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Adopting a Senior Cat – #ChurchandDwight #ad

Adopting a senior cat can be a win/win situation for both you and the cat you choose. While many of us think of cute, rambunctious kittens when we think of adopting a cat, there are tons of senior cats our there who desperately need homes. Everyone wants a kitten, and don’t get me wrong, adopting a kitten is still a great option. However, adopting a senior cat helps rescue an animal that could be stuck in the shelter until they run out of room for it, AND it makes your life easier because all of their house training is already done. Those are just two pros of adopting an older kitty. Let’s take a look at all the ways adopting a senior cat is good for both of you.

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Photo by Nathan Riley on Unsplash

Adopting a Senior Cat – The Best Thing You’ll Ever Do

Senior cats are so hard to adopt out. People shy away from them because they aren’t “as cute” as kittens or they don’t like the idea of them having a shortened amount of time with the family. BUT adopting a senior cat has tons of benefits if you stop and think about it. These cats make excellent pets, and when you adopt one of them you have the benefit of getting to see exactly what their personality is. Plus, they’re already litter trained. It can be nice to bring home a “plug and play” cat from the shelter.

Saving Lives

Senior cats are incredibly difficult to adopt out for the reasons I just listed. So that means that they can be stuck in a shelter until such a time that the shelter is full and the people running it have to make decisions about what animals they have to euthanize to make room. That is a horrible thought, but it’s the way it is in many shelters. Of course, senior animals and animals who haven’t been able to be adopted out for a long period are the first on the list. So when you adopt a senior cat, you literally save a life.

You Pick the Personality

Unlike kittens, senior cats already have fully developed personality. That means you’ll know immediately if the cats you look at are right for your family. Kittens have to grow into themselves. They have to come into their own, and oftentimes, their personalities aren’t what you expected. Adopting a senior cat allows you to pick the kitty that’s a perfect match for your family.

You Pick the Size

Just as with their personalities, a senior cat’s size is already determined. They have grown as much as they grow. Unless you overfeed them, of course. 😉 This means you can pick a cat that is the literal perfect fit for your family. It also means that you won’t incur the added expense of upgrading to larger cat houses and litter boxes as they grow as you would a kitten.

Social Graces

Adopting a senior cat means adopting a cat with all the social graces already in place. Most of the time, they’re already fully litter box trained. In addition, you won’t have to worry about your feet, hands, the couch, or the carpet getting shredded. Remember, kittens are adorable, but part of their play involves biting and scratching!

Senior Cats Remember Where to do Their Business

One of the key factors in litter box training is that cats need to remember where the box is. For senior cats, this is old hat. Unlike kittens who may have accidents because they don’t remember where to go, senior cats have a lifetime of experience finding the old litter box. And remember, good litter means a happy cat. And a happy cat means no accidents, because cats that don’t like their litter or that have an overly full litter box WILL go outside the box.

To help keep cats happy about their litter box, no matter what their age, use a quality cat litter like Arm & Hammer Slide. It traps odours for 7 days, and is dust-free with a soft texture that’s easy on paws. What’s best is the patented EZ Clean technology means the used litter slides right out! No more scrubbing or scraping the bottom of the box!

Senior Cats are Sometimes Chill

Adopting a senior cat generally means adopting a calm cat. Senior kitties are often content to just chill out with their owners. That’s in sharp contrast to kittens who can and do cause all sorts of mayhem when they get bored. And they WILL get bored.

Adopting Black Cats is Important, Too!

In a post about how hard it is to adopt a certain demographic of cat, I feel it’s important to mention black cats as well. Did you know that black cats of ANY AGE are equally as hard to adopt out as senior cats. That’s because the superstition that black cats bring bad luck is still alive and well. But it’s only that – a superstition. Unfortunately, that superstition puts adopting black cats in the same difficult category as adopting a senior cat! =(

Adopt the Ones Who Need it Most

If you’re thinking about adopting a cat, consider adopting a senior cat or a black cat. These poor kitties have it rough. Everyone wants a kitten, and many people shy away from black cats. Senior cats and black cats need homes desperately, so if you’re considering adoption, please keep adopting a senior cat or a black cat in the front of your mind.

This post has been sponsored by Church and Dwight, which means I have been compensated. My opinion is all my own and it is also truthful.

Mom of two beautiful active girls, traveller, fitness junkie, social media consultant, and keeper of the sanity.

4 Comments

  • Alison Braidwood

    I fostered senior cats for years (unadoptable due to health issues). They so appreciate having a loving home. My two current furbabies (both rescues) were 7 and 8 when I adopted them.

  • DaWn

    Black cats are the best. My girl is the most loving cat I have ever had and as a crazy cat lady in training I have had a few. Cats being so much joy to our lives. I challenge any dog person who says cats are boring to spend some time with a cat. They have the best personalities and can sometimes be almost dog like in their behaviour. Of course, it’s almost doglike because they do consider themselves above dogs!