I’m a cat lover right down to having an Instagram account for my cat, Boo. I’ve only had three cats in my life so far, all which were rescue cats. It is heartbreaking to think of any pet being taken from their homes and brought to a shelter by their families. There are so many reasons this can happen. We just have to hope there are enough of us cat lovers out there to scoop them up and provide them with new, loving homes. Unfortunately, this is often not the case. One of the saddest aspects of cats winding up at shelters is that sometimes they are separated not only from their human family members but often their siblings or fellow cats. This was the case for two senior cats Mojo and Max. (1, 2)
Separated Senior Cats
The pair of senior cats were dropped off at Anne Arundel County Animal Control in 2015. They had spent their lives together but were separated upon arrival at the shelter. They had two strikes against them. First, they were “senior” cats aged 11 and 16. According to a study by Priceonomics, 80% of rescue kittens find forever homes, compared to just 60% of adult cats. Second, they were a pair and unlikely to be adopted together. (1, 2)
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Senior Cat Mojo Adopted
Mojo, the 11-year-old cat was adopted on his own by a woman looking for a pet companion, leaving poor Max alone at the shelter. However, Mojo’s new home just wasn’t the same without his friend. When his new companion realized she had separated the two, she decided she couldn’t live with the idea of them being apart.
Senior Cats Max And Mojo Together Again
“Mojo has been a wonderful pet, she said, but she couldn’t get Max out of her mind,” wrote animal shelter volunteer Chris on Facebook. “The idea of him living out his life in a cage just broke my heart,” she said. “So, yup, she was back today to adopt Max and reunite the two friends. Have great lives together, Max and Mojo!” (1)
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Adopting Senior Cats and Dogs
“Thanks to the very big hearts of the people who come there to adopt, they find new homes,” says Chris. “We have one gentleman, in fact, whose only adoption requirement is that the dog he gets is the oldest one at the shelter. He’s done this twice that I am aware of. We just had a young couple adopt a 17-year-old dog. You see the best and the worst of human behavior at a public animal shelter; we see much more good than bad, however.” (1)
3.4 Million Senior Cats Never Adopted
No doubt we all see those adorable kitten faces and can’t wait to get them home. However, rest assured these little kitties will be adopted and find their forever homes. With lower rates of adoption, 3.4 million adult cats are euthanized each year. That is heartbreaking. That’s why you should consider a senior cat for your new companion. (2)
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Benefits Of Senior Cats
Adopting a senior cat comes with many benefits including:
- Older cats are cleaner, and litter trained
- Senior cats are calmer and cause less mischief
- They are better with children (3)
What it really boils down to is a senior cat needs you. You will offer them a loving forever home, gain their companionship and most importantly the knowledge you saved their life.
*Article originally appeared at Healthy Holistic Living. Reposted with permission.
