Would you adopt out young cat to older person?

I have an application from a woman wanting to adopt one of my fosters who is about 3-4 years old. Everything looks pretty good and I think she would give the kitty a good home. However, she's 69. 69 is not that old so I don't think it would be a problem now but if he lives to be 15 she'll be way into her 80's and may not be able to care for him then. She may not even make it that far. We always take cats back if an owner can't keep them but I'm afraid that he'll leave an adoptable 3-year old and come back an very hard to place 13-year old.

The adopter did say that if she can't care for him in the future he would go to her daughter. I would be okay with that as long as the daughter checks out so that minimizes the risk of him finding himself homeless in ten years. However, ideally a cat should go to a home that is likely to be forever, especially one who's already lost one home. At the same time I think this could be a good match for the cat and I would have no problem with letting her adopt him if she was younger.

What do you guys think? Is it a bad idea to place a young cat with an older person?

Sometimes it is a cat who makes the human "act" younger, gives them a reason to get up in the morning. Emotional health is as important as physical health. So, yes I think it's fine to adopt a young cat out to an older woman.
If possible, I would ask to meet the daughter, and get a feel, sense for how involved with how often she sees, calls her mother. My twin sister, Becky, ended up taking care of "Lovey Dovey", my mother's dog, when it became clear that my mother was forgetting to feed LD because of Alzheimer's and could not walk LD because of pain. After my mother passed, Becky moved LD into her own home; that Becky had been taking care of LD eased LD's transition. (And LD was blind and was in the beginning stages of CRF).
A woman I know recently adopted a two year old cocker spaniel dog from a rescue group; the woman is 92, looks 70, drives and plays golf.

We can become sick or disabled at any age, and average life span is increasing despite the risks of traffic accidents, obesity, high risk sport, and reducing activity levels.  Although we may commonly think placing someone of a younger age in to a position of long term responsibility should be more reliable than an older person there are no guarantees to this.  Not to mention how much better care many more mature people have taken of themselves than those of younger generations!    If someone wants an active cat or a quiet docile cat that is most likely what is going to work for them, and who among us can reliably predict the life span of all cats and people who cross our paths?   If you are facing a person who has limited sight and is obviously shaky on their feet asking for a cat that is going to leap about and trip them up I am not sure it is wise to do any more than ask the person the questions that concern you, and make sure they have through things through from the cat's point of view.  

In some countries 69 may still be quite elderly, however in others it is considered almost middle aged and the person is likely to still be working and active unless they have some serious health condition or disability which could happen at any age.

I have met many a person in their 80s fitter, healthier and more able than those in their 40s or 50s, and with considerably more patience and compassion too. I once met a man of 99 who was still independent, living in his own home and doing his own shopping, going out regularly and received no help from anyone.  If he had wanted a cat I am sure he would have had one though at his age perhaps not assumed he was going to be around to care for him or her for another 15 years or more!

Yeah my mom is 84 and would be mightily offended to hear that 69 is "too old" to take on something new in life!       Plus, it sounds like this woman has already thought of the possibility of her cat outliving her and arranged for her daughter to take kitty.  That's a lot more prepared than many people are!  And there's no guarantee of kitties having a "forever" home with a younger person--circumstances can change in anybody's life to make them unable to care for their pets.  

I have a friend who has just done something similar--she's 73 and has always had cats.  Her last elder kitty just died and she thought she wouldn't get any more cats but she was too lonely without kitties in her house, so she's just adopted two beautiful little kittens.  Her son has already agreed to take them if she passes away.  

In this case, I would definitely talk to the daughter, and if she is truly on board with taking the cat if her mother becomes unable to care for it, and if so, yes, the cat would be truly a family member and I would not hesitate to do the adoption.  The cats are older (not old but not kittens) so it would be an excellent opportunity to get them a good home.

I have adopted to older people in the past, but I do require that they have someone who will take responsibility for the animal if the adopter cannot take care of it..  As a rescuer who just turned 70, I am concerned about my animals should I pass before they do.  I do try to have a "godparent" for each one, a person who knows the cat and its personality and would either keep it or take the time to find the appropriate home for it. I have the godparent's name and contact info written on each such cat's folder, and I have a folder on each cat in my possession, whether it's my personal cat or else one of the group's cats that I'm fostering.   Even though I'm a volunteer with a rescue group, and in fact half the cats I have now are fosters for them, it would be a hardship on them and the animals if they were suddenly forced to take in their fosters AND my personal old cats.   I still try not to keep any young cats but occasionally one ends up being unadoptable for some reason, and those can live with me as long as I'm alive.  There are notes in each cat's folder explaining their situation and having their medical records.  I do suggest appointing  "cat godparents" to all adopters, no matter what their age.

The lady could live another 2 years or another 20 years.

The cat could live another year or another 15 years.

You can not be certain there ever will be a problem.

Many older people are aware that they need to plan for their animals.  This lady has already talked to her daughter, so she understands the potential problem.  To me the critical thing is your statement "I think this could be a good match for the cat and I would have no problem with letting her adopt him if she was younger."  If the cat would be well placed with her, then place the cat with her regardless of the lady's age.

Yes, I agree with all of the above.

I deal with this as well, and simply put, I am upfront with my concerns and ask about an alternate home if something should happen to her.

Too often I get a msg or an email from family, or a neighbor, stating the person passed, or was put in a home, ect and the cat/cats are left behind and not taken care of or rehomed. Just left there.

Thanks everyone! You're all correct - there are no guarantees with anything and most people do live well into their 80's now. I do think this lady will give this cat a good home for many years to come and, as pointed out, there are many pros to adopting to an older person. She is stable, has a lot of animal experience, has the means to give him what he needs and, unlike young people, isn't likely to marry some guy who doesn't like cats, have kids and not have time for the cat anymore or move far away and not want the hassle of binging the cat.

I decided to approve the application and if all goes as planned the kitty will move in in a week or so .