How old for a rescue cat for kids who've just lost a cat

[Italiangreyhound]

Please can I ask what people think about having an older rescue cat?

Our cat died two weeks ago and I am a bit worried about getting a new cat and them dying of old age quite soon. But no idea how long cats might live.

This info days over 15 years and maybe as much as 20. But I am wondering if that is exceptional!

adelaidevet.com.au/pet-library/how-long-do-cats-live-ageing-and-your-feline

Please can I ask if you have anything to say about a specific age you message me and do not post here, please?

I do not want to put anyone off taking an older cat.

But I do want to be sensitive to my kids in this. We are pondering 'fostering' rabbits so the rabbits will come and go as we are needed to home them for a bit but the plan is the cat will be our family pet.

If you have any thoughts or advice, please do either post or message.

In the words ofadelaidevet.com.au/pet-library/how-long-do-cats-live-ageing-and-your-feline

In the words of the monkeys from the cartoon, Madagascar....If you have any poo, fling it now!

Thank you.

Oopse sorry wrong link second time ....

I'd say that's near the mark - a bit of an underestimate if anything. Most of the cats I've known have lived to their late teens, a few to their early 20s (obviously barring accidents/long-term health troubles).

There are several records of cats making it into their 30s but that really is exceptional!

My old dodderers got between 16-22 before various stuff got them, though for me 16 was only borderline 'old age' and I think she could've lived happily a few more years if she hadn't gotten ill, if that makes sense.

There was a lovely old gent at the rescue when we went to get the current two. I think I'd have taken him, but the woman there looked at me carefully and said 'you've just lost one, haven't you? perhaps you'd like to take something a little...younger?' He looked at least 15 and was completely blind, but I still think of him occasionally and think if even if it had only been six months it would've been a good six months....

Older cats are expensive to insure though, and do tend to have health issues. On the other hand, some rescues will contribute to their care so that they can have homes.

Thanks GerundTheBehemoth and shaska you;ve given me hop. If it is fate maybe this one will still be around when we have decided! (I mean not picked by anyone else, not dead!)

I agree shaska a few good months, I will look into it, I am just wanting to take them all!! I hate it when people say that of adoption (my son is adopted) but in the case of cats I could easily turn into mad cat lady!

......a good six months......

I like that.

My own boy was an older cat when he came to me - a fairly frail 14 year old who had just lost his bonded person and wasn't expected to last more than a month or two. He's still with us 6 years later and ruling the house with a rod of iron. (Don't ask me about his feeding regime - I started off with him by saying 'He can have what he likes because he won't last long.......' and he just kept on going after rebonding with me. As did the feeding regime, more or less.)

I like older cats. Kittens are bundles of cuteness but an older cat has experience and a developed personality to throw into the household mix. (Maybe some quirks as well but Hey - I'm sure that many of us have quirks also.)

The oldest rescue cat I ever saw on the main site was a 19 year old Siamese gentleman who had just lost his owner. I think he was there for only about a week before he was given a new home for his sunset time and I felt really pleased for him and his new people.

You can't guarantee long life with anyone - cat or human - so I like the idea of having an older one come to live with you and everyone having a good time while they can. Maybe for six months, maybe (as in my own case) for 6 years. Either way, it would still have been a good time.

The cats in my life have lived to... Siamese 15, rescued-from-a-box-in-a-lane-at-5-weeks 20, 1yo twins from RSPCA 14 & 16. So I think what you've seen is about right.

Currently have a 6yo Persian-Ragdoll cross who has chronic kidney disease already - been suggested Persians are prone to this younger than moggies - although average age for onset is apparently 9. He was a rehome from friend of friend aged 3. Am a bit gutted he's not going to make it to very old as he's a character who has taken a bit to become trusting after a bad experience at his old home that left him living on the street.

We have also had 3 from kittens, who all got run over aged 9mths, 2 years, 3 years. We don't have much luck with kittens (and current cats, one is a housecoat by choice thank goodness, and the other doesn't go out much).

Having lost 5 cats over the last 5 years (2 natural causes/old age and the 3 kittens), our kids are not over-upset - not nearly as upset as me. They have seen each and every one after, and we've buried them all with a fruit tree over (quite the orchard :-( ) and had a little service. I think it's been useful for learning about death as part of life and love, and they coped better with grandmother's death for having seen it for cats, if that makes sense?

Housecat!! What a typo! We don't scalp our cats!

A seemingly healthy and lower-risk Oneago just dropped dead one sunny morning at only 8 years old. You can't always foresee these things.

I've heard so many people refer to 'The Kitten' - because that's often just what they are at that age. When you give a home to an older cat, though, you start off by referring to them as 'Mr Mugglechumps' (or whatever) because they're a distinctive personality and you tend to do things like welcoming them when they come into the kitchen of a morning and feeling ridiculously pleased when they come to sit on your lap.

If they fit in with the household, they're wonderful.

The oldest cat I fostered and was rehomed was a 19 year old deaf cat. She was rehomed with a 90 year old lady who's daughter was going to take the cat on if she outlived her mother.

My first cat was at least 20 when she passed, Charlie was about 8 and got kidney disease and had to be PTS so you really can't tell.

In my wierd logic an older cat, well it has already got to 10+ years so why wouldn't it go another 10?

The cats that have allowed me to share their lives are Tiddliwinks aged 18, Sooty aged 14 who was PTS due to diabetes (this was a long time ago), Rosie aged 18 and William aged 13 or 14 who had a brain tumour. He was a stray so hadn't had any treatment until we took him in.

I would never rule out an older cat. When we lost William Cats Protection had an older cat coming in but we decided to go for a younger cat (George is 7 so not a kitten) as Mum had lost her dog and William within 5 months of each other. I deeply regret putting her off the old boy as he's still at CP waiting for his forever home and I feel guilty that he could have had one if it wasn't for me. (I even asked about adopting him but he attacks other cats so not an option).

Thanks all we are totally open, we just want to see what is right. So many cats need homes and ours is a loving and kind one, I just feel it is right to get another after about three weeks.

If you have any spare time this weekend, maybe have a look at catchat. There's a forum there where owners are looking to rehome cats privately or you can go to their 'Find a Shelter' section where your local rescues should be listed - and many of those will have websites where you can see some of the cats who are with them but looking for homes.

Good luck.

My last foster cat was about 9 years old. He was an absolute honey - very, very mellow and affectionate, and still loved to play. I suspected I wouldn't have him very long and I was right - he quickly found a forever home with a young family and they are thrilled with him, as he is with them.

Thanks so much. The cat we were thinking of was older and looked lovely but was quite a long way away (geographically). We looked into it today and if you want the latest, please pop to

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/the_litter_tray/2342665-Choice-made