If you walk into an animal shelter on any given weekend, you’re likely to see people gathering around the kittens to adopt, while the older senior cats go unnoticed in their kennels.
While there’s nothing wrong with adopting kittens, there are countless older cats being overlooked—who might actually be a better fit for your family!
Kittens are great, but there is just something so special about giving a furever home to a senior pet. Don’t believe me?
Why You Should Adopt a Senior Cat
- They’re patient.
- They’re more confident.
- They’re less energetic.
- They’re set in their personality.
- They’re less likely to get into trouble.
- They’re more experienced.
- They’re full of love.
- You’ll save their life.
They’re patient.
Senior cats have a level of patience that most young cats lack. As the two of you start to form a routine and life together, they’ll be more likely to accept it. In a lot of cases, senior cats will be so thankful that they have found a new furever family that they will be willing to overlook when you are an hour late to set out dinner or have pet them for a little longer than they usually like.
They’re more confident.
Cats who are seniors know who they are and what they want. This sureness in themselves gives them quite a bit of confidence in their daily lives. Overall, this confidence means that senior cats are less finicky about their food and the people they spend time with.
They’re less energetic.
Everybody wants to adopt a cute little kitten, but not everybody wants a kitten jumping on their kitchen countertops and tearing apart the house for hours on end. That constant high energy is a lot to handle! Senior cats, on the other hand, have less energy and contribute to a calmer home.
They’re set in their personality.
When you adopt a young cat, you have no idea what their personality—or purrsonality—will be in one, five, or even ten years. Senior cats have already developed that part of themselves. When you meet a senior cat, you know who you are going to get in your family.
They’re less likely to get into trouble.
This goes hand-in-hand with the fact that senior cats have less energy than kittens. While kittens will spend the day scratching up furniture or crying out for attention, senior cats will mostly keep to themselves and nap. They’ll still play with you and find some kind of problem to cause, but for the most part, they’ll stay out of constant trouble.
They’re more experienced.
Because they’re older, senior cats have more life experience. These experiences can help add to the value of your life together. For example, senior cats have had a lifetime mastering things like using the litter box, which can help keep them and your home healthy.
They’re full of love.
Even if it takes some time to build trust with your senior cat, the love they have to share is unmatched. Words can’t quite capture how sweet senior cats can be. You just have to experience it for yourself by adopting one *hint, hint*.
You’ll save their life.
Senior cats in shelters have a much higher chance of never leaving the shelter. This is a heartbreaking fact, but one each of us can help change. When you adopt a senior cat, you will save their life and give them a loving place to live out their golden years.
What to Consider Before You Adopt a Senior Cat
The ages of any other animals in your home.
Before you sign the paperwork and pack up a senior cat in a carrier to bring home, you need to think about how that cat will interact with the other animals who already live in your home. If you have young, energetic kittens or dogs, you may want to wait until your current pets are a little bit older and more reserved. A senior cat could easily become stressed when faced with such a big age difference.
The cat’s medical needs and history.
Like people, senior pets tend to need more medical attention as they age. Talk to the shelter about any special care the cat will need and determine if you will be able to adequately provide it for them. Also keep in mind any other costs—both of time and money—that will come with having an older pet, like prescription food, extra vet visits, and more.
The transition plan for introducing the cat to your space.
Helping the cat get acclimated with your home will take a bit of time and a lot of patience. Have a plan in place for this transition. Start by setting up a home base in a single room with a litter box and favorite blanket for the cat, then gradually—and slowly—introduce them to the rest of the house.
There is truly nothing more special than having a senior pet in your home. Anyone who has had the privilege of loving a senior knows this unique bond. If you’re able, I hope you’ll consider welcoming a senior cat into your family!
Pawsitive Purrpose 
Leave a Reply