5 Incredible Reasons to Adopt a Senior Cat

And why they make amazing companions for busy people

When I first came across him in the shelter, Teddy must have been the most pathetic cat I’d ever seen.

If someone had told me that one day I’d adopt an old scruffy tomcat with no teeth who can’t be picked up, who hisses and scratches at every other touch, sneezes everywhere, can’t groom properly, and slaps the other cats every opportunity he gets, I’d most likely have laughed in their face.

And yet that’s exactly what happened.

And not only has it been perfectly manageable, it’s also been a wonderful, rewarding journey.

Our favorite shelter had an open day that Saturday. Teddy was one of the very few cats allowed out of the enclosures.

And under his rough exterior hid a cat desperate to be friendly and playful. He was ready to leave the street life behind and become part of a family.

By that point, he’d been featured on the adoption priority list for several months. But he kept being overlooked. Nobody wanted him.

He was a senior cat suffering from a compromised immune system and a chronic cold. A consequence of having caught FIV through his previous territory fights with other street tomcats.

Watching Teddy rediscovering his social side again, I wondered what he’d been through.

On top of that, even though he desperately wanted to be friends with someone, he was still quite irritable and unpredictable. Still under a firm grip of those deeply rooted survival instincts.

How can such a cat ever compete with all the tiny, playful, and sweet young kittens around him?

To be fair, it’s an easy oversight.

At the shelter, we all naturally want to take in the youngsters. They look vulnerable and we want to protect them.

We assume it’s easier to build a relationship with a baby animal, because they’re only just starting to learn what life is about. There is no dodgy history.

Also, they are just so irresistibly cute! Nothing makes our hearts melt quite like the babies.

I was no different. Our first two cats were brought in as tiny kittens, too.

But on that particular day I felt otherwise. Watching Teddy rediscovering his social side again, I wondered what he’d been through.

All those years of living out in the open, rain or shine. Having to rely only on himself. And not trusting humans at all.

I thought it was incredibly unfair that he should be left behind for so long, because of his condition. Wasn’t his condition supposed to be the very reason he would stand out to someone?

On top of that, nobody at the shelter could tell us for sure how long he had left to live. Although cats with FIV can enjoy happy and long lives, it’s a pretty unpredictable condition nonetheless.

And that was the last drop. We took Teddy Bear home.

Now, I do understand completely if you are unsure anything could ever make you adopt a senior cat (or even a cat with health issues!) over a precious, tiny kitten.

The choice is yours, and it’s in everyone’s best interest to find a cat who makes the perfect match for your exact lifestyle.

It’s also precisely why we should give all cats a big fat chance, including the elderly!

Don’t forget, most mature cats do live predominantly healthy lives. Most people don’t ever need to battle any major cat illnesses.

And if other senior cats are anywhere near as funny, social, clever, and majestic as our Teddy Bear, then you’re in for a real treat. All they need is the chance to shine their true bright colors.

So, around five years later and counting, let me share what I’ve learned about senior cats by living with this scruffy, sniffy, irritable old boy.

1. They like to keep it easy

In a “been there, done that” kind of way.

Mature cats have reached the point in their lives when they are too cool for anything besides eating, napping, and Netflix. If it seems too much work to go and raid the pantry, they will give it a pass.

Instead, most of their precious energy is spent on finding peace and quiet. They will enjoy every snuggly corner and warm sunny spot to the fullest, and they’ll spend long blissful hours just watching the day go by. Nothing beats a vast range of comfy daybeds to choose from each day.

Any time of day is good enough for a long, carefree, healing nap. You’re always welcome to join them!

2. They keep track of your daily schedule

When Teddy first joined our existing gang of two, for months he had to be fed separately and first, because he went completely bonkers at the sight of food. He kept prowling, and he’d chase the other cats away, treating every dish as if it were his very last meal.

The survival instincts were so strong that even though he fully grasped the concept of morning and evening mealtimes, when it came down to it he never believed he could actually rely on their repetition.

Thankfully he’s calmed down a lot around food by now. But it seems to this day he can’t believe his luck.

So he likes to make sure things do happen exactly at their designated times.

I have absolutely no idea how he manages to actually keep track of time — but he does.

When I find myself in the zone and forget a mealtime, Teddy always comes to the spare room where I work at precisely either noon or 5 p.m., and starts meowing.

He lets me know that at noon it’s time for his lunchtime snack of kibble.

And at 5 p.m., and not a minute later, I should get up and light the fire in the wood burner for him to wait in front of, while I prepare everyone’s dinner.

And I’m immensely grateful for this, especially in the evenings, as it means I never end up working late.

Cats are creatures of habit. Senior cats, even more so. Chances are they’ll even become your slightly less annoying alarm clock!

3. They compliment your busy life

At the end of the day, they won’t demand nearly as much of you as a moody youngster might, expecting you to help them get over their boredom when you get home. Young cats are always better off in pairs!

Mature cats on the other hand, are just that: mature, calm, and zen.

They free up your day by being incredibly easygoing and grateful for what they already have.

No walking all over your keyboard to get attention.

No constant demanding to play various games by digging their claws into your foot every five minutes.

And definitely no jumping on your shoulders from the sky high cat shelf you’ve installed for them to lounge on, and hopefully give you some space.

Literally all you need to do most days is to feed and water them, make sure they are warm (cats get arthritis, too!) and clean the litter box for Their Royal Highness to use.

Mature cats are completely happy to have a comfortable daily routine with perhaps a portion of amusement, as long as they don’t have to walk too far for it.

At the end of the day, they’ll be happy to just quietly join in whatever vibe you’ve planned for the evening.

Create a special spot for them by the radiator, or use a heat-reflecting blanket, and they’ll pass the long dark hours endlessly meditating, or curled up with you.

In winter, Teddy likes to spend every evening sprawled on his makeshift cat sofa in front of the wood burner. He stares dreamily into the fire for hours. When he’s had too much heat, he wanders off to have a nice drink of water, lies down on the floor to cool down a little, and then back onto his kitty chaise lounge.

Senior cats are astonishingly adaptable. And as long as they’re provided with a sense of comfort, safety, and love, they’ll happily make themselves suit pretty much any busy routine of yours.

And they will always be there to offer quiet company and comfort, when you finally allow yourself to put those aching feet up!

4. They’ll have you in stitches

If you think kittens are funny, wait till you see a grandad of a cat go crazy with a mouse or try to get a grip of a string tease toy!

Senior cats are hilarious to watch when they start playing. Especially cats who used to live outside will be keen to pass a bit of time stalking or teasing something.

A toy that gets their hunting mode switched back on (even if it’s just for five minutes), will keep their brain alert and their mood lovely and light.

But they’re so incredibly clumsy! With their movement skills likely to be somewhat limited by now, it’s an amusing watch when they throw themselves at it regardless.

When Teddy comes to greet me at the door, he loves to have a go at my shoelaces trying to untie them. He also goes crazy for a string of ribbon which he’ll run after throughout the length of the house.

I always try and take my time encouraging him to continue whatever it is he’s doing, as every bit of movement now counts and is beneficial for his stiff muscles and achy bones.

And despite these conditions, he enjoys his little outbursts enormously! It’s like he found his way back to being a cheerful little kitten. It’s the most heartwarming thing to witness.

Encouraging at least a little play each day always goes recommended. Because aside from the all-important exercise, laughing together is always one of the best ways to bond and create a lasting friendship.

5. You become their happyend

Senior cats come to shelters from all sorts of situations.

Like Teddy, they might be taken in from the street, where they suddenly struggle with being challenged by younger and stronger cats.

They might lose the ability to fetch for themselves altogether, because their survival skills are affected by their bones aching in the cold, and they aren’t as fast as they once used to be.

Street cats will have had various experiences with humans, too.

Cats who became stray after living as pets for a while will remember what it’s like to share a home very quickly. And it will be most wonderful to see their mindset return from always on edge, back to reassured and peaceful.

Cats who were born stray or even feral and have neutral experience with humans, will soon be overwhelmed by realizing how kind we actually are.

They’ll become more open to trust you every day, with every meal served on a silver plate, again; and with every cosy movie night next to you on the couch. They’ll only wish they had known about you sooner!

Cats who have had negative experiences with humans will need a ton of time and patience from you, to overcome their fear. You might even be able to spot specific behaviors, giving you clues of what might have happened to them. Make sure to then be super gentle and patient in that area.

If the cat is scared of your loud stomping feet, there’s likely to be history behind that reaction. The best you can do is to put up with tiptoeing for a few weeks.

And when you do do something that freaks them out, always reassure them that it was nothing.

Once you prove yourself to the cat by respecting the space they need to adapt and turn around, you’ll start seeing a change as they finally allow themselves to relax.

Make sure you show them they are safe, and make a point of always being smooth and gentle. Yes, you do want them to know you give the best chin scratches, but let it come naturally and on their own terms.

Once they discover how lovely you are, they won’t be able to get enough. Soon you’ll be spending your time with the most grateful, charming, and cuddly cat you’ve ever known.

Many grandcats sadly end up in shelters when their lifetime human companions pass away. In these cases your bonding will be especially precious, as you will be replacing the human love of their life!

These cats already know so much about living in a human home, they’ll get used to your space and routines easily and quickly. They will be beyond thrilled to belong again.

Ready to have your perspective changed?

I certainly wasn’t.

And nothing could ever prepare me for how different things would be from what I’d expected.

Of course we faced challenges.

But it’s thanks to these challenges that our relationship with Teddy took its twists for the better, and turned out to be so very unique.

This especially goes true for my partner Barrie, whose task has been to deal with probably the worst of all. And that’s trying to catch a cat who is most desperate not to be caught, for vet visits.

You may laugh, but this was a cat who could only be touched on his head, and anything else made him mad.

So he would get extremely stressed and scared, and mobilize his biggest strength, speed, and determination to keep his freedom.

On the first few occasions, our flat would look like a bomb site half an hour later; with everyone sitting on the floor disheveled, puzzled, and exhausted, and the cat carrier still empty.

Teddy cowering behind the couch, and Barrie looking helpless with his skiing gloves on, and towel-wrapped arms.

And when we finally got hold of him, he screamed the loudest, soul-crashing roars I’ve ever heard from a cat. It was totally heartbreaking.

So as you can imagine, this left a lot of potential for damage.

But every single one of Teddy’s agonizing experiences of being trapped and taken ended back at home again. He could feel safe again. And be spoiled with treats.

So we have proved to Teddy that in fact he can trust us.

The complete breakthrough came after a couple of years living with us, when he’d had to spend about two weeks at the shelter vet unit with a health scare.

He was really weak and was on the drip for days. All in all more fragile than ever.

We made a point of visiting him a lot. And every time he’d see us coming, he immediately perked up, purring loudly and pressing himself against our hands. By that point he must have known we weren’t going to ever leave him behind.

Since then he’s been the most wonderful, social, and loving cat ever!

These days Teddy jumps on Barrie’s lap and asks for cuddles. For all they’ve been through, he adores him endlessly.

He’s become gentle with us at last. He knows now that he’ll be safe with us for the rest of his life.

And we’ve learned a lot about life from this brave old fighter too.

Luckily, not all elderly cats carry emotional baggage and health issues. Most grandcats can remain perfectly healthy and just need some fine-tailored care, which they will appreciate immensely.

They all have the same potential to become incredibly charming companions. You will gain the most wonderful, loving, and unassuming friends in them.

So next time you’re in the shelter, look out for the old souls, watching you from a corner quietly. Ask to hear their stories.

Some of those stories will be heartbreaking.

But that’s exactly where you come in.

You know full well that the cheeky kittens and cute young cats are bound to find a home tomorrow, or next week.

The grandcats however, have been waiting for you.

They, too, just want love.

By now they’re probably aching for it.

If you love reading about cats, you’ll love Thriving Cats — a brand new blog full of cat care tips, cat behaviour guides and cat rescue stories.