How long will you have cats?

People who really love cats tend to become addicted to them and want to have them their whole lives but what will you do when you get into your elderly years and don't know if you can still outlive your cats? Will you continue to adopt again and again or would you stop? I'm only 42. I still have time until I'm that old. But it's something I wonder about. Because I just can't imagine life without cats.

I'd want to have cats forever. 

I am glad I am not the only one that has thought about this, and I am 34, lol

but I always fear they will outlive me.. and i have no control of what happens to them after I die. So I guess I'd have cats until a certain point of my life. I would not adopt a kitten in my 70s, but maybe a senior cat if at all

That is an interesting question. My husband and I are both in the 70 range. We lost our last cat in June of last year. We knew she was near the end of her life and we agree not to get any more cats when she was gone. We lived from June to December. My husband told me then he was okay without a cat, but he knew my life was miserable. So we adopted another cat. Our health is good. However our son could not take our cat if something happened to us. Neither could our daughter as she has two already and she has issues that would keep her from taking another cat.
Even so, we did it anyway. Life is just miserable without a cat.

I'll always have one.

Draco said:

I'd want to have cats forever. 

I am glad I am not the only one that has thought about this, and I am 34, lol

but I always fear they will outlive me.. and i have no control of what happens to them after I die. So I guess I'd have cats until a certain point of my life. I would not adopt a kitten in my 70s, but maybe a senior cat if at all

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Senior cats need love too and they're the least likely to be adopted. Good idea.

blueyedgirl5946 said:

That is an interesting question. My husband and I are both in the 70 range. We lost our last cat in June of last year. We knew she was near the end of her life and we agree not to get any more cats when she was gone. We lived from June to December. My husband told me then he was okay without a cat, but he knew my life was miserable. So we adopted another cat. Our health is good. However our son could not take our cat if something happened to us. Neither could our daughter as she has two already and she has issues that would keep her from taking another cat.
Even so, we did it anyway. Life is just miserable without a cat.

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But what arrangements would you make if your cat should outlive both of you?

We are at six cats right now (with The Beast). When they're gone, we won't have anymore animals. Period. I'm done. I used to think there would always be a cat or two in my life, but I don't think that way any more. 

Moggiegirl, we have arrangements with my sister that if anything happens to both Rick and me, she and her husband will take "any and all cats in our possession at the time of our deaths". I think that's how it's worded in our will. She and her DH agreed they would do so and there is an amount of money set aside for their care for (hopefully) as long as they would live. If there's any money leftover after the cats are gone, my sister can keep it.

moggiegirl said:

But what arrangements would you make if your cat should outlive both of you?

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M moggiegirl I would hope one of us would outlive the other. We are both in excellent health. If something was to happen to both of us, I am sure my daughter would try to find a no kill shelter for our cat or find him a good home. I know she couldn't take him, but she would do what it takes to put him somewhere he would be loved.

I have been thinking about that. I really have to get my end of life stuff in gear. I am getting older, and do not have any siblings so it is something a friend of my is pushing me to do...she is older than I am, so she is out..

I think, that after having Artie, it has been a long distance between cats, I will try, not to be without one in some way...

I am thinking of keeping it to one cat at a time. And adopting older one.. Artie was 8 when I adopted him. I do not have the financial resources to take in a real senior cat, but I can take in a mature cat..and go from there. 

I am thinking I will have to make a will, with stipulations that my cat will go to the shelter when I die. I do have a coupe of cousins who love cats, but they are older than I am.. and they would not go to the measures I have been taking care of Artie.. one is very frugal.. and the other is just not into all the medical care I have given my guy...so I know that for an interim they will be good, but for long term.. I am not sure.. 

It is something I have to seriously think about...

The cat we adopted is four years old. We did that on purpose. With the kind of health we have we are hoping that we can manage having just the one.

There is a cat next door, beautiful black and white boy, grown cat, fixed. He is an outside barn cat. His owner has major health issues. We are wondering what is going to happen to our friend. He comes out to the road to speak to us every morning when we do our walking. So sweet, friendly and hungry for love.

My mother is 83 and adopted a 3 year-old cat a few years back. If something happens to her, my niece will either take the cat or find it a good home. She works for a vet's office.

My husband and I have a provision in our will that if somethings happens to the both of us, who would get any animals we have at the time along with a monetary stipend.

We think about this quite a bit also.  We're both 57 and worry that as we age caring for them may be much more difficult.

Casper is now 15-1/2 nearly so, I don't worry about that - he won't be around by then (or doubtful).  Cocoa, is only about 6 so she should be with us for quite a long time.

We have discussed whether or not we'd get another cat once Casper is gone (being more likely than Cocoa).  Perhaps at that point, having 1 will be more manageable. Honestly, I can't scoop a litter box now - he does it - and he's starting to complain about his knees also. 

We have no plans what would happen to any pets we may have down the road.  Once my fiance and I marry I intend to have a formal will prepared and most likely, will give consideration to the pet situation at that time also.

Having said all that, having cats in our lives is really important to us. I honestly at this point can't see living a life without at least one.

I am 66 and have 2 cats 1 year old and just adopted a 9 week old kitten. If any or all outlive me I have arranged for the cat protection to collect and rehome them as per my instructions. The service is called Cat Guardian. I can't imagine being without a cat

Verna davies said:

I am 66 and have 2 cats 1 year old and just adopted a 9 week old kitten. If any or all outlive me I have arranged for the cat protection to collect and rehome them as per my instructions. The service is called Cat Guardian. I can't imagine being without a cat

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That's nice to know that there are services you can use if you don't have family to step in and rehome your cats. Currently if God forbid something should happen to me in my 40s my elders would step in to rehome the cats. After I outlive my elders I would have to make arrangements with a service like you described. I'm a single woman currently. Don't know if my future includes a husband or not. He better be a guy who likes cats.

I am 60 and have two 13 year old cats.  I hope they have a number of years left.  If I do adopt another cat it won't be a kitten or young cat, it will be a senior cat.  

I will only be 47 this Sunday, but I used to think about that when Angel was still with me. I used to tell my mom, If anything ever happened to me, to make sure his vet got him, because she loved him, because he was always a good boy at the vets, & I know if not keep him herself, she would find the perfect home for him, knowing his temperament, & that he was just used to it only being the two of us. 

Now, that I haven't gotten another kitty yet, It is something to really think about before I do.  It's been 6 months, but I'm still not ready.  I think it will be a while.....

Not sure. Interesting thread. Our outdoor cats would be a worry in these circumstances as they are not adoptable.

@angelsmomI used to feel the same.Both my old cats died last year but I knew when the time was right for me to have another. Now I have 3. You will know too.

My parents are in their 60s and have a two year old cat. I suppose one of our family would take him as he's an absolute treasure, we're all cat people. I wouldn't be able to as he would never be happy in a flat.

If, for some strange reason none of us could take him one of the neighbours could.

As V verna davies says there's the Cat's Protection League and lots of other charities which have schemes for this situation in the UK so the elderly don't have to be without their furry companions.

Excellent question and something I've struggled with. We are in our 60s, have one cat that is around 11 and one that is around 2. I know that the 2 year old could go back to the shelter where she came from (that is what you have to agree to when you adopt), but not necessarily Swanie, the 11 year old.  I would hope they would take him, though, because they've gotten to know us and I volunteer there. I just really hate the thought of him having to live his life out in the shelter if they couldn't adopt him out, or Cricket either.  It is something I fret about from time to time.