Senior Citizens Should Adopt a Cat

Recently I was asked if senior citizens should adopt a cat and I said yes because cats are wonderful companions for senior citizens.  Many of the seniors residing in my community are living alone their adult children and grandkids visit them during the holidays. My neighbors are lonely and I think a cat is good company for them.

 

But not all cats should live with a senior citizen.  They may ask for a kitten but kittens are a lot of work, they may be cute but they are not socialized, and can be too much work for a senior citizen, especially when they go through their biting stage. 

 

I never recommend kittens for a senior citizen because kittens may be too much energy for a senior.  Kittens require a lot of attention and physically may be too much for a senior citizen.  Plus kittens require vaccines and sterilization and those costs might be too much for a senior citizen that is living on a fixed income. 

  

 

I do recommend adult shorthair cats that are older. An adult cat is a good match because they are calmer, have good manners, and major expenses for vaccines and sterilization have already been taken care of.  And the short hair cat does not require so much grooming.  Seniors or retirees may have arthritis and brushing a longhair cat might be too much for them.   

 

The life expectancy for a cat is 15 years, that’s a long commitment should a senior citizen adopt a kitten. Whereas an adult cat aged five or older life expectancy is better suited for a person who is a senior citizen.

 

I also think that an adult cat would be a wonderful addition to a nursing home or another facility for the aging.  The cat would provide stimulation and joy as the cats may curl up on the bed to sleep with the residents, or they would lie on their laps.  The resident cat would impact the lives of the residents in a nursing home positively.   Plus cats are easier to take care of than a resident dog.