Adoption

In Praise of Older Cats

This year for Adopt-A-Shelter Cat month, we decided to cast our gaze on elderly kitties who’ve retired into luxurious windowsill lounging, reminiscing over their lifetime of catnapping and chasing felt mousies.

It’s not uncommon for cats to reach their 20th birthday, and if you’d like to know how old that is in human years, consider that kitties go through puberty and adulthood within the first two years of their lives. By the time a cat is six years old, he’s about 40 in human years. At 15, a cat is equivalent to a 76-year-old person, and a 20-year-old is about 96 in people years.

We want to thank all of you who sent in stories of the wise old friends who’ve been great company for you. We are proud to present them here. Please enjoy these frisky felines who’ve kept on trucking and are still living it up in their golden years.

Aurore George
15 years old
Submitted By: Wendy Wu, Dallas, TX
How They First Met: "We found our way to each other when I was still in college," says Wendy. "Friends of mine heard a scratching noise at the screen door. When they opened the door, a kitty just walked into the house and never left!"
Why She Stayed: "She charmed my family when I brought her home after college. I never had pets growing up because my family was allergic. Turns out my family wasn't allergic to Aurore!"
How She Maintains Her Youth: "Aurore only uses her charm when necessary."
Hobbies: "Eating, napping and getting into lots of mischief."
How She Displays Her Authority: "At night she sleeps on my bed (or shall I say, HER bed!) always smack in the center, so I'm generally left scrunched in some odd position!
How the Future Looks: "This year I'm thinking of getting her some stairs going up to the bed. She's getting on in age, but she’s still her sassy self."

Cassie
16 years old
Submitted By: Jenna Barbee, Moseley, VA
First Impressions: “There were several tiny kittens available—but I knew right away that I had to have the one older kitten cowering in the back, the one who seemed unwanted, like an outsider.”
How She Got Her Name: “Cassie is short for ‘Casserole,’ since she has so many beautiful calico colors.”
How She Maintains Her Youth: “We live on a lot of land and she loves climbing trees. When I come home from school, she comes running up to greet me before I can even get out of my car.”
Why Mom Loves Her: “We grew up together—I’m now 22 and she’s 16. My life would've been so empty without her. Cassie has been a blessing to our family!”

Panda Bear
17 1/2 years old
Submitted By: Robin Roth, Bayside, NY
How They First Met: "Panda Bear was trapped with his sister, Cleo. They were both feral, hanging out in Atlantic Beach,” says Robin. “It took awhile, but I was able to tame Panda, and he’s slept curled up next to me on my bed for the last 17 ? years.” (P.S. Robin rescued Cleo, too, who passed away at the age of 9.)
Hobbies: “Panda just loves to lie next to me and purr and purr.”
Can You Guess His Favorite Time of Day?!: “If I sleep on my stomach, he sleeps on my back or sometimes on my pillow wrapped around my head. He also regularly stands in my foyer looking at me, telling me it’s time for bed and time to cuddle.”
He’s Got the Look: “As you can see with the attached picture, he is a cat with a definite attitude!”
Mom Knows Best: “Being older, he has a few issues. Sometimes I see him standing around and he doesn’t appear to know why he is standing there (in his defense, that happens to me all the time—‘Why did I walk in that room?’). But he is a trooper and I adore him."

Tiger
18 years old
Submitted By: Rebecca Shepherd
How They First Met: "I adopted Tiger from a shelter in Oklahoma when he was a few weeks old,” says Rebecca.
How He Stays on Top of the Latest Trends: "He has a younger brother, Murphy, who is three years old, and they are best friends."
Older and Wiser: “Tiger is very calm and doesn't get into too much trouble anymore (unlike his brother!). But he does romp around and play with Murphy every now and then!”
Always Looking on the Bright Side: "He likes to find sunny spots on the carpet and bask in the sunshine.”
Why Mom Loves Him: “Tiger is a very unique cat and loves to talk. He understands many human words and has hundreds of nicknames. He’s very affectionate and likes to sleep under the covers with me at night, and also loves cuddling on the couch. He’s been such an important part of my life, and I enjoy every day I have with him.”

Mercury
16 1/2 years old
Submitted By: Judith Gabriel, Reading, PA
How They Met: “I went to my local humane society looking for a cat, and there she was—a tiny, sad gray kitten,” reminisces Judith. “She was underweight and infested with fleas, but I thought she was so beautiful that I had to have her.”
How She Got Her Cool Name: “I named her Mercury because of her color. I was going to call her Quicksilver, but that’s too much of a mouthful!”
Her Exercise Regimen: “Although Mercury no longer hunts or climbs trees, we enjoy taking strolls up and down the apartment complex late at night when there is no one around. She still likes to play with her feather, too, and once in a while she'll get one of those cat tear-ons and fly around the house. I don't know how she does it, but she looks like she's having a ball.”
How Mercury Prevents Eye Strain: “When I work too much and don't pay attention to her, she kindly walks over to the computer, sticks one claw into my butt and runs away. She won't stop until I play with her.”
Besides Mom, Her BFF Is: “My dog, Penny the Pomeranian! Mercury could always be found right by Penny’s side. They kept each other company and were great friends. Sometimes I thought Mercury believed that she was a dog. When Penny died several years ago, Mercury would sniff and sniff the spot where she expired and then curl up and lie down there.”
She Wears It Well: “She is such a pal and no one can believe she is over 16. I hope she lives well into her 20s.”

Alliekats
21 years old
Submitted By: Alice Pollard, Arlington Heights, IL
Her Early Days: “I'm not sure where her story begins,” says Alice, “but she was found living in an alley and was having a hard time hunting for food.”
How They Met: “I saw her at Kay’s Shelter in Arlington Heights. She was three or four years old, weighed four pounds and looked like she'd been through a war.”
First Diva Moment: “At the shelter she didn't want anyone touching her, but she allowed me to pick her up. I haven’t put her down since.”
Hobbies: “Sleeping through the day in the warm kitchen and standing on the counter meowing until she gets fed!”
Payback Time: “We’ve been together for 17 ? years and she really has been through thick and thin with me. Now that we’re both a lot older, it’s nice to be able to give her the all the spoiling she needs!”

Aldo
22 years old
Submitted By: Ava R. Whaley, Arlington Heights, IL
How It All Began: “He came to us four years ago via my stepdaughter, who begged her father to take him,” Ava says. “When her dad and I met shortly after that, Aldo came to live with me—and about six months later, my husband followed.”
Reigning Cats: “When Maggie, my other cat, died two years ago, we decided that Aldo would be king of the house for as long as he lives. “
How He Walks the Walk: “I put him on a leash and he takes me for a daily stroll around the block, brushing up against every bush, rolling in dirt and leaves and sniffing every scent.”
He Has His Own Fan Base: “We always say, ‘What does Aldo like more than two people staring at him, telling him how adorable and beautiful he is?’ Four people telling him how adorable and beautiful he is! And the neighbors oblige.”
No Other Like Her Baby: “I've had four cats during my life and have loved them all. But Aldo, aaaaah, Aldo. There will never be another Aldo.”

Oscar
17 years old
Submitted By: Susi Gittelman, Ladera Ranch, CA
How They First Met: "I adopted Oscar along with his brother, Felix, when they were about 12 weeks old,” says Susi. “A lady had taken a feral pregnant cat into her home to have the kittens, and then found homes for them.”
Faces Only a Mother Could Love: “Oscar and Felix (we lost Felix to cancer when he was 15) were not the cutest kittens you’ve ever seen—they had ear mites, ringworm and fleas, and their coat was thin. It took us a few vet trips and at-home medical care to get them healthy, but they were looking handsome in no time.”
Hobbies: “Oscar is definitely retired from being a wild, playful, energetic feline—he now spends his days eating (I have to mention eating, because he enjoys it so much) and lounging among our dogs. On nice days he sunbathes in our enclosed backyard.”
Talking the Talk: “Oscar ‘talks’ a lot to everyone, including all our other animals, and has quite interesting meowing conversations with my husband, who, yes, also meows during those special conversations—which is very entertaining to the rest of us.”

Amy and Rascal
16 years old
Submitted By: Dan and Sioux Winter, Lutz, FL
How They First Met: “When I adopted them from the Humane Society of Tampa Bay, Amy was eight weeks old and had a black spot right on top of her head,” Sioux recalls. “Rascal was seven weeks old and was so tiny he could fit in one hand.”
The Bed Bug?: “Rascal prefers the comfort of his cozy bed—which is actually our king-sized bed, but we haven't told him that. He thinks he’s letting us use his bed!
The Princess?: “Amy will kiss and cuddle, but on her terms only. She is such a complainer when we give her medication or try—note the term ‘try’—to clip her nails. But Amy has settled down in her senior years, and she now loves to be cuddled and kissed.”
Favored Sleeping Accommodations: “Rascal loves to sleep on his daddy's lap in front of the TV each night,” says Sioux. “Amy sleeps with me, but complains if I have to move her even one inch!”
What Mom Says About Them: “Amy and Rascal provide my husband and me with unconditional love and companionship, and we will continue to give them as much love, care and comfort as we can for as long as they’re with us.”

Reba
15 years old
Submitted by: Brenda Landers, Ofallon, MO
Her Namesake: Reba McEntire, of course!
On the Road, Kitty Style: “For the first eight years of her life, Reba rode around in an 18-wheeler,” says Brenda. “She would lay on the dash looking out the window. When I pulled into a truck stop, people would stop and stare, amazed to see a cat in a truck.” (P.S.: Brenda quit trucking in 2001—now Reba leads a ‘boring’ life at home).”
Feeding Arrangements: “Reba has me trained to give her three meals a day—breakfast, a midmorning treat and an evening snack!”
Their Favorite Fib: “She's not spoiled much!”
It’s All Good: “This year, on April 10, she celebrated her 15th birthday. I am SO lucky to be owned by this feline! “

Winnie
19 years old
Submitted By: Stacey Polcyn, Dekalb, IL
Her Home Is Her Castle: “Winnie’s corner of the kitchen is her domain and no one else’s,” proclaims Stacey. “She spends a lot of time in her bed by the patio door sleeping or watching the outside world. Once in awhile, she ventures into other parts of the house to find the sunny spots. Or even to jump in my lap for a snuggle or two.”
Meet Her Subjects: “Winnie does have three other cat friends in her life now, and also three dogs—and they all know she’s the boss.”
Queenly Diversions: “On a day when she's feeling a bit frisky, you can find her flipping the plastic ring from the gallon of milk or even playing with the dog toys.”
At the Salon: “Many secrets have been shared with Winnie during the hours I’ve brushed her in spots she can't quite reach anymore.”
Under Her Rule: “Winnie has been with me almost half of my life; she is a wonderful old girl and a terrific feline friend. Her sight and hearing aren't so great these days, but we make everything as easy as possible to keep her comfortable for as long as we’re blessed to have her in our lives.”

Maggie
20 years old
Submitted By: Kristin Brodbeck
How They Met: “I begged my parents for years to get me a pet, since I’m an only child and thought it would be nice to have some company,” remembers Kristin. “Finally, at the ripe old age of 17, right before I left for college, my parents let me get a kitty for my birthday.”
Dream Come True: “I had already had a vision of what my cat would look like. I had even made a sculpture of ‘my cat’ in art class using white clay (she would be mostly white, of course!) and orange glaze to make pretty patches of color. When we found Maggie at a Delaware SPCA, I knew immediately that she was going to be part of our family because she looked just like my art class sculpture.”
Old Friends: “It’s hard to believe that we first welcomed Maggie into our lives when I was in high school, since I am now officially pushing 40!”
How Maggie Celebrated the Big Two-Oh: “After consulting with her vet to ensure that the items I had chosen for her birthday meal would be safe for her to eat, I made her a little plate of all her favorites—tuna, clams and shrimp. For dessert, she got a carefully measured teaspoon of milk. By the smile on Maggie’s face, I would say she enjoyed her 20th birthday!”

Lacy
9 years old
Submitted By: Amber Beasley, Austin, TX
How They Met: “Lacy was very sick,” says Amber, “and because she hated other cats, the SPCA of Fredericksburg, TX, was allowing her to remain in her cat basket while the rest of the cats were kenneled. I was visiting the shelter and sat down beside her and just started petting her.”
How the Relationship Has Evolved: “For awhile we were more like roommates, but now she is my princess.”
Possessions: “Lacy has five beds of her own, numerous kitty toys and her favorite treat—catnip.”
Her Beauty Secret: “I feed her organic food.”
How They Keep the Romance Alive: “I always remind her that she is my princess and I am so lucky to have found her.”

Belinda
18 1/2 (R.I.P.)
Submitted By: Meredith Dorfner, Philadelphia, PA
How They Met: Meredith remembers that fateful encounter in 1987: “We rescued Belinda as a kitten from a field during a terrible blizzard. She had been abandoned by her mother and was wandering all alone in the storm, cold and starving.”
The Courtship: “She was easily lured by an offering of food and the shelter and warmth of our car. She willingly hopped up into the backseat and into our hearts.”
A Toast from Mom: “Belinda filled the next 18 ? years of our lives with joy, happiness and her fabulous ‘Tortitude’!”

Sophie
10 years old
Submitted By: Amanda Culver, University Place, WA
How They Met: “Sophie (who was then named Ebony) was all alone in a cage at the Humane Society of Tacoma Pierce County,” Amanda remembers. “She came up to me and made the squeakiest meow I have ever heard. I fell in love with her right then.”
First Moment At Home Together: “The first thing she did was flop on her side and squeak at me.”
The Fate Factor: “Sophie had been at the humane society for months and had almost been adopted quite a few times, but the adopter always ended up not showing. It is so unusual for our local humane society to hang on to a cat that long. It makes me truly believe that Sophie was meant to be mine.”
How She Makes Life Special: “She has become my best friend—she follows me everywhere, sleeps on my bed every night (right by my head) and is waiting by the door when I get home.”

Zafferrina
19 years old
Submitted By: Robin & Bob Bousquet, Hanson, MA
How They First Met: "We adopted our Zafferrina—that’s “sapphire” in Italian—back in 1989, from a cat shelter being run in the back of an antiques store,” Robin tells us. “The woman who ran the shelter had found a very pregnant feral cat just days before she gave birth to a litter of all-black kittens.”
More Is Definitely Better: “My husband and I already had three cats, but we felt we had plenty of room in our home and our hearts for another.” (P.S. The Bousquet clan now consists of nine cats and one dog!)
Auspicious Beginnings: “I sent out cards telling of our upcoming adoption—and to our surprise, our family gave us a ‘baby’ shower for Zafferrina!”
What Mom Says About Her Precious Gem: "She has some mild cataracts and may not get around as much as she used to, but she is still our shining sapphire.”

Chuck
14 years old
Submitted By: Christa Faust, Los Angeles, CA
First Date: “There were plenty of younger, cuter, friendlier cats at the shelter that day,” says Christa. “But something about this melancholy little guy really touched my heart, and I decided to take him home.”
A Slow Courtship: “At first Chuck was very shy, but over time, he opened up, and his sweet and funny personality began to shine.”
Haunted Meow-se: “He has the strangest, almost silent meow, like a creaky door, and he talks to me all the time.”
Salon Style: “He loves to be brushed; all I have to do is pick up the brush and he comes running.”
Youth Is Wasted on the Young: “Although he’s an old man, Chuck still chases shadows, plays with his cat buddy Reggie and tugs at my hair while I'm sleeping.”
Mutual Appreciation: “Chuck has brought so much love and fun and happiness to my life. I feel that I'm as lucky to have him as he is to have me.”

Lucy
15 years old
Submitted By: Anne Davis, New York, NY
A Tough Start: When Anne Davis first met Lucy, she noticed the sweet kitty had been “declawed, spayed, and left on the street.”
Pram-tical: “When Lucy was living on the street, she found a little doll carriage in which to curl up and sleep each night. The owner of the pram told me about how her husband would find Lucy asleep each morning as he left for work.”
A Place to Lay Her Head: “I decided to give Lucy a lifetime of safe, warm beds to sleep in.”
Happy Endings: “Now she gets to sleep in the sun (or just out of it) on the balcony of my Manhattan apartment. I love her dearly.”

Ripley
12 years old
Submitted By: Helana Nosratbakhsh, Philadelphia, PA
In Your Easter Basket: “One Easter morning when I was younger, my parents took me to our local shelter,” says Helana. “There we saw a tiny kitten, with gorgeous blue eyes, who needed a home.”
Identity Crisis: “When we took her out of the cage, she immediately started to climb up my shoulder, where she perched like a parrot!”
Hobbies: “Ripley loves to spend most of the day sleeping in my bed, eating or sitting in her heated kitty bed (yes, she is a spoiled cat!).”
Kitty Karma: “The reason why she deserves a fanciful life? She was found abandoned in a shopping cart with her brothers and sister.”
Are You My Mother?: “I made a vow to myself to spoil this orphaned kitten like I was her mother, and I have been doing so ever since.”

Nana
18 years old
Submitted By: Chris Skopal, Syracuse, NY
How They Met: “I was working as a registered nurse at a local hospital when I experienced the loss of my first patient,” says Chris. “I had to call the family, whom I knew, and tell them that their beloved Nan had passed away. This brought back memories of my own grandmother’s passing, and afterwards, I sat crying in the parking lot of my apartment complex. When I looked up, I saw a thin, white cat staring back at me.”
Going Up?: “She followed me and two others into the elevator. We decided that whomever she followed out of the elevator would take her for the night. Well, she followed me.”
First Night Together: “Nana slept on a bed of warm towels in the bathroom until I could contact the local agencies in the morning.”
A Bed of One’s Own: “Now she has her own wicker bed on my husband’s dresser and a blanket near a heat vent in the dining room.”
One-Man Kitty: “She really likes having one person to herself, and has adopted my son as her own. She clings to him, follows him to his room for storytime, and stands by when he first wakes up. She leads a very busy life.”
Mama Bear: “She is the matriarch of our home, and we love her dearly.”

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In Praise of Older Cats

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