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Senior pets fill rescues and shelters, bringing with them some unique benefits, as well as some challenges. For one thing, according to The Daily Journal, older pets often adapt very easily to new surroundings. Generally they're a bit calmer than their playful puppy counterparts, and they're often already housebroken. They may even know some tricks, making training easy.
Older pets may have belonged to loving families who could no longer care for them, or they may have simply been overlooked for years in favor of younger (or cuter, more playful, etc.) pets. Either way, an older pet, like an older person, will be far more comfortable in an environment with a soft, warm bed than in a crate or on a hard floor, which is often how they must sleep in shelters.
It's true that older pets might require a bit more veterinary care. Some vets recommend that you bring a geriatric pet in every four months instead of every six. But on the other hand, you won't have to pay for those first few rounds of puppy shots!
Another consideration: You probably won't have as many years to spend with your senior pet as you would with a younger one. However, that doesn't mean the pet you bring into your home won't appreciate it just as much, if not more.
Fostering is another option that The Daily Journal recommends. If you don't have the money to spend on a pet, but you can offer time and love, look into fostering a senior pet until a permanent home can be found. Imagine how happy it will be to have a comfortable home for the last years of its life. Fostering also gives you a chance to take great pictures of the pet and share fun stories, all of which make the pet more adoptable.
Do you have a senior pet story? If you do, please share it with us in the comments.
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I adopted a senior cat from a shelter on January 14, 2009. She was a Persian who was an owner surrender. The shelter told me that she was seven years old. On the first visit to the vet the week after I got her, the vet discovered that she had a pretty bad eye infection. She was also matted so badly that you could not touch her back without her crying. After treating the eye infection, I took her to a PetSmart to have her matting shaved off. Then she developed an ear infection. A couple of months ago she wasn't eating, so we went back to the vet. The vet, upon examining her, asked me if I was certain of her age. I told her what the shelter had told me. She told me that her kidneys felt like those of a much older cat. She also had the face of an older cat. So we weren't really sure how old she really was. The vet ran a complete series of blood tests, x-rays, barium upper GI x-rays, and a urinalysis in an attempt to try to find out why she suddenly stopped eating. Nothing was found out of the ordinary in all of the tests, so the vet concluded that it was probably pre-cancer of some sort. He put her on steroids to try to get her appetite back. It worked for a couple of weeks, but then she stopped responding to that treatment too. When I got her she weighed 6 lbs. 11 oz. After having the matting shaved off and her new coat grew in she was only 6 lbs. 6 oz. When she stopped eating her weight dwindled down to 4 lbs. 6 oz. Last week, on Nov. 12th I noticed that she felt cold and took her back to the vet. She said her temperature should be between 101 and 103 and it was only 92. Then she looked at her face and noticed that her pupils were different sizes and told me that was an indication of brain cancer and that we had to let her go. The vet told me that she wanted to die and it was time to let her go. I had to have her euthanized right then. Her weight that day was only 4 lbs. 4 oz. We have buried her in the backyard and are erecting a monument over her grave. We have taken an old washing machine drum and filled it with potting soil. I am planting tulip bulbs in it. She enjoyed sitting in the window looking at the birds in the bird feeder, so I got a shepherd's hook and a cute wooden birdhouse to place in the center hole of the tub. I got some paint and wrote "Miss Febe's Garden" on the roof of the birdhouse.
Adopting senior pets from a shelter may be a nice thing to do for the animals, but it can be heartbreaking for the person adopting them, not to mention the enourmous vet bills you can incur. In the ten months we had Febe, we spent over $600. in vet bills. I don't know if I will ever be able to bring myself to adopt another pet, but if I do I will make certain of the animal's age because I will opt for a younger one. I think being a foster parent of an older animal is a good way of taking care of the seniors because I don't think you get quite as attached to them as you would your own.
I've adopted several older dogs--they don't deserve to be abandoned just because they're old, and I am lucky enough to be able to pay the vet bills that inevitably begin to show up. They are so grateful for the love and attention they get I almost feel guilty. One only lived with me for a year before she died, but she had a happy year. The one with me now is developing cataracts and going deaf, but she is the sweetest dog in the world. She will have a happy senior life until she dies.
It's obvious you are a very kind and caring individual that came into this Sr. Kittens life. But you have to know that you made a huge difference at the end of this cats life, only becasue you cared and loved her. It's sad that she was only in your life for such a short time, you must feel like you were robbed of precious time with her.
Don't give up on adopting another cat, of any age, from the shelter again. Remember, it's also possible to have a bad meal at a 5 Star Restaruant too, but you go back because you know it will be better next time...and it will be true with adopting another cat again. You have too big of a heart not to do so.
Good Luck in the future...we need more people like you fostering and adopting these poor unfortunate animals.
As I type this, I am surrounded by 7 senior Dachshunds. Ages 8 to 16 yrs. All are rescue dogs. 4 are our and 3 are foster for a Dachshund Rescue Group that we are heavily involved with ( I am Vice-Pres). We are also the Senior advocates for our group! Every thing tthat you wrote about the advantages of a senior dog is absolutely corrrect. They lost their homes, were abandoned in rural areas, or simply take to a shelter mabye because of health issues after not having proper medical care for years.
The 1 thing I will dispute is that after having 17 dachsies pass thru my life since 1946, seniors don't really cost anymore more for vet care than younger dogs. We have always budgeted about $300 to $400 a year for each of our animals's vet care. Twice yearly checkups, once yearly dental cleaning, shots, and other basic needs. IIn the past, I have spent $4000 on 4 yr old for back issues. But, Seniors are the BEST!