Have you ever adopted an adult cat?

The article about adopting senior cats was published a few days ago -

But by all means, please do keep the stories coming. We love sharing those and I'll be featuring this thread on our main page to. Very fitting, as this is Adopt a Senior Cat Month!

I just posted this month's Picture of the Month contest and the theme is senior cats. Thought I'd mention it here as well, as there were some very good pictures of senior cats posted to this thread.

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/251161/picture-of-the-month-senior-cats-november-2012

Sorry I missed the deadline, life has been quite hectic in our home.

Anyway - Casper, now 11-1/2, a DSH, came to us 2 years ago when one of my close friends needed to rehome him after raising him from kittenhood.  It took about 6 months of him going back and forth of whether or not a new home was the right thing for him to do; but in the end it was the right decision for Casper at that point in time.  Ralph really couldn't take care of him any longer as he was selling his home in one state, and already living elsewhere; coming back to check up on Casper weekends, with neighbors poking their head in every few days as well.

He knew that my boyfriend and I had been contemplating getting a cat for a while (my BF, has had many cats throughout his life), and felt confident that Casper would fit in well with us.  More so, he knew that we, would be great "parents" for his kitty.

My friend drove him over, and only brought an old blanket, his litterbox and some food.  Didn't even have a collar or carrier for him.  Had Casper draped around his neck 




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Thank you for sharing Casper's story - he's absolutely adorable!

For everyone who's posted in this thread - you could also make cat pages for your kitties in our Cat Pages section and albums in the Gallery section. Once you make an album, you can link to that in your signature with a thumbnail

Sivyaleah, What a sweet, sweet boy Casper is!!!  Such a nice story. He looks A LOT like my Angel!  Expecially in that black & white picture.  I love the bed time story, so cute!

Aww thank you both!

Your kitty does look like ours a lot Kelly, and you take wonderful photos too.  I now have a special soft spot for ginger ones because of him

sivyaleah said:

Aww thank you both!

Your kitty does look like ours a lot Kelly, and you take wonderful photos too.  I now have a special soft spot for ginger ones because of him

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Thanks, me too! Funny I Call Angel a ginger kitty too, because he's not orange, & he's not yellow. A couple of weeks ago, I bought a butternut squash, & I said to angel," your the same color."

He's my little "Butternut, sweet potato."

"Butternut sweet potato"!!!

OMG I can't wait to tell my BF that one.  We have SO many names for Casper.  That one is awesome and put a big smile on my face 

Yea, Angel answers to "just a few" names too. LOL! (Boo Boo,  Boo Bear, Punkin, Honey Bunny, Bambino (I'm half Italian) , "Silly monkey" that one is reserved for when he gets the cat crazies!" (like @ 5:30 this morning & again @ 7:15).

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We adopted this girl that was living outside when moved into our house. We didn't know it at first but she was the neighbors cat and had been kicked outside. She was super friendly and we always looked for her when we were coming and going and would give her attention. Winter hit and heavy rains and I started leaving my garage cracked open for her to get some shelter. I really wanted to keep her but I didn't want to steal someones cat. About 6 months later we started feeding her when I noticed the neighbors rarely ever seemed at home anymore. I had been letting her into my house occasionally but she didn't like our dogs and wasn't too thrilled with my other 2 cats. Then we saw a for sale sign in front of their house and I knew I had to talk to them. My husband went over and talked to the wife, it was her cat apparently and she said she had planned on coming to talk to us to ask if we could take her. I was so happy I cried when I found out. It was a long time coming but she was finally ours. She was 5 years old. She has been our indoor girl from that day on. Her nickname is Miss Sassy Pants. LOL. It took about 3 months but she is now fully integrated with the rest of our family and even plays with the boys sometimes. She had always slept in the bedroom at night and she comes up to lay with anyone who comes on the bed no matter the time of day lol. 

Melesine said:

We adopted this girl that was living outside when moved into our house. We didn't know it at first but she was the neighbors cat and had been kicked outside. She was super friendly and we always looked for her when we were coming and going and would give her attention. Winter hit and heavy rains and I started leaving my garage cracked open for her to get some shelter. I really wanted to keep her but I didn't want to steal someones cat. About 6 months later we started feeding her when I noticed the neighbors rarely ever seemed at home anymore. I had been letting her into my house occasionally but she didn't like our dogs and wasn't too thrilled with my other 2 cats. Then we saw a for sale sign in front of their house and I knew I had to talk to them. My husband went over and talked to the wife, it was her cat apparently and she said she had planned on coming to talk to us to ask if we could take her. I was so happy I cried when I found out. It was a long time coming but she was finally ours. She was 5 years old. She has been our indoor girl from that day on. Her nickname is Miss Sassy Pants. LOL. It took about 3 months but she is now fully integrated with the rest of our family and even plays with the boys sometimes. She had always slept in the bedroom at night and she comes up to lay with anyone who comes on the bed no matter the time of day lol. 

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She is Beautiful!!!!  Sounds a little like how I got Angel.  He "Came to me." He started hanging around, & I would spend time w/ him. He was at my house more & more. I never knew he belonged to the neighbors. I thought he was a stray, so after a year of hanging around, & me finally letting him in, I made it official & took him to the vet. Later, I found out the neighbors daughter had had a baby, so it had probably gotten to noisy & stressful for him. (especially knowing now he has herpes, so stress is bad for him!)  I think they knew I was taking much better car of him, & lived by myself, so they never said anything, knowing he was living w/ me now. They moved last year. I truly believe Angel was meant to be w/ me. Just the health issues he has had, I know that if he were still w/ them,. he wouldn't have gotten the care he needed & would probably not be here today. I think she used to just buy bulk dry food at the feed store, so not very healthy, & I know he was not taken for regular vet visits.

When I took him for his teeth cleaning, he had to have two teeth removed. If that would've went untreated, I'm sure it would have caused infection & worse. He has also has Cystitis, & w/ him being indoor/outdoor there, they would've never known & had him treated. I am so thankful to have my sweet boy!! I tell him I love him every day!! He is truly my blessing!!

I work at a vet clinic/boarding facility.  One October morning I pulled into the parking lot to find that someone had dumped off two cats in their carriers and all their belongings on the front steps. 

According to the note left on one of the carriers, Sam and Lizzie are 7 years old and their human parent could no longer care for them. I was so upset at finding these two abandoned that I cried when I got home. 

Both cats were traumatized by the experience at first. To be dumped off by someone they trusted, in the dark of a cold night. It took two weeks before Sam would let anyone touch him.  Lizzie was worse.  If she would see anyone any where near their cage, she would hiss-spit-snarl. Bad enough that the one kennel worker was afraid to open their cage (had to explain to her that it was fine to do so to get the litter box and food bowls, so as long as you didn't try to touch her). Trying to handle her was a nightmare, to the point that the vets were ready to deem her unadoptable. The area shelters and rescue organizations are overflowing with homeless pets, which meant that if she was unadoptable the only road left open was a route I didn't want to see taken.

My Husband, upon being told that Lizzie may never find a new home, decided that he wanted to meet her and Sam.  So he and I went in on my day off (with the ok of the manager).  Their cage was in the isolation room (enclosed off from the rest of the facility); I cautioned Hubby to please be careful and take it slow, then opened their cage door.  Sam came out and right up to me for attention, as my spouse positioned himself in front of the cage and began talking softly to Lizzie.

Within 20 minutes, she had stopped hissing and was sniffing his hand.  And at the end of that first hour - he was giving her a belly rub!!

The head vet (my boss) was surprised - and quite pleased - that Hubby was able to accomplish what he did with Lizzie.  After talking further with him, he said that if we wanted the both of them that we could take them.  He felt as I did, that Lizzie would most likely calm down once out of a kennel-type environment.  After a thorough examination and vaccination updating, we brought them home October 29, 2012.

Our first cat, Bazinga, wasn't too pleased with us! She's 2 1/2 years old, and had been an only child for the last two years. But, slowly, over the last month she has been getting used to them and they to her.  About a week ago, they started this routine of taking turns chasing one another through the house.  Almost like they are playing tag.  We're still figuring out their personalities too.  Lizzie is quiet, yet when you start to pet her she gets quite vocal.  She is still showing a little timidness and doesn't really like being held, but will lay down next to me when I sit on the couch.  Sam (a.k.a. "Big Boy") has a rusty purr and a squeaky meow, which is funny to hear coming from such a large cat!  He loves to eat, chase toys, and sprawl out on his back on the living room carpet with all four paws in the air.  I call him our fur rug, lol!  And they both absolutely LOVE chasing the "red demon dot" (laser pointer)!  Lizzie has indeed calmed right down. She and Sam are always looking for attention on a regular basis.

They have their own area (our spare bedroom); we don't let them stay out overnight as of yet.  Even though the getting along is going much better than anticipated I'm still not entirely comfortable letting them be out unsupervised just yet.  That will come in time. :-)

CatWithMyCoffee said:

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• catwithmycoffee
• Nov 27, 2012

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• catwithmycoffee
• Nov 27, 2012

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Awww, How awful that they had to go through that! Poor babies!  I can't even imagine!! You & your husband are blessings to those kitties! They must have sensed the love you had for them.  What a wonderful ending to a bad situation! 

Angels mommy said:

She is Beautiful!!!!  Sounds a little like how I got Angel.  He "Came to me." He started hanging around, & I would spend time w/ him. He was at my house more & more. I never knew he belonged to the neighbors. I thought he was a stray, so after a year of hanging around, & me finally letting him in, I made it official & took him to the vet. Later, I found out the neighbors daughter had had a baby, so it had probably gotten to noisy & stressful for him. (especially knowing now he has herpes, so stress is bad for him!)  I think they knew I was taking much better car of him, & lived by myself, so they never said anything, knowing he was living w/ me now. They moved last year. I truly believe Angel was meant to be w/ me. Just the health issues he has had, I know that if he were still w/ them,. he wouldn't have gotten the care he needed & would probably not be here today. I think she used to just buy bulk dry food at the feed store, so not very healthy, & I know he was not taken for regular vet visits.

When I took him for his teeth cleaning, he had to have two teeth removed. If that would've went untreated, I'm sure it would have caused infection & worse. He has also has Cystitis, & w/ him being indoor/outdoor there, they would've never known & had him treated. I am so thankful to have my sweet boy!! I tell him I love him every day!! He is truly my blessing!!

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What a wonderful story. He is lucky to have you. I understand what you mean when you say he was meant to be with you. I feel the same way about our girl. We found out later that they knew we were taking care of her. I just couldn't bring myself to go over there and say, um so can I have your cat LOL. But when I knew they were moving I had to act or risk losing her forever. 

Your husband is a keeper! He sounds a lot like mine, he can't turn his back on an animal in need. Bless you guys for taking in these kitties in need.

CatWithMyCoffee said:

I work at a vet clinic/boarding facility.  One October morning I pulled into the parking lot to find that someone had dumped off two cats in their carriers and all their belongings on the front steps. 

According to the note left on one of the carriers, Sam and Lizzie are 7 years old and their human parent could no longer care for them. I was so upset at finding these two abandoned that I cried when I got home. 

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My girls Maggie and Jasmine (sisters) were almost 8 when I adopted them. They had been given to a rescue by owner who were moving overseas. The lady at the rescue asked if I would take two older cats, who were having a hard time finding a home due to their age.  I said yes and I have never regretted my decision.  Jasmine went to the rainbow bridge at the age of 16. Maggie is still such a loving cat and will be 18 in February. When the time comes I will adopt senior cats again.

We adopted our beloved black medium-long haired cat Erika Dolley when she was 14. She was from Pet Friendz, a rescue in Michigan's thumb and was placed at Petsmart for adoption. We knew she wouldn't have many chances to be adopted at her age. She was one of the best cats I ever had.  Erika was such a blessing when two of my cats died in the same week 4 years ago. She let me snuggle her and cry into her silky soft fur. Gradually, I stopped crying and we just snuggled. I wish I had her for all of her 19 years!

She thought she owned my office chair; since both she and the chair were black, I had to look carefully to be sure I didn't sit on her. There is a video on You Tube under the name of OletaFeliz that shows her going back to "her" chair the moment I vacated it.



She died on October 27, 2012 at age 19.

i adopted Sheba 2 years ago.  She was about 4 at the time.  I had just lost the love of my life, Psy, and my brother sent me a picture of Sheba.  I told him I wanted her.  One of her owners had recently died and the other was going into a nursing home.  If I hadn't adopted her, she might not have been adopted.  She brings me joy and laughter every day, especially when she plays with S&S.

My bf adopted an older cat. His name is Zeppelin. His family had abandoned him and moved away, leaving him to wander the neighborhood. Being right outside fort Bragg, this happens a lot. Anyways, a friend of his saw Zeppelin wandering around the neighborhood. He was really friendly and you could pet him. She noticed he was declawed and when my bf went to visit her, he got to see Zeppelin. My bf is a cat person too and crouched down to pet him. Zeppelin had a plan of his own and jumped in his lap. So of course my bf adopted him. It was just meant to be. He's the protector of my baby jaws and bumblebee. He loves being a lap cat, especially jumping on the bed and crawling up on my shoulder and starting down at me, he also loves sleeping in the bed with us. Usually this means that I get pinned between him and my bf and can't move. >.

rawrmonster said:

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• rawrmonster
• Dec 4, 2012

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What a sweet boy. If your outside of Ft. Bragg, your not to far from me. I am in Wilmington. If that does happen a lot like you said there, maybe you can find a rescue close by that can keep an eye out over there, or offer some sort of surrender for people who would do that. That's just awful that someone would just "dump" their cat when they leave. It's just not safe. Poor babies.