How old is too old?

[cozietoesie]

Seniorboy just emerged out of his fleece cover and ......I wondered. Darling Oneago conked one morning at 8 years old. Darling Twoago had renal failure and died at 13. Seniorboy is 19 and just keeps on going. But he can't go for ever, eh? Every year I say 'Seniorboy's last Xmas probably' and yet he makes it through. (And he's purring and putting a peremptory paw on the laptop as I type.) And his vet loves him.

[DameDeepRedBetty]

The two previous BettyCats - mother and daughter - both made it into their twenties. Sounds like you've got a happy healthy cat to me!

[cozietoesie]

I wish we hadn't lost his birth certifcate when clearing my Mom's house - he seems to have come from staunch stock. I'm hoping for another few years with him.

[cozietoesie]

But you just can't tell, can you? Darling Oneago just gave up the ghost while I went downstairs to get a parcel. (He hated the postie with a deadly hate.)

[Rollypoly100]

My rescue cat Finn (13 years old) is having a few teeth out today. I know he'll be fine. The vet says it's pretty routine for a cat of his age and he has sore gums so it has to be done. His op is 8.30 this morning and he has been nil by mouth since 8.00 last night so he is pacing around wanting food. I think he will be kept in overnight but already I just want him home.

Senior boy sounds pretty good at 19. I hope my boy has lots of years ahead of him. I am reassured by reading about other senior cats.

[cozietoesie]

Seniorboy had a full GA dental at 16. The vet was confident that she and her troops could do the best for him - and his mouth was just 'orrible, Finn has a good chance even though GAs are always a tad risky.

Hope he does well.

[Rollypoly100]

My vet is very confident and said they do a lot of dental procedures in older cats. I've only had him for three weeks and the poor condition of his teeth came up at a check up.

Many thanks for the reassurance though I know I'll be fretting all day. I'll keep you posted.

[cozietoesie]

Of course you'll fret - it goes with the territory. Finn will be so much happier after the op, though. (Seniorboy only has 5 teeth left now but he eats up a storm - and doesn't vomit any more. He gets wet food and even has some dried small stuff which he likes. )

Finn will be fine.

[Rollypoly100]

Thanks Cozie.

[Lovethesea]

As a Siamese I imagine him going on forever. He'd be far too annoyed to think of himself being replaced by another cat in your bed to give up on living. He has staked his claim on you as his human and has the life of a king.

[thecatneuterer]

I rehomed a 23 and 25 year old to a friend. They both came with all their vet papers going back to the 80s. They both lived for another two years. And I've had quite a few cats reaching the age of about 25 or so (but they came to me when already old, so it's difficult to imagine having a cat with me for that amount of time. It must make it even harder to say goodbye).

So Seniorboy is a youngster in comparison. I hope he has many more happy, healthy years.

[Rollypoly100]

Update: Finn had most of his teeth out on the top row yesterday and is home now. Vet said his mouth was in a terrible state and must have been very painful. He is on soft recovery food and is very happy and vocal and hungry! He had been in a rescue centre for over five years and I guess his mouth and gums were overlooked. It is lovely to have him home.

[sashh]

One of my foster cats was 19.

She was rehomed with a lady for the lady's 90th birthday. The family had made plans for if the cat outlived her owner.

Glad Finn is OK.

[Fluffycloudland77]

That is good news about Finn. Ga worries me too.

When we got our first cats the breeder said if you get them to 12 you've done well. One was pts at 17 but it was a feisty cat.

I think the right food helps, I see more cereal free biscuits on sale at pah now than I ever have before.

I've even seen frozen raw diets for dogs so maybe cat frozen raw food isn't far behind.