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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To adopt a 15yr old cat?

92 replies

BabySquidy · 27/12/2021 20:19

I am going to potentially rehome a 15yr old cat his owner has had to go into a care home.

He is a large black ragdoll type, he seems perfect for us as a family. Used to children, affectionate and likes to be outdoors in the summer and warmer months.

I am told he doesn't like a litter tray but will use one if absolutely desperate and prefers to go out to pee and poop, but won't I need to keep him in for a week or so to get used to his surroundings?

OP posts:

Thread gallery

thatgingergirl · 01/01/2022 17:32

He's lovely OP! One of mine uses the bath to toilet on occasion too! (Usually when it's very cold outside).

Mangozesty · 01/01/2022 17:39

@elfycat

OP your cat is beautiful! I love senior cats, more than I like kittens.

My first cat (after leaving home) was a 19 year old tortie. Her owner had died and I worked in an office with the granddaughter - she had a son with asthma and cat allergy. I saw her message asking if anyone could take the cat and 2 days later I had a thin elderly cat and all her cardiac medicines.

She lived another 9 months and one day fell asleep in a patch of sunlight and didn't wake up.

The 3 I have now have come from friends who have had changed in circumstances. One was getting aggressive with an autistic child and came here stressed and bitey - will add pic - possibly half Maine Coon and very large. The latest was after they moved somewhere no pets were allowed He's snuggled next to me now

((We just got our first snake - supposed to be a rehome but it looks like a rescue as he wasn't in the right set up at all, and the heater was broken))

What a beautiful cat. I don't know why, but your comment about her falling asleep in a patch of sunlight and not waking up has really got to me. I'm pleased you gave her a lovely last few years.

Mangozesty · 01/01/2022 17:39

Months not years

Weeble09 · 01/01/2022 17:40

He is gorgeous! Personally I would keep him in for several weeks - he needs to get to know you and your family first, so he will come back to you. Cat proofing the garden, or doing a catio, would be ideal if you can.

If he's desperate to get out to pee, will he go on a harness?

I love older cats, I'd always adopt one in preference to kittens.

Original poster

Babysquidy · 01/01/2022 18:02

We tried him on a collar and flexi lead he bolted and it was a bit of a rescue attempt to get him on a 20ft wall/ledge so definitely in no rush to let him out....

Funny enough we have a large full height chicken run with no chickens in at the moment, we tried him in there and he hated it and was literally clinging to the mesh fence walls trying to get out.

OP posts:

Original poster

Babysquidy · 01/01/2022 18:03

I've bought some Dreamies in an attempt to start getting him used to the shake noise as treat time to help when he does go out but I don't think he likes them is he broken.... 😂😂

OP posts:

pigsDOfly · 01/01/2022 18:20

He so handsome.

Part of his reason for his wanting to get out so desperately is probably because everything is so new for him.

Unusual reactions to the Dreamies. My DD had to stop giving them to her two cats as they became a bit aggressive when the Dreamies came out and she wasn't quick enough to hand them over.

Have you tried giving him some toys with catnip in them it might help him relax and settle if he's a bit 'stoned'.

onedayoranother · 01/01/2022 21:04

Yes you will need a litter tray, at least for the first couple weeks you keep him inside. After that I'd still keep one in case it's miserable out or, as he's getting on, needs to go more urgently.

thecatneuterer · 01/01/2022 21:08

Regarding the litter tray situation, and apologies if I've missed something relevant, are you offering large flat, unlidded trays? Cats often don't like the ones with lids, and most won't use the ones with lids and flaps. So start off with just plain, open trays if you haven't already.

Original poster

Babysquidy · 01/01/2022 21:11

Yep the tray is huge it's not an actual litter tray because he is so big they are underbed storage plastic boxes completely open, we've got 2.

OP posts:

thecatneuterer · 01/01/2022 21:19

Well that is big:) Do you think the sides might be uncomfortably high for him?

BookFiend4Life · 01/01/2022 21:33

I think that's a lovely idea OP. Ragdolls are darling. It would be a real act of kindness and an opportunity to be good to another creature, doing these things makes the world a better place.

Hemskis · 01/01/2022 21:40

My two aren't keen on dreamies either but they go nuts for freeze dried chicken hearts and similar.

SpookyScarySkeletons · 02/01/2022 09:50

@Babysquidy

Just thought you would like an update... He's doing so well, he won't use a litter tray at all dispite trying different litters / more than one. He is using the bath at the moment and it's not the worst thing in the world to be honest.

He didn't like the fireworks last night and hid under the bed and was then really unsettled for a few hours but then soon settled in front of the window watching the squirrels oh and a fox came out too....

I groomed him a little today he had a few mats I had to cut some out and his belly is awful lots of mats there but I will get them out with the scissors I think rather than pull his tum.

Go carefully with the scissors. If the matts have been there a while they can be close to the skin and if the skin isn't getting air to it it will become very sensitive. It's really easy to accidentally snip the skin.

Good to hear the update, he is such a handsome old man!

MsDastardley · 02/01/2022 09:57

We adopted a 12 year old Persian cat and he lived until he was 20. He was a great cat, and I am really missing him. Maybe we were lucky, but he was generally a healthy cat and had very few visits to the vet. He had all his teeth too!

catmania · 02/01/2022 09:59

Do it you know you want to. How lovely of you to take on an older cat. He will reward you with lots of love and cat cuddles. As has been said keep him in for a while so he gets used to his new home and environment and then maybe take him out in the garden on a harness to start with.

newtonsthirdlaw · 02/01/2022 10:20

What a handsome gentleman. He's definitely landed on his paws and I hope he gives you lots of purrs and fuss.

I've got 2 mogs myself. One of them will go nuts for dreamies to the point she will make herself sick so she doesn't have them. The other one isn't that fussed by dreamies, but can hear a tin of tuna being opened from miles away.
Both of them like the freeze dried chicken pieces if I am feeling rich generous.

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