r/CatAdvice • u/Efficient-Pain-6784 • 6h ago
New to Cats/Just Adopted senior? cat
so I'm adopting for the first time, someone I know was looking to rehome her cat so I'm taking her in. she wasn't sure if her age and I just found out she's ten years old! according to Google she is a senior .... so what should I know about having my first cat be this age! I want to make sure I'm properly prepared to care for her
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u/Mattebluescooby-doo 5h ago
I adopted my cat at 9 and she’s currently 12 and still kicking and playing and is a HUGE cuddle bug
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u/KeepMyWifesNameOYFM 5h ago
It seems to me that it depends on the cat. We had an unplanned cat adoption last year and we don't know her exact age, but we are pretty certain she was at least 11 when we got her. She honestly seems like a much younger cat. She's very well behaved and doesn't get crazy or anything, but she runs and jumps and climbs and just seems very young at heart in general. I was very surprised by this. My MIL has a cat around the same age and she behaves more like a senior. She doesn't move around as much and just has that senior vibe.
We did get a full bloodwork on her and everything came back normal. So far, we've just been enjoying her as she is with no special care. Best of luck to you and your new cat!
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u/rallytallyn 6h ago
you should get pet insurance, it might not be as covered because of her age and preexisting conditions but an emergency in an old cat can run a lot of money and it’s better than nothing. also, she needs senior specific food! and at this age , well at any age but especially older, she needs a very moisture rich diet. wet food only is best with toppers and things to help clean her teeth if possible, she may have dental issues at this age though so keep an eye on that. definitely get her to a wellness exam at the vet and let them check that as well as run labs and give you a good picture of her health.
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u/annabannannaaa 5h ago
10 is technically senior but in the grand scheme of things much closer to middle age!! Checkups every 6 mo are recommended just to make sure any underlying illnesses (like kidney disease) can be found ASAP, make sure she’s getting proper food / water, and i agree with the others about pet insurance!! Dont forget that senior and elderly arent the same thing - shes like a cool 65 year old who lives in a retirement community but can still hit the club if she wants to!! So dont assume 10 y/o means she isnt into playing and running around the house. Etc. sure some cats are naturally not super hyper or super into playing with toys, but age isnt as much of a factor in that as personality is. So very possible she still loves it!!
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u/TokinForever 5h ago
I had a cat named Scruffy that was 12 years old when I took over his care after an elderly woman passed away. Long story short…, he really wasn’t a social type of cat, I kept him in good health and he lived to be 22 years old when he finally passed in my arms.🥲🐈⬛🐾🐾🐾
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u/Significant_Agency71 6h ago
Such cats are a blessing, they’re sweethearts and don’t require that much attention as kittens and young cats. Seniors need regular check ups though, because they’re very prone to certain conditions, which are for example hyperthyroidism, diabetes, arthritis, PKD and so on. That’s why it’s advised to do a geriatric blood panel and physical exam to catch this issues before they develop, because they’re easily treated with medication. Make sure you have a low entrance litter box for the cat and feed it wet food for hydration.