Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Getting Started

6 stories of senior cat adoptions that will tug at your heartstrings

msanger
By

Even though November is officially National Adopt a Senior Pet Month, we think that any month is a good time to welcome a senior pet into your family. The golden years are a time when life should be simple, carefree, and peaceful — a time to be surrounded by love and comfort. Sadly, for many senior cats, their reality is much different than that.

Contents

Senior cats are often overlooked in favor of younger, tiny fluffballs, and upon first impression, it’s easy to understand why: Kittens are cute and playful, characteristics that may be long gone for many geriatric cats. What people may not realize, though, is that while a senior cat may prefer nap time over playtime and tout a graying face rather than a youthful glow, one thing is certain — they still have so much love left to give. Despite the perceived drawbacks, there really are so many terrific reasons to consider adopting a senior cat, and we hope that these extraordinary stories will inspire you.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Gus Gus

Talk about a purrfect pair! Gus Gus was surrendered to the shelter at the ripe old age of 19 when his previous owners could no longer care for him, but thankfully, he didn’t spend much time there. He was adopted by a 101-year-old woman who was saddened by the loss of her previous cat. The shelter was a bit skeptical at first, but her family offered to step up to help care for Gus Gus. They are like two peas in a pod, with Gus Gus making himself right at home and “eating like a horse.” This story just goes to show that it’s never too late to give and receive love!

Related

Sammy

Like so many senior cats that end up in shelters, Sammy’s elderly owner entered an assisted living facility and wasn’t able to bring him along. He was surrendered just before his 20th birthday. The folks at Cincinnati Animal Care decided to celebrate his upcoming birthday with a party, and once the word got out that sweet Sammy was in need of a home, he was adopted the very next day! The shelter even converted one of their rooms into “Sammy’s Senior Center” to help his friends get adopted, too!

Recommended Videos

Clive

Adopting an older pet can sometimes change our lives in ways we may never have imagined. Being able to give a second chance at life by providing a forever home to a cat that may have otherwise not had that chance is fulfilling in many ways. When Melissa, a volunteer at MSPCA, realized that senior cats are less likely to get adopted, she decided that it was time for her to bring one of these lovable pets (named Clive) home. She shared that “His main priority is simply cuddling with anyone and everyone as much as possible.” She reminds potential adopters not to overlook senior pets because they still have so much affection left to offer.

Tigger

Twenty-one-year-old Tigger was abandoned at a veterinary hospital by his previous owner, and at first, the reason was unclear. When his prospective adopter Nicole learned his story, she decided that she wanted to shower him with love during the time he had left. Shortly after, she learned that he was in kidney failure and had a tumor the size of a golf ball. With some help from his veterinarian and a little TLC, Tigger’s spritely personality began to shine through despite his medical challenges. His new family created a bucket list of adventures to share with Tigger, and so far the beach has been his favorite place. Nicole hopes that Tigger’s story will inspire others to adopt an older pet, and said, “He has forever changed our hearts and will hopefully change the hearts of others when it comes to adopting older pets!”

Fargo

When rescuers found Fargo, he was outside on his own, half-frozen, emaciated, and near death. Rescuers transported him to a veterinarian for care, and there the most heartwarming thing happened. They wrapped him in a blanket, and he “immediately started purring from a single gentle touch. He barely had enough strength to open his eyes, but he kept purring and wanting more love.” Fargo found himself safe in the arms of his hospice foster where he was showered with love and kindness for the rest of his days.

Dexter

Senior cats can steal our hearts when we least expect it, which is exactly what happened when one family visited a local shelter planning to adopt a kitten. That’s where they met and fell in love with Dexter, a 20-year-old kitty waiting to find his forever family. Although Dexter adored everyone in his new family — even the dogs — he instantly bonded with JJ, his younger human sibling. Dexter lived two glorious years with his loving family, and in that short time, he taught them so much about love and happiness that they’ll never forget.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Even though a senior cat may be approaching the end of their life, they have an unparalleled amount of love yet to give in the time they do have left. They will touch your heart and brighten your life in ways you never thought possible. By adopting a senior cat, you can help a deserving soul find their forever home. After all, any time is the right time to save a life!

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
msanger
msanger
Former Digital Trends Contributor
When do kittens’ eyes change colors? The answer is so cool – here’s what to know
What color will your kittens' eyes be? The answer and timeline vary
White cat with blue eyes on a couch

Cats are unique, but they all have at least one trait in common. Kittens are born with their eyes shut. They start opening them at different times, usually from 2 to 10 days after birth. By 2 weeks old, a kitten’s eyes should be completely open.
When kittens open their eyes, they can start paring visual information with all the sounds, touches, and smells they’ve been experiencing. When you bring your young kitten home at around 8 or 9 weeks, they'll be ready to explore and stare deep into your eyes. Kittens' vision will still develop over the next couple of months, as will something else: eye color.
As you gaze back at your kitten, you might notice changes. When do kittens’ eyes change color, and is there ever a cause for concern? Here’s what vets have to say.

How long do kittens have blue eyes? What are the most common eye colors, and when will I see the changes?
Kittens are born with blue eyes, which is apparent when they open them. They may still be blue when you bring them home at 8 weeks old, but chances are they’ve already begun to transform into their adult color. A kitten’s eyes start to change between 3 and 8 weeks old. Common colors you may spot in your kitty’s eyes include:

Read more
A simple guide to what to feed tadpoles in your aquarium
A list of everything you should and shouldn't give baby frogs
Small child looks into a jar of tadpoles

Whether you’re taking in rescue tadpoles or planning to keep frogs as pets, you’ll have to adapt continually to their changing bodies. These amphibians undergo a metamorphosis and live as tadpoles for up to 14 weeks, though the last stage of the transition happens in just 24 hours.

You’ll put them to bed as a kid and come back to a teenager. Also, tadpoles are vegetarians, but frogs are carnivorous, so you should prepare for their diet to evolve as they do over the course of a few months. Here's what to feed tadpoles.

Read more
Where to put a dog crate in your house depends on these important factors
Know exactly where to place a dog crate to keep your pet safe, secure, and happy at home
Dog looking through black dog crate

Dogs like to sleep in so many places: in your bed, in their own bed, on a sunny spot on the floor, and in their dog crate, to name a few. But that's not the only thing a crate is helpful for. It can keep your canine friend out of mischief and give you peace of mind when you're out of the house. A dog crate should ideally be a place of security and comfort for your pup (and it can be even better if you personalize it for their own unique needs). Of course, this raises the question of where to put a dog crate.

Have you been Googling something like, "Where to put dog crate?" We've got you covered! Always remember that a dog crate is supposed to create a safe space for your pet, while also assisting in their training, so the way you utilize that space in your home is essential for both of you.

Read more