{"id":13377,"date":"2022-06-07T09:30:49","date_gmt":"2022-06-07T14:30:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/?p=13377"},"modified":"2026-02-17T10:07:55","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T16:07:55","slug":"senior-cats-have-lots-to-offer-new-family","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/blog\/adoption\/rescues\/senior-cats-have-lots-to-offer-new-family\/","title":{"rendered":"Senior Cats Have a Lot to Offer a New Family"},"content":{"rendered":"

Senior cats are often overlooked in shelters, as adopting families tend to look for kittens<\/a> or younger cats. This is probably because potential owners are concerned about the possibly short time the senior cat will be with their family or the increased cost that sometimes comes with owning a senior cat. But senior cats have some advantages over younger cats, and they may be with you longer than you think.<\/p>\n

When Is a Cat Considered “Senior?”<\/h2>\n

Before we start talking about senior cats, let\u2019s answer the question \u201cWhen is a cat considered senior?\u201d There isn\u2019t a specific age when a cat moves into the senior category, but senior cats are typically older than 11 years and considered geriatric if they\u2019re 15 years or older. And some cats can actually live into their 20s! Cats are living longer than ever now thanks to an indoor lifestyle, better nutrition and advancements in veterinary medicine. So when you adopt a \u201csenior\u201d cat, they could be with you for half of their life!<\/p>\n

\"An<\/p>\n

You Get What You Get with a Senior Cat<\/h2>\n

When you\u2019re looking for a new cat to join your family<\/a>, it\u2019s important that the cat\u2019s personality suits your household dynamics. A cat who\u2019s comfortable being the only cat in the house and likes snuggling with their one owner may not do as well in a house with kids<\/a> or multiple pets. That\u2019s why it\u2019s a good idea to have all of your family meet the adoptee cat before bringing them home, and also ask the shelter or rescue group how the cat interacts with other cats or dogs.<\/p>\n

When trying to determine the personality of a cat, a senior cat has a distinct advantage \u2014 their personality has already been established. They know what they like and what they don\u2019t, and that typically isn\u2019t going to change. A kitten, on the other paw, can keep you guessing as to what their adult personality will be like. Will their kitten energy continue into adulthood or will they become a sleep-all-day kitty? Will the kitten that seems friendly and cuddly now actually despise any sort of snuggles<\/a> when they\u2019re older? With a senior cat, you know who you\u2019re getting from day 1, which can help you choose a cat with a personality that will fit with your family.<\/p>\n

Keep in mind that some personality changes may occur as your cat ages. Senior cats often reduce their activity levels and sleep more as they get older. You may also notice them become more \u201cneedy\u201d by meowing more or wanting more attention from you.<\/p>\n

A Senior Cat Could Have Medical Issues \u2014 Or Not<\/h2>\n

Like people, it\u2019s normal for some cats to have more health problems as they become older, but others remain relatively healthy as they age. There\u2019s no guarantee a senior pet will have health issues, just like there\u2019s no guarantee a kitten won\u2019t have health issues. But it\u2019s important to be aware of what the most common health issues are for senior cats and understand that these could require extra expense to treat.<\/p>\n

Some age-related changes and diseases that senior cats may experience include:<\/p>\n