Advice - maybe adopting a 14 year old.

[indigorising]

Can you advise what I need to consider please. This would be a private adoption. Consequence of a relationship breakdown. Couple unknown to me, as would be the cat.

Thinking about declining health. The advantage might be an older cat might equal a calmer cat. Of course, it’s going to come with some element of risk, but a charity rescue is also risky.

First, why are they rehoming their 14 year old cat? That is a significant age for a cat and could be very unsettling for them.

I love my old cats. I always have an old one. They are such wonderful characters.
My last one lived to 21 and this one is 16. I also have a 4 year old cat and they get on really well.
You do need insurance though as like people their health can decline. Both mine had thyroid problems and went for radioactive iodine.

The old girl.

I really thought this was about a human child at first!

We adopted a 12yr old cat, albeit from a rescue organisation, and they've been a wonderful companion/member of the family for 7yrs and still going

We took in an elderly cat after a bereavement. I absolutely adore in her. We had 2 cats already and there have been a few spats but they have learned to tolerate each other.

It did take time and a lot of patience but she's happy as Larry now.

My dcat is 14.. Still as sprightly as ever.

I’ve found mature cats are absolute sweethearts. They do tend to be calm and sleep lots. Re health concerns cats can have problems with their kidneys and they can also get cancers which aren’t necessarily treatable. At 14 she could conceivably live another 6-8 years and have a lovely old age with you. I would check if there is a mobile vet in your area to reduce the stress of taking her in if she needs to be seen. 😻

We adopted two mature cats. They were so loving and happy. We didnt get to enjoy them from kittenhood, but that didn't matter. They provided so much joy, and lived the best latter years of their life with us. You will get vet's bills with any pet so you have to be prepared to commit 100% to them.

@Overtheatlantic thank for the insight. And all the encouraging messages.

I have been in contact with her carer. Will update if any further news.,

We adopted a 13 year old privately. He was scared of their new dog. Despite assurances that he was healthy but had never had vaccinations we discovered that not to be true. He had to have a lot of teeth out. Then he got an abscess which burst and had antibiotics. After all that he understandably took months to settle. Finally became a loving lapcat only to develop an eye problem which persisted involving lots of drops again over several months. Following a blood test to find out why the eye was taking so long to heal discovered he had kidney disease. Put him on a special diet which he hated went downhill quite quickly and was euthanised at home on his favourite cuddly blanket just over a year after we bought him home. Both of us were absolutely knocked sideways by how much we grieved him. I felt cheated on his behalf that he found us and became so happy with us and had his lovely retirement snatched away. I don’t regret getting him for a second I just wish he had had more lazy summers in our garden.

We adopted a 12-year-old cat at the start of this year in a private adoption. His previous owner believed him to be healthy but sadly it turns out he has heart disease and his prognosis is poor. Obviously, we were unlucky but I would definitely make sure you have money set aside for vets' bills.

That said, I don't regret getting him at all. He is a lovely, affectionate cat and I'm so glad that he won't be spending his last months in a rescue.

He came from a very quiet home with one owner and while ours is a calm adult-only household, he has been frightened by all sorts of noises, from the boiler to the telephone. With lots of patience, he has gradually become more confident but a new home at that age is a huge, traumatic upheaval for them, and he would have really struggled in a busy family home with lots of noise/activity.

We kept him inside for the first few weeks and once we let him out, he did very well at navigating the garden - we've always adopted kittens previously, who needed much more supervision, but he already knew how to use a cat flap and after a couple of supervised outdoor sessions, we were able to leave him to it.

My girl passed not long ago she was 18. At 14 she was still pretty lively, maybe slowing down a little bit. Vet bills became a bit more expensive nearer the end but if I could I would do it all again. That being said I would love to eventually get an older cat. I used to work in a rehoming centre and it broke my heart the amount that were overlooked.

Thank you for further accounts. The current carer hasn’t responded to my message. Will update if they do.

"First, why are they rehoming their 14 year old cat?"

Why? Try actually reading the OP and you will find the explanation within.