November is ‘Adopt a Senior Pet’ month, a promotion sponsored by Petfinder. For San Diego cat lovers, the spotlight shines on older orphaned cats looking for their forever homes. On Petfinder alone today, there are 97 senior cats in the San Diego area waiting to be adopted into a loving home.
What is a senior cat?
A cat that is 8 to 10 years old (48 to 56 years old in human years) is generally considered senior. Age in years may not give you an accurate profile of a senior cat. As with humans, a cat’s health and activity level will affect their age profile, both physically and personality wise. A cat’s chronological age is not based on a straight formula – you can see what a cat’s chronological age is in human years on this cat age conversion chart.
Why adopt a senior cat
In most instances, senior cats are not considered for adoption as frequently as kittens and younger cats. While kittens are adorable and draw the attention of potential adopters, senior cats have their own special charms and merits.
Most senior cats have lived in a home and want to return to a home environment. They tend to be more settled than younger cats and their personalities are already established. (Keep in mind that a cat in a shelter environment will usually not show all of their true personality traits.)
But by spending time with the cat and talking to the cat caregivers, you should be able to get a pretty good idea of the cat’s personality. This will make it easier for you to choose a senior cat that will be a good fit for you and your family.
The older cat personality
While they may not be as playful as kittens and younger cats, many senior cats still enjoy some playtime, wanting to chase after string, bat a ball, or roll around with a catnip toy.
On the flip side, senior cats are often content to just relax with you enjoying your company and pets. They will be more attentive and many will show their happiness when you get home by greeting you at the door.
All in all, senior cats give warm companionship, devotion and unconditional love.
Other Pluses
Senior cats are more often than not litter box trained.
Your senior cat comes full grown so you know how big or small of a cat you are adopting.
Senior cats tend to like to snuggle and love sleeping with you.
Senior cats know that scratching posts (not furniture) are for scratching.
Potential challenges
In some cases, an older cat will have some medical issues that require extra care and perhaps medication. Caring for cats with medical issues can incur extra expenses. Make sure you find out all about the cat’s medical history and any potential health problems.
Whether the cat is in perfect health or has some medical problems, the day will come when you have to say goodbye to your cat. While the life span of cats is growing longer and many cats live into their 20’s, your senior cat may not be with you for as many years as a younger cat would. But, the reward of rescuing and giving an older cat a loving home for the rest of their lives is very fulfilling.
Saving a life
Many people do not consider senior cats when looking to adopt a cat and so it is more difficult to find homes for them. When you do adopt a senior cat, they know that you have rescued them and they are extremely thankful and you know that you have truly saved a life!
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