the shelter at age 8, after having many, many litters. She immediately let my 2 male kitties know what the deal was and they respected her for it. Most loving girl ever and so happy to be in a home without responsibility of kittens. My Vinny was adopted at age 9, and the easiest cat ever to integrate into the household. Tolerant of other kitties, kind, loving and just ecstatic to find his forever family!
Mama’s sister adopted a cat who was technically considered a senior at age 7, but it’s been six years since the adoption and her kitty’s still going good and strong. Also, Thomas is 15 and he’s in great health!
My human’s parents got fairly young cats when they were in their 70s and 80s. Both cats outlived her mother, and her dad’s cat outlived him. She’s currently living upstairs at our house and looking for a home. So one thing I would suggest is if a senior adopts a cat, no matter the cat’s age, to make provisions for what happens to the kitty if she outlives the human (actually ALL humans should do this!). My human’s dad just assumed that she would find a home, but it does not work that way, especially with an older cat.
We absolutely agree with you! Mama’s made her wishes for our care known in her will. One thing a lot of people don’t know is that some no-kill shelters will be willing to take kitties after their guardians pass away. Usually this is done by planning in advance and involves a donation of a certain amount (which varies from shelter to shelter) to pay for the cats’ care. It’s definitely worth looking into in the event that a person doesn’t have family they trust to take care of their kitties after they die.
Hi, Brian, I believe that a sweet senior kitty would be the best for your mom. Many cats at 12, 13, even older are relinquished because of an owner’s death and would love to have another senior human love them. The health of the cat is important to know as your mother would be broken hearted should it have an ongoing problem and she lost it early. However any time there is love between a cat and a human, no matter how short or long, it is a wonderful thing and benefits them both. Good luck in your search.