Veterinarian explains in detail what to consider when adopting an adult or senior cat

When welcoming a cat into your home, you may sometimes find yourself connected with an adult or senior cat rather than a kitten. Most adult and senior cats become part of a family after being in shelters or rescue facilities, but accepting an adult or senior cat requires a certain level of readiness.

In this article, we will explain the points to keep in mind when becoming a foster parent to an adult or senior cat.

Where to meet adult or senior cats

Adult and senior cats are almost never found in pet shops. Currently, adult and senior cats are waiting for families in animal welfare centers, shelters, and other rescue facilities. The cats in these facilities have various pasts: some could no longer be kept by their owners, some were rescued from hoarding situations, and others were saved from breeding facilities.

These cats undergo treatment and socialization training at the facilities before participating in adoption events. I have participated in adoption events at animal welfare centers myself, where only adult and senior cats—not kittens—were available for adoption. As it stands, it is unfortunately difficult for adult and senior cats to find homes because they lack the cuteness unique to kittens.

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Points to keep in mind when adopting an adult or senior cat

Due to the rise of the rescue cat trend, it is very encouraging to see more people including adult and senior cats in their options for adoption. However, keeping an adult or senior cat requires resolve and financial flexibility. Here are some points to keep in mind when adopting an adult or senior cat.

They may be difficult to socialize

Even if they have received socialization training at a rescue facility, it does not guarantee that every cat will become friendly. Rescue cats may have lived in harsh, wild environments or potentially suffered abuse by humans. Because of this, some cats may view humans as enemies and may harbor a strong sense of wariness. You might imagine that an adult cat is calm and lives a leisurely life. However, if you welcome one expecting a cat that purrs on your lap, you might end up receiving painful "cat punches" every day.

Their age can be difficult to determine

If you buy a kitten from a pet shop, you know its exact age because the birth date is recorded, but for rescued cats, the exact age is unknown. If a cat was rescued as a kitten, you can estimate its age based on its baby teeth and permanent teeth. However, for cats that are already adults, age is estimated based on the color and wear of their permanent teeth, their appearance, and the condition of their fur, which only provides a rough estimate. A cat might look young but actually already be in its senior years.

They are not suitable for families with small children

While young adults of two or three years old might be fine, cats approaching their senior years (like those aged five or six) or senior cats over seven are not suitable for families with small children. Small children may treat the cat like a toy. While this applies to cats of all ages, it is a significant source of stress for them. For a senior cat, in particular, it can be an extremely strong stressor that leads to poor health. You will need to take measures such as keeping the children away from the cat.

It is preferable to keep them as the only pet

Once a cat reaches adulthood, it takes time to adjust to a new environment. If there is already an existing cat, they may struggle to establish a good relationship, which will cause stress for both of them. If possible, it is best to keep them as the only pet.

They may have injuries or illnesses requiring treatment

Rescued adult or senior cats may have lived in harsh environments. Consequently, it is common for them to have feline upper respiratory infections, or test positive for FIV or feline leukemia. There is also a possibility they may have injuries from accidents that require treatment or may have lasting aftereffects. Senior cats, in particular, may already suffer from chronic kidney disease and may need to start visiting the animal hospital as soon as you bring them home. Conditions in adult cats are often chronic, requiring continuous visits to the vet. Many people who adopt adult or senior cats do not have pet insurance, and there is a possibility that you will face high medical expenses shortly after adoption.

You must consider nursing care and end-of-life care

With adult or senior cats, nursing care and end-of-life care will arrive in the near future. The average lifespan of cats has been increasing, and is said to be about 15 years. Depending on the age at which you adopt a senior cat, it may require nursing care in as little as two or three years. While you may hope to have them with you for a long time, their time in good health will not be long.

Resolve and financial stability are essential

As mentioned earlier, there is much that is unknown regarding the personality and health of adult and senior cats. Among those who want to foster shelter cats, it is not uncommon for people to have a desire to feel superior, thinking things like, "I'm amazing for keeping a rescue cat" or "I'm doing something good." These people often don't research how to care for a cat and haven't considered the costs involved. It is a common conversation in the exam room: if an illness is discovered in a cat they have adopted, they often decide against treatment, asking, "Does it really cost that much?" There are also cases where they try to return the cat to the shelter because it hasn't warmed up to them.

To be a foster parent to an adult or senior cat, having the resolve to face the cat and the financial means to support them are absolutely essential.

Summary

We have explained the points to keep in mind when adopting an adult or senior cat. Many of these cats have endured a great deal of hardship up until now. If you are thinking of welcoming an adult or senior cat, please bring them into your home with a firm commitment to look after them until the very end.