Adopting an older cat: why it is worth it and what you need to know
At rescue centres, older cats wait the longest and are often the most grateful for a home. Adopting a cat of ten, twelve or fourteen isn’t an act of charity: it is choosing a calm companion with a known personality that already knows how to live in a home. There are some costs and some trade-offs, and it is worth knowing them beforehand.
What counts as an older cat
International feline medicine associations consider a cat senior from the age of eleven, although from seven it is already described as a mature adult, and more thorough check-ups are recommended from that age. With today’s care, many cats live to fifteen or eighteen, and some pass twenty. That means a cat adopted at ten or eleven may have five, seven or even more good years ahead of it. It isn’t a short commitment. Yet at rescues, once cats reach seven or eight most adopters walk straight past, and these cats can wait months or years.
The benefits
An older cat’s personality is already formed: you know from day one whether it is affectionate, independent, chatty or calm, and whether it gets on with other cats or with children, because the rescue knows it. There are no surprises as there can be with a kitten. It is usually used to the litter tray and the scratching post, and it doesn’t have a young cat’s boundless energy: it won’t climb your curtains or attack your ankles at four in the morning. It is an excellent choice for older people, for anyone looking for a calm companion or for families without time to train a kitten. And the satisfaction of giving a home to a cat that might never have had one is hard to put into words.
What you need to accept
An older cat may have, or soon develop, one of the chronic illnesses of age, such as kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, diabetes, arthritis or dental problems. That means more frequent check-ups, perhaps daily medication or a special diet, and higher vet bills. It also means your time together will probably be shorter than with a kitten, and that sooner or later you will have to say goodbye. You need to be prepared for that. Many people who have adopted older cats say those years together more than make up for the farewell, but it is a decision to make with your eyes open.
The first check-up
Ideally, within the first few weeks the cat should have a full check-up: a physical examination, weight, a look at its mouth and joints, and blood and urine tests that include kidney and thyroid function. If possible, its blood pressure should be measured too, because high blood pressure is common in older cats and goes unnoticed. In Spain, this check-up costs between 100 and 200 € and gives you a snapshot of its health and a baseline to compare against in future. If it comes from a rescue, ask which tests have already been done: many run blood tests on older cats before rehoming them.
What it costs
The adoption fee for an older cat is usually lower than for a kitten, and some rescues reduce it sharply or even waive it to encourage people to adopt them. The cat normally arrives microchipped, vaccinated and neutered. Running costs are similar to those of any adult cat, except at the vet: from this age, a check-up with blood tests once a year or every six months is advisable, which in Spain comes to between 150 and 300 € a year, and if it has a chronic illness, medication and special diets can add between 30 and 120 € a month. Bear in mind that many insurers won’t accept new cats beyond a certain age.
Long-term fostering
Some rescues offer an arrangement designed for older cats or those with chronic illnesses: long-term or permanent fostering. The cat lives with you, in your home, but remains the responsibility of the rescue, which covers all or part of the vet bills. It is a good option if you want to give an older cat a home but are worried about vet costs. Ask the rescues in your area whether they run this kind of scheme. And if you can neither adopt nor foster, you can help by sponsoring an older cat, with a monthly contribution towards its care while it waits for a family.
Settling in
An older cat may take a little longer than a young one to settle into a new home, especially if it lived in the same place for many years or has been in a rescue for some time. Start with a quiet room with everything it needs: litter tray, food, water, a bed and a hiding place, and let it explore the rest of the house at its own pace. Don’t overwhelm it with cuddles or visitors in the first few days. Some settle in within hours and others need weeks. If you have other animals, the introduction should be even more gradual, because an older cat copes less well with stress and sudden change, and it may not want a young, playful companion.
A home suited to its age
Many older cats have arthritis even if they don’t limp: they simply jump less, climb to high places less and move more carefully. Make life easier with a low-sided litter tray that is easy to step into; ramps or steps up to favourite spots such as the sofa or the window; soft, warm beds away from draughts; and food and water in easy-to-reach places, without having to go up or down stairs. A water fountain or several bowls around the house will encourage it to drink, which matters for its kidneys. And brush it gently, because many older cats groom less well and develop mats or a greasy coat.
Signs to watch for
In an older cat, any change deserves attention, because the illnesses of age show themselves subtly. Watch whether it drinks and urinates more than usual, eats more but loses weight, eats less, loses weight, vomits often, has bad breath or struggles to eat, sleeps much more or is restless at night, miaows more, stops using the litter tray or jumping up to its usual spots, or grooms less. Weighing it once a month at home is a simple way to catch changes early. If you notice any of these signs, see your vet: many of these illnesses can be well managed if they are picked up early.
The time you have together
Adopting an older cat means accepting that your time together may be shorter. But each of those years is as precious as a kitten’s, and for the cat, swapping a pen or a foster home for a sunny sofa and a person of its own changes everything. When the time comes to say goodbye, you will have done something for it that few were willing to do. If you are thinking about it, ask your nearest rescue about their older cats: they usually have several, with stories worth hearing, and the staff will help you find one that suits your home and your way of life.
A cat of ten or eleven may live with you for five, seven or more years, with a known, calm personality and used to living in a home. Book a check-up with blood tests when it arrives, adapt your home (low-sided litter tray, ramps, warm beds) and watch for any change. Ask about long-term fostering if vet costs worry you.
Educational content from Michipedia, translated from the Spanish original. It does not replace the advice of a vet or a feline behaviour specialist. Every cat is an individual.