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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

The litter tray

Would I be foolish to adopt a 10 year old cat?

40 replies

cece · 01/09/2012 13:54

We have been to cat rescue place this mornning and we have seen a gorgeous, enormous tom cat. He seems gentle and placid. However he is 9 or 10 years old and used to live with an elederly man who has since died.

The rescue place seemed happy that he would get on with my young family. We have him on reserve whilst we think about it. DH is worried about vet bills, as he is an older cat. My view is that you get those whatever the age of the cat, but I can see his point.

Anyone adopted an older cat and lived to regret it?

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Cailleach · 04/09/2012 04:14

Yep, 26 - he was a pedigree, we had his birth certificate. He was also a Burmese, who are well known for their weirdly long life-spans.

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cozietoesie · 04/09/2012 07:51

That's an extraordinary age.

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cece · 09/09/2012 22:30

DH and DD have been to see him again. He is currently on reserve. I have to take the DS's after school this week to finalise the deal

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PurpleAndPoppyWearer · 09/09/2012 22:42

We adopted two ten year-old cats, brother and sister, from our old neighbours a few years back.

The boy didn't cope too well when we moved house - he was a hugely territorial outdoors cat and unknown to us we moved into the territory of a very active young male cat - eventually he contracted a bladder infection and passed away suddenly. But I still think we did the right thing to take him on, as our neighbours could no longer care for him.

His sister is still going strong, FWIW. She keeps herself to herself, largely, and we have had to had the odd bit of dental work done for her, but nothing major. Female cats cost less than males to insure at this age, same as humans! Occasionally she plucks up the courage to come and be mauled stroked by our young DCs. She has a pretty good life.

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cece · 10/09/2012 18:10

Whoop whoop - we have passed our 'homecheck', so now got to phone up to arrange fine details including picking him up.

Apparently we will have to keep him in for a whole month though so he gets his bearings.

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cozietoesie · 10/09/2012 18:17

Oh Well Done!

(Getting his bearings will be easy as long as you have a warm comfy spot for sleeping and easy access to the tuna cat food place. A litter tray will be neither here nor there - you'll actually be grateful for it on cold wet nights.)

Have fun.

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AfishhCalledElvira · 10/09/2012 19:27

A younger cat can also cost a fortune- my adolescent male is always at the vets from abscesses due to his scrapping. While my elderly male is the sweetest cat ever and is a breeze by comparison. Aww I like big bruiser cats- they give the best cuddles! Go for it

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Beamur · 10/09/2012 19:33

DP had an older cat when I first met him - he probably was a similar age when acquired. He was great with the kids, very tolerant and easy going. Cost us very little apart from annual jabs and the odd round of ear drops. He died quite quickly after becoming disorientated and probably having a bleed on the brain.

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cece · 16/09/2012 20:37

I have picked him up from the rescue place today. He has spent the day shut into the downstairs bathroom, hidden away from 3DC...

Will let him out into the living room in the morning once he has settled down. The woman said to add a room a day for him to explore.

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cozietoesie · 16/09/2012 20:52

Oh well done, cece. Let us know how he gets on.

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Fluffycloudland77 · 16/09/2012 20:59

Bet your dc are dying to play with him.

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cece · 16/09/2012 21:38

DD and DS2 can't wait to play with him. DS1 is feigning indifference..

Off to let him into the spare bedroom for the night.

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cozietoesie · 17/09/2012 08:00

From my experience, DS1 will probably end up being his greatest fan.

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BlackCatsAndPurpleDogs · 17/09/2012 09:40

ah, you wont regret it.
I adopted an 8 year old boy, he is 17 now and still going strong :)

Have you got Feliway plug ins? I have one upstairs on landing or one of the bedrooms, one downstairs in the hall or living room. Will help him settle in. They calm cats and reduce stress. I buy from here :

www.animeddirect.co.uk/cats/healthcare/anxiety/feliway-diffuser.html

You could use them for 3 months until he is settled, say until after Christmas. You need to refill them ever month.

Also a litter tray upstairs and one down. I hide mine behind doors, under the bed.

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cece · 17/09/2012 20:55

Thanks.

He has spent the day under the spare bed, although he can be coaxed out for some tickling under the chin.

A quiet day tomorrow as, unusually, we are all out all day. Hopefully it will let him have a chance to explore downstairs in peace.

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