‘Strictly Seniors’ Cat Adoption Event Gives Older Cats Second Chance

[hrmjustin]

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New York (CBSNewYork) An owner dies, goes into a nursing home, or gets evicted. A roommate is allergic, or someone has to move out of the country. There are many reasons why older animals end up at municipal shelters across the country, and sadly, elderly animals are at a higher risk of being euthanized.

On Sunday, May 4, The Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals will host “Strictly Seniors”, its first-ever adoption event for cats seven years and older.

To bring attention to the hundreds of senior cats who need loving, forever homes, the Alliance is partnering with Frankie’s Fund for Feline Care & Rescue, a rescue group founded in 2009 to focus exclusively on older cats, and Cauz for Pawz Thrift Store, which raises money for animal rescue.

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2014/05/04/strictly-seniors-cat-adoption-event-gives-older-cats-second-chance/

[enlightenment]

1. One of the animal rescue groups here -

called "Heaven Can Wait" - has a program to help seniors keep a pet, which is nice. People can donate to help offset the cost to the program.

Pawsitively Seniors allows a senior citizen to permanently foster an adult cat at select assisted living facilities in Las Vegas. Adult cats are difficult to adopt out and senior citizens sometimes suffer from loneliness and need companionship in their later years. With this program we cover all of the costs of food, litter, and medical care for the cat they choose to foster. We help them by giving them a new friend and they help by taking in a cat that wouldn’t be adopted as quickly as a cute little kitten. It’s a win-win for everyone.

https://www.hcws.org/about/overview

[hrmjustin]

2. Sounds like a great orginaztion to donste to.

[enlightenment]

3. It is.

Most of these groups are - they do wonderful work on a shoestring budget.

[hrmjustin]

4. I got 5 cats and I hope to have cats my whole life.

[enlightenment]

9. We also have five

and two rescue kittens that the neighbor kids brought over yesterday. About four weeks old. Cute as buttons, of course. We can't keep them - five is really enough; our adults are already in a swivet; and we're doing home remodeling, just for an additional stressor. Trying very hard to find a cat lover or two to adopt them!

[hrmjustin]

10. Wish you the best with them.

[madamesilverspurs]

5. A wonderful program!

Something similar where my mother lives. A 'senior cat' came to live with her after Dad died. We were all amazed that this cat is identical to the one Mom had when she and Dad first met; she'd had to give up the cat because of Dad's severe allergies. For several years, now, this cat has been the best medicine for Mom; they both revel in one another's company.

[hrmjustin]

6. I am so glad to hear this.

My grandmother had a 2 cats in her final years and they loved her. When she died they came to live with me.

[tblue37]

7. I always have cats, usually 3 or 4, but sometimes it gets down to just 2.

Of all my beloved cats, one of the most delightful was "Gabby." I adopted her from neighbors who were planning to ditch her at the animal shelter when they moved. At the time she was already 10. She lived to be 19, so we had a good run together. I have a couple of sweet Gabby stories on my Pet Tales site:

"Little Old Mighty Hunter"
http://pettales.homestead.com/huntergabby.html

"Gabfest"
http://pettales.homestead.com/gabfest.html

BTW, her name was *not* short for Gabrielle, though that is what I'd originally assumed when I first met her. The original owner named her "Gabby" because she talked constantly. Although she was a reddish gold color, with a small white bib, she was actually part Siamese, and she had the Siamese cat's propensity to discuss everything, as well as that breed's astonishing variety of vocal expressions. That is what the second article linked below is about.

I am soooo glad I had those 9 years with that sweetie. I would not shy away from adopting another senior cat. Right now my three are 9 1/2; 8 3/4; and 3 3/4. Two of them count as "seniors," but they are as funny, playful, and cuddly as they were when kittens--and the youngest is as naughty and mischievous as when she was a kitten.

[hrmjustin]

8. And thank you for doing it.

I have 5 cats and two belonged to my grandmother.