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Oldies

post #1 of 13
6/11/05 at 12:13pm
Thread Starter 
Sorry, didnt know which forum this should go in!!

I only take on older cats (normally 12+, had to go down to 10+ earlier this year!). I Feel that oldies deserve to be in a warm, loving happy environment for the end of their lives, rather than a shelter, and although i cant take on a lot of them, i have had 5 in less than 3 years, 4 of which may have died if i hadnt taken them on. A lot of people cant see how i can keep puttting myself through the pain, but although i know i will go through days/weeks of upset, for me it is worth it to know i have made such a big difference to that kitties life. I did take on a 5 year old to be the cat that stayed with me through all the oldies coming and going, but she only stayed with me for 8 months, but the good thing was that she made my mind up fully about the oldies.

Enough of the waffle, the main question was 'Does anyone else out there do something similar?'. I would love to hear your experiences and tales if so.
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post #2 of 13
6/11/05 at 12:19pm
I know of a few people locally who do.

I think its an amzing thing and would consider it myself (maybe when i move out, my parents arent so keen to fund this plan after putting me through uni. lol).

one lady takes all the cats which are thought to be hopeless and who's owners want them put down. makes me so sad that people can have so little regard for their pets.
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post #3 of 13
6/11/05 at 12:39pm
I do know of a rescue group in my area that only takes in seniors. The last time I talked with them, they had 6 cats older than 20 years old. They wouldn't tell me their total count but I do know that this is what they do with their lives. They may occassionally adopt out, but assume that once they get one in their care, that no one will want them. They make the commitment to keep them for the rest of their lives.

I only run into these women a few times a year but they do encourage people to contact them with their senior problems. They hooked me up with a good dentist for my Shep a few years back.

You are a special person for taking care of these oldsters! My hat is off to you!!
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post #4 of 13
6/11/05 at 1:37pm
I cared for 3 geriatric, diabetic cats for a little over 6 years ... and the geezers have a very, very special place in my heart.

~gf~
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post #5 of 13
6/11/05 at 1:47pm
Thread Starter 
Maverick, if you are in the UK, you should get hold of a charity called The Cinnamon Trust, they help elderly and terminally ill people keep pets with them as long as possible, by offering everything from fostering while in hospital, to going round to clean out cages and stuff. I have recently volunteered, am just waiting to get my first foster or dog walk from them.

The only prob with oldies is the financial side, i have spent over £400 in the vets so far this year, and been up about 20 times!! I am hoping just to do long term fostering for a while to let the finances recover!! I would also like to take on FIV+ cats, and am thinking of not replacing my two when they go so i can do it (i have one indoor/outdoor cat and no garden, so not a possibility at the mo).As my female is only 10 though, it could be a while before this happens. I basically just want to help as many cats that would be overlooked as possible. My vet is aware of what i do, and a few weeks ago contacted me to help with two 9 year olds (bit young for me!!) - luckily one of the clients that afternoon did take them on, otherwise i would have fostered them till we could have homed them.

Cheers Momofmany, it is just good to find places like this where people dont think you are strange for doing things like this and try and convince you to take on a younger cat for emotional and financial reasons.
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post #6 of 13
6/11/05 at 2:08pm
i've heard of them. if they can give me some leaflets i might be able to pass them on to my soft touch mum or gran and see if they can help out.

still live at home with my parents so its all down to my mum really

Fiv+ cats are my passion. At one point we thought Maverick was Fiv+ so i have had a soft spot for them ever since. but unfortunatly no more pets until i move out.
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post #7 of 13
6/11/05 at 2:14pm
Thread Starter 
If you go on their website - think it is www.cinnamon.org but wouldnt swear to that, you can order leaflets and posters. I put a poster up in the vets after volunteering to see if it gets me any more business!! i am a fosterer for 3 charities though, so you would think i would keep quiet in case i get overrun, but no!!

poor you, i am lucky i have my own house or i wouldnt be able to do it. My family (apart from my little sis and my stepdad hates her coming round) do refuse to come cos of the cats, but i think it is their loss.

If i ever won enough on the lottery, i would like to have a sanctuary for oldies, FIV+ and disabled kitties, basically the main kinds that get overlooked! There is a sanctuary near me that have a few FIV+ cats, so hopefully it is something i will be able to do. If my indoor/outdoor cat goes before my cat that refuses to leave the house, and she carries on refusing to leave the house, i may be able to take one while i still have her, as long as it isnt aggresive i would mix them.
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post #8 of 13
6/11/05 at 2:20pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by booktigger
If i ever won enough on the lottery, i would like to have a sanctuary for oldies, FIV+ and disabled kitties, basically the main kinds that get overlooked! There is a sanctuary near me that have a few FIV+ cats, so hopefully it is something i will be able to do. If my indoor/outdoor cat goes before my cat that refuses to leave the house, and she carries on refusing to leave the house, i may be able to take one while i still have her, as long as it isnt aggresive i would mix them.
we share the same dream!!
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post #9 of 13
6/11/05 at 5:43pm
I specialize in the older ferals the ones that people believe should be destroyed- unfortunately in the feral world of narrow minded thinking many people give up on kittens that haven't even reached their first birthday!
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post #10 of 13
6/11/05 at 6:48pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by hissy
I specialize in the older ferals the ones that people believe should be destroyed- unfortunately in the feral world of narrow minded thinking many people give up on kittens that haven't even reached their first birthday!
How could anyone give up??

I was considering an oldie for Kandie when Zoey picked me ...
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post #11 of 13
6/11/05 at 9:26pm
I took in 2 senior kitties 3 years ago from the local pound shortly before they were due to b put down - no one wanted to take them home. One had several health problems (Sphinx) and lived with us for two years longer but passed on due to cancer and the other has a couple of issues (Kuce) and she is still here with us.

Its a shame that some people give them up as they get older or don't want to give them a chance. If I had more room and money I'd try to find a way to help them out.
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post #12 of 13
6/12/05 at 2:01am
Thread Starter 
Good on you Hissy. As far as i know, we dont have a lot of ferals near me, but after fostering a poorly socialised cat that was terrified of humans, it is something i would consider doing again. I just want to help any cat that would otherwise struggle to be rehomed. I have a friend who does a lot with ferals, any under the age of 1 she tries to turn round and get indoor only homes for them, and she has a good success rate. She even tamed a 4 year old feral, who did live in her garden till Christmas Day when he broke his leg, he is now an indoor only cat (she took him in for cage rest and he has never shown an interest in leaving the house again!!)
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post #13 of 13
6/13/05 at 8:18am
My "first" kitty--the first that I had since I became an adult--was young. After my roommate moved out last year with her cat, I adopted an old boy. I don't know how old he is (we guess around 12 or 13), but he is such a sweetheart. He's been very expensive, but very worth it to me. When his time comes, I will probably look at getting another older cat because I do think they deserve happy, loving homes at least as much as the younger ones.
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