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Advice For Adopting An Older Cat

Adopting an older cat can be incredibly rewarding.

Unfortunately, adult cats in shelters are often overlooked in favor of kittens.

Now, we all love kittens, they’re little bundles of energy and are great fun to have around.

But an older cat will likely be calmer and more loving.

A senior cat that has been in a shelter for a long time will be incredibly grateful to finally find its fur-ever home with you, and you’ll get the great feeling that comes with doing a good deed.

Advice For Adopting An Older Cat

However, as well as having many benefits, choosing a mature cat over a kitten can also present its own set of challenges, particularly if your new cat has any health or behavioral problems.

So, if you’re considering choosing a more mature cat to bring home, here are a few useful tips:

Find out what you can about your cat’s history

Before you take your new furry companion home, find out what you can about its history.

Ask the shelter or the cat’s previous owner if there are any health or behavioral issues you should be aware of.

Shelter volunteers, or anyone else who already knows your cat, can be a great help as they can tell you all about your cat’s temperament, likes and dislikes, and its attitude towards other pets.

This can help you decide if this is definitely the cat for you and means you’ll know what to expect if you do decide to bring it home.

Regular health checks

Signing your cat up for routine health checks, such as those offered by veterinarianmidlothianva.com, can be a great way of keeping an eye on your cat’s health and catching any problems early, and monitoring any pre-existing conditions your senior cat may have.

Many people are put off adopting an older cat due to concerns about health issues, however, most adult cats are perfectly healthy and simply need a bit of monitoring to keep them that way.

Advice For Adopting An Older Cat

Some shelter cats do have pre-existing health issues, and these cats are sadly even less likely to get adopted, so do consider bringing home one of these cats if you have the time and resources to care for it – you’ll be doing an amazing thing!

Be patient

Older cats need a little more time to adjust.

Once you’ve brought your new cat home, you’ll need to give it time and space to settle in.

Senior cats, particularly those who have had bad experiences with humans, may be extra cautious and untrusting at first.

When you first bring your cat home, give it its own room away from any family or other pets you have.

Having their own safe space will make them feel more comfortable and less stressed.

Take things slowly, and gradually try to reassure your cat that it is safe in its new home.

Don’t overstep any boundaries, and only try to pet or pick up your cat once it has warmed up to you.

This process can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, so be patient.

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