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| Ringo HAWC image |
Animal shelters
are simply not for cats – which is one reason why organizations that advocate
for cats promote fostering felines instead of consigning stray,
surrendered or abandoned cats to shelters, where far more cats than dogs are
euthanized.
Cramped and
unhealthful shelter facilities for felines are bad enough for kittens and young
cats, some of whom never knew anything better.
But senior cats confined in shelters have often known real homes and
people who loved them. To find
themselves in an animal shelter at that stage in life, when they deserve to
ride out their time in comfort, health and affection, must be devastating.
For very good
reason, November is “adopt a senior pet month.”
(I hate the name “senior” in describing people or animals, and I’m using
it here only because that’s how this month is publicized.) Further, I’m focusing on senior cats here
because last month was adopt a shelter dog month, and as indicated, cats
are in more jeopardy in shelters than dogs are.
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| Fluffy |
To make it easier
for us to see the importance of happy homes for senior cats, this comparison:
toward the end of their lives, both senior cats and senior people deserve comfort,
respect and caring – not being institutionalized, too often in sub-standard settings
with sub-standard care. Repeatedly,
older shelter animals are described as the hardest to re-home.
In contrast to
kittens and younger felines, senior cats offer myriad advantages when adopted. For starters, mature cats make great companions. Often
they’ve “been there before” and know about domestic life, whether with a family
or one loving person.
Senior cats are
beyond all the “vetting” and training that babies will need, so they can settle
in and appreciate. Often overlooked in
shelters, mature felines most need the homes that compassionate people can
provide, ultimately to their own delight as well.
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| Tigger TCR image |
Adult cats already
show what they’re made of, unlike kittens who will grow up into who knows what.
Adopters who work during the day or work
or enjoy retirement at home would appreciate the reality of “ready-to-go” cats,
whose transition from shelter to home can be very smooth.
It’s worth
remembering (for cats and people alike!) that age is not a disease. Older cats can live full, active lives or
experience health issues while aging. At
the same time, though, thanks to better veterinarian and dietary care, pets are
living longer these days, according to the American Veterinary Medical Assn.
Sure, adopting a
senior cat will probably mean less overall time together. But that glass is still half full of valuable
time to enjoy life at home together, with a happier ending than
otherwise would have been likely. As for
vet bills, they’ll happen regardless of the animal’s age, sometimes occurring
with a kitten as well as a senior.
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| Melody TCR image |
A comfortable, happy
senior cat in a loving home could well surprise everyone and live longer than
expected. And whatever time there is can
be high quality best-friends time, invaluable for both sides.
(Note: I
welcome word from shelter and rescue group reps about senior cats in residence who
most need adoption into loving homes.
Please send a JPG image and biographical information for each cat, along
with your contact info, to me: pmsummers@msn.com. Thank you!)
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