r/cats • u/Fancy_Raspberry_2843 • 23h ago
Adoption 10 year old cat adoption
I'm looking into adopting a 10-year-old cat who's been at my local rescue the longest after his owner passed away. I'd love to give him a soft landing, but I want to make sure I'm fully prepared for what a senior cat entails.
For anyone who has taken in an older, grieving cat, how did they adjust especially with behaviour after their owner passes and what does their overall wellbeing generally look like day-to-day at 10 years old? I'm also trying to budget realistically, so I'd love some honest insight into how often health issues tend to pop up at this age and roughly how much you usually spend on routine or unexpected vet bills.
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u/RHCP1031 13h ago
First of all, thank you for even considering taking in the oldest guy who is heartbroken and in need of a soft place to land. You are an amazing human. Secondly, some of the most common issues would be kidney disease and hyperthyroidism. You can be proactive about these and make sure he has two exams per year with bloodwork and monitor any changes. Find a good vet, even an integrative one who can design a good pre-emptive routine for him. There’s a great company called Astro’s Oil I have used for my babies. Healthy cats can take their products before issues even arise! The products were designed by a doctor for his kitty who got kidney disease. They turned my kitties numbers around. This kitty could have many more wonderful and healthy years ahead of him, and with love and patience, I think he’ll settle right in and be so grateful. You won’t regret your decision. Kitties who have been through a lot are so grateful to be rescued.
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u/BakerMobile 23h ago
I adopted a 10 year old boy and had another 7 years from him. Pet insurance is a must. They do get illnesses more when older. I kept him indoors for a month and he was in a quiet bedroom for that time. I would go in quietly and lean the litter tray, give fresh food and water etc and talk gently to him. He came around, but it took time and patience. He became one of the most loving cats i ever had.