The Joys of Older Cats

Here at Raystede we have cats of all types and ages. All are equally deserving and the younger cats are found homes reasonably quickly usually within 2-3 weeks. However the older cats we have in tend to be more difficult to home as many people re homing a cat may have lost one recently through old age or illness and feel that if they take on an older cat they may have to go through it again all too soon. This is completely understandable as we all know too well the pain of losing a beloved pet. However , many cats these days are living well into their teens or early twenties and make excellent companions as they get older as they tend to be more settled and live life at a slower pace.

Advantages of homing an older cat;

You know exactly what type of cat you are getting, as mature cats have already developed their personality whereas kittens can be more unpredictable. You never know with a kitten of 9 weeks whether or not he/she will become a lapcat, an independant cat, or a hunter.
Mature cats generally like their home comforts more; a warm place to sleep, more often than not on your lap, food and a good vantage point like the back of the sofa or a windowsill to watch the world go by.
Your curtains and pot plants have a much higher chance of surviving an encounter with an older cat than a kitten!
You will already know when you choose your older cat whether he likes to hunt or not.

Caring for your older cat

Feeding;

The shelter you choose your older cat from should have a good idea of his dietary requirements. Don’t think you are doing your cat a favour by feeding your cat a meat only diet. Dry food is an excellent way to keep his teeth healthy and tartar free, especially important for older cats. Most cats over five years that come into Raystede need their teeth descaling. By feeding dry food as well as meat you lessen his chances of having to put him under sedation for procedures such as dental work. Don’t forget your cat will need access to fresh drinking water at all times. You can also buy foods specifically formulated for the older cat.

Sleep areas;

Make sure his bed is out of draughts, they may have less fat to insulate them than a younger cat. Of course many cats believe what is yours is theirs and wiil generally make themselves quite at home on your bed or wherever your favourite seat is!

Toileting;

Most older cats are housetrained and will go outside to toilet, however if he is less mobile or suffers from arthritis he may appreciate a litter tray to avoid going out on those cold winter mornings.

Grooming;

Your more mature cat may be less supple so might need a helping hand to groom those hard to reach spots!

We generally have around 4 to 5 older cats to rehome at any one time. These cats are usually 10 years plus and the most difficult to home are those in their teenage years. These cats are always extremely affectionate, and we find it quite sad that at this time in their lives they should be looking for new homes. They can be very rewarding companions, we always have a long list of older cats waiting to come in. Please help us find homes for them!
Here are some we currently have waiting;