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Focus on Seniors: Companion animals offer love without demands
Lilly, a rescued cat, is a beloved companion.
Photo by Holly Glen Gearhart
I rescued a cat six years ago after the death of my 17-year-old tabby cat, Windham. For 17 years Windham would sit at my feet while I made the first pot of coffee in the morning and cuddled in my lap in front of the TV.
Most of all he was there for me when I had a sudden, life-threatening illness that changed my physical life completely.
When I came back home after three weeks in the hospital, my body was swollen, my hair shaved and I had skull-length incisions, stapled closed. I smelled differently when I came home and Windham was visibly worried about what had happened to me. I had to learn to walk, read and sleep again– my body was different and my eyesight changed—so life for we two changed overnight as I got use to needing a cane to walk, avoiding my cat but loving him cuddling closer to me than before.
Windham was also there when I brought my ailing mother home for a year. He was there for me when Mother died and he was also there as I rushed to pull my life back together—catching planes and driving long distances to jobs out of state. Life was he and me. We were the team that stuck together in hell or high water…he rubbed my face as I cried. So when he died I lost more than just a cat, I lost my very best friend.
The morning after he died I took his body to the shelter for cremation, wrapped in his favorite sweater of mine. A day later I went to pick up his ashes and glanced at the cats in need of new homes.
Anyone who has lost a pet goes through the aching uncertainty, wondering, ‘Should I get another and then face the pain of losing him or her in the future? Can I go through that heartache again, when the pain is immeasurable?’
My fourth day of making morning coffee without my cat at my feet was the killer. I remember letting out a cry of loneliness so deep that I stayed home from work. I couldn’t take the emptiness of my home or the thought that another cat might be put to death at the shelter because someone, me, didn’t have the guts to try it again.
I went back to the shelter and looked over the kittens. Then the shelter worker mentioned that the adult cats are the first ones they euthanize, as not many people want a 6 or 7-year-old cat. The decision was made; I would take an adult cat. That day was the day I met Lilly.
Lilly was 4 years old, not friendly, and she came from an abusive home. She had been shipped to three different shelters looking for someone to take her, and I was told she was on death row. I asked to have her cage opened and after a minute Lilly stood on her hind legs and kneaded my shoulder to the audible gasps of the workers.
“She has never done that, never paid attention to anyone,” they said. “Are you going to take her?” My reply was, “Well, I guess I’d better!”
Lilly is now 9 years old. She rode in the car with me when I was touring around Idaho and Oregon before eventually settling here in Washington State. Lilly is there every morning when I make coffee, dinner and when I cry when my bodily pain is too great to get out of bed.
I rescued Lilly from certain death; in turn Lilly rescued my heart from certain loneliness.
Brenda Ingraham
March 7, 2013 at 7:48 pm
I think more people should adopt adult cats, I have had so many strays come to my door. We have loved each and everyone, they all need to be loved. People seem to think you need a kitten to bond with, that’s so not true. Adult cats are very sweet, and will become very close to you. So, to everyone out there, give and adult cat a chance for home no matter what their age.
Sincerely, Brenda L. Ingraham
Quin
March 8, 2013 at 10:51 pm
My first cat was adopted from a kill shelter at the age of about 5. He had lived with someone for many years, but she had to go into a home that didn’t allow cats (according to the shelter). He found me at the shelter, I didn’t even see his all black fuzzy self hiding in his cage, but he reached out and tapped my head until I got the people there to open his cage. Then he curled up on my lap and napped. His chances of adoption were slim, an adult, solid black cat in the shelter near halloween. He only stayed alive at the shelter for so long because he was good at taming the wild kittens they got. Took a week to get my papers straight at my apartment and he came home on halloween; proceeded to sit in the window and stare at everyone going by, like he knew what day it was.
He’s been with me through a lot now, though I didn’t let him help me recover from my surgery. Abscesses don’t take well to a cat that wants to clean them. He’s learned not to let me over-sleep, and he’s learned to tell me when it’s time for bed. And even at his ripe old age, he still goes bonkers if a string moves across the floor. He’s kept me sane when I had every reason not to be.
And now he’s insisting that I cut this short. It’s either time to sleep, or time to play; we still haven’t figured out which. But to conclude, adult cats bring their own personality with them. They’ve grown up, they don’t always take to training and being taught the way kittens do. But in return, you get years of wondering ‘where on earth did he pick up that behavior?’ and ‘wow, I haven’t seen that before’.
Pete Formaini
March 9, 2013 at 6:10 am
Lily isn’t the only one who is 1 of a kind!
Dave K.
March 9, 2013 at 7:06 am
Whether it be a cat or dog you are looking for, I think everyone should go to a shelter or two 1st. Then, if you still have your heart set on that $2,500 pup whose parents are AKC champions, fine.
chris
March 9, 2013 at 7:26 am
we’ve adopted 4 cats. the first 3 were just babies, but medo, we got him as an adult (sort of, he was about 2 years old). he is by far my favorite, but all our cats were strays. when i found him, he was starving. he was trying to cstch a bird on top of a neighbors mailbox, and the bird was mocking him. so i got him some food and then took him home.
he’s my buddy and is always ready to play, and thoughhe drives me nuts, life would be so har without my little guy
Alfuso
March 9, 2013 at 8:19 am
I have seven cats now. All rescued as adults. Lost a dear 18 year old that I rescued when he was 11. No one wanted him as he would “only live a few more years.” That’s no reason to deny an old cat love and comfort in its twilight years. Dont We all hope we can live our final years in peace?
The age of cats in the local shelters is getting older. I see more 8 years and over than I ever have.
Ah, to be able to afford to build a room onto my house and rescue elderly cats.
Michele Kiger
March 9, 2013 at 8:46 am
I agree, adult cats are great to adopt. And I have formed very close bonds with cats who were 4 or 5 years old when I got them. It depends more upon the amount of time and attention you spend with them than if they were babies when you got them. The only issue I have is with the title of the article – not demanding? Not in my world! My cat sure is the boss of me and believe me, he lets me know if there are changes in the routine or I’m not providing a lap when he wants it, or if (God forbid) I’ve had to take him to the vet. My Yoyo Ma was feral when I got him, but he’s turned into Ruler of the House and King of me, that’s for sure.
Paul
March 9, 2013 at 9:08 am
Adult and senior cats are great companions and many need homes desperately. Our family Kitty was a rescue with kidney cancer who gave us 5 great years. We will always remember our Kitty!
Susan
March 9, 2013 at 9:12 am
I adopted two kittens, a brother and sister who were born under a house when their mom was kicked out of her home. All three were near death, but survived, and the mom eventually found a nice home.
My two kitties are wonderful. They both do a little dance at the door when I come home, and if I stay home sick in bed for the day they cuddle against me the whole time which is not their usual pattern (they prefer the couch in the living room).
I would ALWAYS adopt a shelter animal and urge others to do so, too. Do your research to learn how best to care for them, and the rewards are endless. I can’t imagine my life without my kitties, but I know when the time comes for them to go, it wouldn’t be long before I adopted another. A house without a pet doesn’t feel like ‘home’ to me.
growloud
March 9, 2013 at 11:16 am
Kittens and puppies are so overrated. That “cute” phase is over in a flash, and you are left with the same adult animal you could have adopted and saved from death in the first place.
Thank you for bringing attention to the fact that an animals life is worth saving no matter how old they are.
Mel
March 9, 2013 at 6:04 pm
The “cute” baby phase is not really so cute when you take into account toilet training! I’m a firm believer in fostering and adopting adult cats and dogs. They’re so much less work!!
Mark Linimon
March 9, 2013 at 7:26 pm
The people at the shelters here in Austin say that the number of adult animals really jumped once the recession hit. Some people had to move out of houses and into apartments (or retirement facilities) that will not accept animals. Others simply could no longer afford pet food and vet care.
Kittens are cute but they are much higher-maintenance than adult cats (at least the ones that have been spayed and neutered).
Amy J
March 9, 2013 at 11:19 pm
My dog, Starr, was given to me because her owner was an abusive, neglectful parent of both human and animal kind. At first she was to be my sister’s dog, as it was her ex boyfriend that left Starr. But Starr attached herself to me. Now, 7 years later, Starr is more than a pet, she is family. She’s getting old, her fur grey and not as shiny. Her hips hurt, and she barks at any noise. But our love for eachother is not only visible, it’s felt by all who see us. Adopting her was the best thing in my life.