Possible New Kitty - 5 years old

Hello, I don't know if this is the right page but you all were so nice when my kitty got sick and passed away, I thought I'd give it a try. I've found the sweetest little girl at a local shelter and I would like to adopt her. It's really lonely without a kitty around. The only thing is she is already 4-5 years old. My last kitty was 4 years old when he got sick and passed away. From everyone I've talked to, cats usually live a lot longer. Should I be concerned with her age? (I'm relatively new to cats, my last one was my first experience) Any advice?

My advice would be to definately adopt her. First of all, you don't really know exactly how old she is. Secondly, as long as she's healthy it doesn't matter.

I think what's concerning you is the same age that something bad and something possibly wonderful are happening.

I think this 4 yr. old kitty is as lonely as you are and would love to live her many long years to come with someone who would treat her right. And personally, I think you've both met for a reason!

Let me know your decision!

oh, I definitely say get her. when we adopted Adelaide the shelter said that she was 6, but when we met her and saw how loving and beautiful she was we just had to take her home. well, the vet says she is much younger than that-probably 3 or 4-and now that she is healthy we expect that she will be with us for quite some time.

plus..there are many benefits to an older cat...Adelaide is really past the destructive kitten phase and is much more set in her adult ways, which thankfully dont include any bad habits.

Go bring home that kitty

Cats that are indoors and well cared for typically live 15-20 years. You just had a very bad experience, so no wonder you are cautious. However this kitty has a lot of love to give and so do you. Be aware that an adult cat needs a little extra time to adapt to new surroundings. She will have been through a lot coming to the shelter and then being adopted out. If she has made any fast friends at the shelter, you might consider adopting them together. She will soon adapt, just a little more slowly than a kitten. Have fun. Becky

I say adopt her! here are my reasonings:
1. You could be sitting home without all that potential kitty love for months if you wait around for a kitten (kitten season doesn't start til spring!).
2. You give a potentially harder-to-place older kitty a chance at a new life!
3. You most likely don't have to worry about your drapes getting shredded, or anyone biting your toes at 3 AM!
Good luck, if she feels like "the one" for you, go for it!

I just got her today! She is such a scaredy-cat! She's hiding in the back of my closet behind all the clothes. But when I climb back there to pet her, she is a purring machine! Sweet little girl. Any ideas for names? Her shelter name was Cookie, but I've been calling her Libby, Phoebe, Mimi, etc. Poor girl might have an identity crisis! Hee Hee. Thanks for all the advice!

Congratulations on your new baby girl! Give her a day or two to adapt and try not to follow her into her hiding places. This is a new environment for her and she needs to feel safe. Kitty Bear hid for about 2 days before she started coming around. Then she would go back to her safe spots for a week or so if something scared her. Now she follows us wherever we go

You will be so glad you adopted an older cat. I know we are and if we ever add another cat to our family, it will definitely be an adult.

Originally Posted by melissaann

I just got her today! She is such a scaredy-cat! She's hiding in the back of my closet behind all the clothes. But when I climb back there to pet her, she is a purring machine! Sweet little girl. Any ideas for names? Her shelter name was Cookie, but I've been calling her Libby, Phoebe, Mimi, etc. Poor girl might have an identity crisis! Hee Hee. Thanks for all the advice!

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I am sooooo happy you adopted her! Hi, there little girl! And congratulations to you! You need to describe to us what colors she has and what kind of cat she is, for example, a persian, a domestic short hair, etc. so we can help with some names.

I personally love that name that was given to her, but, let's see what we can come up with.

When they go to hide, let them. Purring could also signify nervousness as well as contentment, so when she's ready she'll come out. If you live in a big house, try to contain her to one or two rooms at a time, to let her get to know her surroundings. (Where her litter box is, her food bowls, and the noises and routine of the household.) If you have any questions about pretty much anything, here's the place to ask. The people on this site answer so fast with so much concern and if they don't know the answer they'll direct you to where you can know.

Show us some pictures and tell us more about her and her exploring details in her new home. Give her a nice quiet warm comfortable place to sleep where she'll feel safe. Love to you Cookie!

Congrats and thank you!!

I volunteer at a shelter, and so many people pass over the older cats because they're afraid of what might happen. I love older cats, and I really think they make the best pets.

Just remember, it can take up to a month for a cat to get used to a new home and start acting the way they did at the shelter. But as soon as she's comfortable, she'll be just the way she was when you met her. (Unlike kittens and young cats, older cats won't change personality-wise.)

As for a name, I say wait until you find one that fits. It took two and a half weeks when I got my first baby before I blurted out Merlin, and it stuck. (His name was Freddy Fingers at the shelter...)

She is so funny! She's content in her hiding place until I lay down in bed, then she came out and looked up like, "Yep, I could use some sleep" She hopped on up and fell asleep. The the little thing was rubbing my face in the middle of the night because she wanted to be petted. We are certainly having fun getting to know each other. I just love her! What a kooky little girl. She's a DSH, half white on the lower half of her face and belly and her back and head are filled with big brown and black patches and some patches of tiger stripes. She's a callico mix, I think. I'm not very good at breeds.

God she sounds gorgeous! Can't wait to see some pics!

Congrats!! I'm so glad for you that you decided to adopt her. Is she showing any signs of "coming out of the closet?" Have you decided on a name? My Bijou was an adult shelter adoptee and her name was "Mallory." I thought that name was just terrible for her, she's a champagne Persian and quite the little pixie princess . My friend's French-Canadian grandmother was visiting and when she saw her, she exclaimed "Quel chaton! Quel bijou!" (What a kitten! What a jewel!) and Bijou was just perfect. You'll know the right name when you hear it! Good luck!

Hey I have a name for her............."Rainbow"! Since she has so many beautiful colors! Tell me what you think, either way, ok?

Yay so glad you adopted her! My boyfriend and I adopted an older cat yesterday, a 6 year old we named Max! It's a bit scary adopting an older kitty, but they're so loving and deserve a great home too! Didja think of a name yet?

Originally Posted by pinkdaisy226

Yay so glad you adopted her! My boyfriend and I adopted an older cat yesterday, a 6 year old we named Max! It's a bit scary adopting an older kitty, but they're so loving and deserve a great home too! Didja think of a name yet?

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Maybe we can see some pics of Max too? That is so kind of you to have adopted a 6 yr. old. They have so much love to give at all ages. God bless you. With love,

I've decided to call her Libby. The name Liberty came to me when I was falling asleep but that's kinda too long so she's Libby for short. She even responds to it! Day 2 with Libby was great. She came out of the closet and laid on the couch next to me and let me pet her. She's really warming up. In the middle of the night I woke up and she was trying to hold my hand! Awww, she's so darn cute! I think she may have been kneading it, she was opening and closing her paw around my finger. I think she likes me! Now she follows me from room to room. Quite a little character. She loves to play in her litter and push it all over to one side of the box. I'll post a picture once I take one. I may have to borrow my friend's digital camara.