I need an older cat for my DM. Where from?

[Oncemoreforluck]

Two weeks ago my DDad passed, followed a week later by the cat. This leaves my DM on her own after 62 years of marriage and 50 years of owning cats. only three cats in that 50 years, two lived into their 20’s and one was run over at 10 yo.
My mum is now, very, very lonely. Me and DSis are ringing and visiting when we can, but both work full time and live a fair distance from her.
I think my mum would benefit from adopting an older cat 8 to 12 ish.
Would any rescue centres consider re homing to an 86 yo? Or do I need to go through the on line pet sites, or wait to hear of a stray looking for a home?
Unfortunately I’m not in a position to take on the cat if it out lives mum, as I have 2 dogs, and my sister wouldn’t, I don’t think. So there could be no possibility of ensuring a home for life.
How can I get her a cay under these circumstances?

Where are you based? Celia Hammond always have old boys and girls looking for a retirement home.

Try the local rescue shelter - they struggle to rehome old cats as most people want kittens. An older cat would appreciate a quiet home where it can be a lap cat

I'm in a very similar position here (lonely 86 yr old DM whose cat has just had to be PTS, although we live close by and are in and out every day). I had a long talk with the vet about whether it would be fair to look for another cat and he advised to look for a healthy teenage cat around the 13-15 mark but perhaps with a bit of arthritis. Nothing perfect has come up yet in the shelters nearest us, but there have been some a bit further away.

Contact rescue centres, your mum sounds like an ideal home, they always need homes with no other pets or children. Where in the country are you?

Sorry sent too soon. I would up the age you are looking for and phone the shelters nearest your DM. I would also ask her local vet for advice/if they can keep an eye out

So you don’t think we would be rejected due to mums age? She likes the idea of re homing an older car who would otherwise be overlooked, but I don’t think she could cope with losing another cat too soon.

We are based North West. DM is Manchester way.

The rescue centre near me is notoriously difficult to adopt animals from. We were rejected when we tried to re home a dog from them as our garden was considered too small, even though we are right on the moors and have miles and miles of off road walking straight from the doorstep.

I will call a couple of rescue centres next week.

Try looking at the CatChat website for local rescues - they are sometimes easier to deal with than the larger organisations where you want a specific type of cat.

When we did this I agreed to act as 'guardian' for the cat. Essentially to keep an eye out and make sure that her needs were met and to take her on or return her to the shelter if mum was no longer able to cope.

I'm in Manchester and the shelters are absolutely overun so I think they might consider her for an older cat, or would she consider fostering?

Sometimes rescues have older cats on a long term foster.

Long term fostering would be best. Also, try the much smaller rescues or local vets who may know of people needing to rehome.

Just came back to say that mum now has two new cats aged 13 and 15. They came into the rescue because their owner has had to go into a care home. The rescue had no problems with mum's age , and so far the cats seem quite happy about it too.

theres a bloke in manchester looking to rehome his recently deceased mums cats.

Oh too late! Glad she found some though

Not too late I don't think. The OP's DM is Manchester way. My DM is elsewhere, and is the one in my post above. @Oncemoreforluck is your DM still looking for a cat(s)?

I think my mum would benefit from adopting an older cat 8 to 12 ish.
Would any rescue centres consider re homing to an 86 yo?

Yes! it's very often an excellent match for both person and animal.

Some of those mature pets have been the beloved pet of a previous owner who died or went into care; so well used to a quiet and companionable life as a lap cat.

Ah, the old one cat is good two is better trick 😀

Hope they are settling in well. Piccies?

I got my mother an older one, they are like 2 crotchet ladies together.They really get on

@helpfulperson they are indeed settling in well. They arrived yesterday afternoon, were supposed to be shut in the living room downstairs for a couple of days to let them settle, but when I walked in this morning I found the door open, and mum sitting up in bed with a cat asleep either side of her. They spent this afternoon taking it in turns to snooze in her lap. They are 13 and 15, very sweet and were only rehomed because their previous owner had to go into a care home.

Adding pictures . And I got it wrong. Last owner apparently died unfortunately.

It's a bit far for your mum, but there is North Clwyd Animal Rescue ncar.org.uk/cats/, who often have older cats needing homes. We rescued our cat from there, he was 4 at the time but there are 10+ year olds there often as well.

For example, lovely Phoebe, who is nearly 13.

ncar.org.uk/animals/phoebe/

Or beautiful, 10 yo, 3-legged Rolo:

ncar.org.uk/animals/rolo/

@Oncemoreforluck
Rescue Kitties based in Manchester, look them up on Facebook on their adoption page, they normally have a few older cats in need of a new quiet home.
Good luck 🤞

@nonevernotever They look gorgeous. and sounds like they've settled well.