It definitely heralds a new stage of life when you have to consider, as you get older, whether a pet might outlive you.
My youngest cat is 5 years old; I’m 66 and in excellent health, so I’m reasonably sure I’ll outlive him. I won’t be adopting any more kittens, ever. If any new cats come into my household, they’ll be oldies that I can reasonably expect to outlive.
I have met a couple of cats over 20, and I know one that was over 30. Just saying, for your calculations (and one of those cats did need a special diet for kidney problems— apparently 1/3 of elderly cats have such issues).
You’re right, of course. But I am playing the odds. Most cats are lucky to make it to 18 or 19; we’ll just have to see what happens with mine!
Greyfriars Bobby
Gelert
I’m surprised that Hennes, the billy goat and mascot of 1. FC Köln (Cologne), holds up with the cats and dogs in life expectancy, with only 9 Hennes since 1950.
I currently, for the first time in nearly 50 years, have only a single feline overlord. He is 16, and I have raised him from kittenhood along with his brother, who died of diabetes-related kidney failure two years ago. I have been thinking of getting another cat to be a companion to him. As much as I would love to once again experience the joy of having a kitten, I realize that at 72 it is almost certain that a kitten would outlive me. I have looked into adopting from the local animal service and found that as a senior myself I can adopt a cat over 8 years old for free.
We have two, aged 15 and 18. Both on kidney diets but seem quite healthy, fingers crossed.
But yes, at 76 myself, I’d worry about outliving a younger cat, and I would hate to think they would not be cared for if I’m gone.
That is wonderful.
That is why I have told my wife “no more kittens”.
Yep.
That is great.
I don’t know if the shelter I usually go to (Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society) would offer a human senior discount, but they do have a sliding scale for ages: $350 for a baby/kitten; $175 for an adult (over one year old, I believe), and $50 for a senior. They also offer partial support for medically needy cats. I could have taken that for some of my recent adoptees but I’d need to take the cat to a different vet than the office I usually use, so I chose to eat the extra expense.
Yeah, that’s what I thought a few years ago.
And then, in 2020, an adolescent tomcat showed up meowing at the door. And, in 2022, another one.
So far nobody in 2024; which is just as well, as I’m at my at-least-theoretical four. I might outlive the current youngest cat; I might not. Provisions have been made, but they might run into their own complications.
I met one of the Matildas at the Algonquin Hotel some years ago.
Another celebrated pet, loyal unto death: Hachikō - Wikipedia
That story never fails to make me tear up a bit. Poor doggo. Even if the story is completely fabricated.
Our last three dogs were seniors. Adopt seniors!
My current dog was five when I got him. His owner left him behind when he moved. So not really old, but given the dogs don’t live all that long I figure he will have maybe 2/3 of his life with me.
Every time I read the title of this thread I think: There have always been Starkadders at Cold Comfort Farm.
And today is Churchill’s 150th - happy birthday, Sir Winston!
“I saw something nasty in the woodshed.”
Let’s not forget the faith(?)ful Foxie:
Shhh! Stop enabling me to adopt more cats of any age. (It could easily happen, y’know?)