Rehoming older cat into my home +10 years

[Kenwouldmixitup]

putting aside older cats take longer to rehome so I would be automatically adding some shine to my halo, would this be a disaster? Would I be setting myself up for heavy vets fees for the elderly?

Possibly, but remember it is your choice what to pay for. A cat is still better off with you than in a cage at a shelter that might euthanise it if no home is found. With top quality care a cat may live to age 18-22, with basic medical care it’s more like 12-16, but that is still a great life.

A vet will always suggest top quality treatment, but remember that is a bit like having top private healthcare. You can instead choose a medium or basic option. Eg for hyperthyroidism a vet will recommend a radioactive iodine injection at £2200, but you can instead buy pills at approx £40 / packet. Insurance will cover either cost if you choose to buy it.

Pet insurance costs more for ‘senior’ cats, two ages that made a big difference to my insurance were 6yrs and 10yrs. Get some quotes online and see whether you’re happy to pay it.

Most pet insurance does not cover dental extractions which cost about £500 per tooth for a cat (as need full sedation). Some pet insurance does cover this, so be careful you know what you’re buying.

Older cats tend to be calmer and grateful to be rescued. It’s also less of a long term commitment!

That’s a great starting point. Thank you @Firty I think knowing what to ensure is covered in pet insurance and teeth crucial

So many poor cats in shelters in cages for many months before they can have a new home. I'm sure some get put to sleep and others lose the will to live. It is a lovely thing to do if you can re-home one op.

Kittens can have a lot of health problems too so you never really know.

I think our local shelter continues to pay vets bills for ongoing conditions if you adopt one of their veterans.

Perhaps it is because it's too difficult to find insurance to cover that sort of thing.

I adopted an older boy who was eight, he was an avid hunter and I've never seen so many half chewed dead things in my life. He died when he was eighteen.
My current girl was supposedly two, but the vet said she was probably about ten. She's a sweet old lady with no teeth, and never goes further than the back garden. I've had her for nine years.
Both of them settled really well within a few days.

I rehomed a 14 year cat from the sspca.

They lied about her age and told me she was about 7. When I got her home she was peeing blood and I had to take her to the emergency vet for treatment.
I called the sspca who apologised and told me I could take her back to choose a new cat.
There was noway was I doing that, she was mine now and we had a good few happy years after that. She had hyperthyroidism but she was a happy cat and I don't regret adopting her for a second.

I meant to add that both of them weren't insured as they were both healthy. First cat never needed any treatment apart from flea and worming stuff. My current cat is the same, apart from having her teeth out which was about £800, but the vet had commented on them being rotten so she probably wasn't covered anyway.

Thank you all for sharing your experience. Shall come back with a pic if I do go ahead.