Taking on a very old cat

gingin_2

Going to be totally honest here....

My lovely Grandmother badly needs to go into a home. The main thing stopping her is that she has a cat who she is very attatched to. This cat has been her "rock" since my grandfather died 18 months ago but she is at the point now where she really can't continue looking after herself and needs to have 24 hour care.

The cat wandered into her house around 12 years ago and has stayed ever since. The vet thinks he is around 14 years old. He has slowed down a lot and stays indoors, mostly sleeping. he is her baby and is spoilt like mad .

My parents have taken on the responsibility of finding my grandmother a care home, and initially were trying to find one that would take both her and the cat, but they really aren't up to the standard they hoped for ( i have had no involvement in this so am taking their word for it), and were she to go to a home without her cat, they are confident they can find her something much more suitable.

Soooo... we have a cat dilemma. She would never let him be rehomed with a stranger, so I have tentatively said to my parents, if they did find a non cat friendly care home, we would take him on. My parents seem to think this might be the solution to the problems.

I have 2 youngish children and recently our dog had to be put to sleep. We have said that when we return from our holiday, we would look at getting a kitten. The prospect of taking on an older cat does daunt me, and i can't confess to having any great emotional attatchment to him, other than he is my Grandmothers cat and I want to do the best by her. He has always been a little aloof with the children and myself, but never scratched or hissed or been agitated. We have a perfect house for him to have his own space and my kids really are wonderful with animals and I am confident they would give him space. It does seem a shame though as I feel they deserve a "family" pet, especially as we lost our dog. We could get a kitten as well as having the cat, but I am not sure if that would work.

I have never owned a cat before and are unsure what they are like in old age, he is 14 now but apparently in good health, I am concerned we might be faced with big vets bills as he gets older and need a lot of extra care, but I really have no idea.

Does anyone have any opinions, help, advice... please!!!

perfectlypoor

I would still try to find a care home that would allow a cat as it means so much to your Grandmother and it would make the move easier for her if she could take her best friend.

gingin_2

perfectlypoor wrote: »

I would still try to find a care home that would allow a cat as it means so much to your Grandmother and it would make the move easier for her if she could take her best friend.

I agree to an extent but this part is out of my hands. My parents are finding the home for her and I have no involvement in that and it is not my place to either.

I am more trying to ask if it would be appropriate for my family to take on her cat, and what I might need to expect in taking on an older cat.

perfectlypoor

I cannot see a problem in taking on her cat. If you are confident your children won't be too much for your new guest and you don't have any other pets it should be fine. I understand your concerns with the vet costs that might be involved but the fact the cat is healthy at 14 years old is a good sign. I can see where you are coming from about wanting a more family type pet that your children can interact more with and this would maybe be the one thing holding me back if I was in your shoes but the cat is not young so might be nice to let it live its last few years with your family.

frannyann

I have just rehomed a neighbours cat after I found the neighbour dead (not pleasent) The cat is around 14 years old. Two girls living nearby offered to have him and I have to say its as though the cat has got a new lease of life. I see him out and he looks better than ever before!

Daisymac_2

I have nine cats, (some are rescues), I have always found it a lot harder to introduce an older cat into the household but on saying that I have always had other cats that it needs to get used to. My advice would be to take the older cat in and let it settle for a good few months before introducing a kitten, the main reason that cats tend to freak out is that they have an order of who is king in the house so to speak and if you introduce a cat that was 'top cat' in his old home to a home which already has a cat or a number of cats that have an established order that is when the problems start. So take your grandma's cat and just give him time to settle, remember he wont be allowed out for a few weeks until he has got used to where he lives so you will have to provide litter trays etc and older cats can be quite funny about using them if they are not used to them. Firstly just let the cat have the run of one room, go in and play with him, feed him etc and make sure his litter and bed are in that same room, gradually as you feel the cat is getting used to you and your family, open up more of the house to him, but only room by room and make sure he is aware of where his litter tray is at all times and can get to it easily, (nothing upsets a cat more than them being forced to mess somewhere). Just take things slowly with him, he will be scared but he will get used to things, make sure your children dont hassle him to much in the first instance and give him plenty of cuddles and affection. If after a few months you feel you want to get a kitten, get one as young as you can (obviously at least 9 weeks old) and introduce the kitten slowly keeping the kitten in one room etc etc for a few days. The old cat would have established himself at 'top cat' (or only cat!!) by that time and the kitten will quite happily fit in under him, you will get hissing for a week or so but that will die down.

As far as vet bills go for an old cat, it is purely down to fate I am afraid, I have had cats that have lived until they are 18 years old and never cost a penny at the vets and I have had a 3 year old cat that ate a piece of string from the Sunday roast meat and cost me over £3K so swings and roundabouts and not really down to age.

Hope you can give the furbaby a new home, I am sure your Grandmother would be much happier knowing it was with you.

Good luck, HTH

spookylukey

Just wanted to say thank you for taking responsibility for your Grandma's cat, so many people 'get rid' by taking it to a rescue and as you can imagine elderly pets are much harder to find homes for so a beloved pet might spend the rest of it's days unhappy in a rescue pen. I'm sure your Grandma is very grateful and of course proud of you

If he has no pre-existing conditions that you are aware of then you I'd insure him - I'm with Axa who have one of the best levels of cover around (lifetime cover, 7k each and every year). A 14 yr old male cat is around £15 a month, they have a flat excess of £50 and don't charge a percentage for older pets (some companies charge £50 plus 35% of the claim).

jess1974

Gingin, i just wanted to say please take the cat if you can, if he ends up in a rescue place older cats are often overlooked in favour of kittens..anyway well done you, i'm sure your grandma is very proud of you.

gingin_2

Thank you, but the thing is there is NO WAY he would end up in a rescue regardless, as my Grandma understandably wouldn't have it. She really needs to go into a home but would point blank refuse if she knew that would happen, but those of us who care for her realise it is in her best interests that she does get 24 hour assistance, hence me offering to take that cat, and it can only be me as I am the only one in the family without a dog. At least she can visit the cat (although I am not sure if that would be harder having to say hello and goodbye to him) and we can keep her totally up to date on his progress, but I am worried that as he is so old, he won't have any progress and I might let her down if he gets ill (or worse) having been in my care for a short period of time.

I too would overlook an older cat for a kitten , as we really wanted a family pet for the children, especially my animal mad 4 yr old...I really don't want to take on an older cat but would happily do it if it made my Grandma's decision to move out of her home and into care, easier and more stress free. It's a bit sad we won't have got to the cat's golden years and I hope I can bond with him, but she and my Grandad were there for me 110% in their lives for me, I feel glad I can finally do something for them.

We will definitely look into the insurance, thank you.

Errata

Very few care homes will allow a resident to take a cat into care with them because of allergies risk of other residents. There's also a health and safety issue as cats can't be controlled or taken for a walk on a lead to do their business.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Cats are a whole lot less work than dogs, even though they still need love, security, affection and entertainment. A dog will automatically adore you - a cat decides whether you are worth being adored.

Having said that, I'd definitely take the cat - I'd say you are probably looking at about 4 years of leisurely dozing on the windowsill, which would probably take you up to what I feel is the best age for a child to develop a true appreciation of animal care. I grew up around loads of animals, but it was the ones I had when I was 8 that I gained the most from, because I was able to take on more responsibility. Every animal is different but the older ones can be rather sweet once they understand that they have a new home now, sometimes becoming almost kitten like again, because their previous owners were unable to encourage play.

And just think what a weight off the mind it will be for his mum - she's probably lost sleep night after night, worrying about what will happen to him once she is gone - if she knows he is safe and warm and loved, I am sure it will help her immensely.

I would personally not bother with insurance, but save the equivalent of the premium in the bank for vet visits, and I would check whether he is currently eligible to receive treatment from the RSPCA, PDSA or Blue Cross, as they can at least give him a good check up so you know what to expect.

I'd make sure there was a safe, quiet area to retreat to for when the children get just that little bit too boisterous (rather than aloofness, I see it as discretion being the better part of valour) and, if your little one is able to be very calm and gentle, perhaps sharing the reponsibility for feeding and just talking to the cat at first - one of mine helped my 9 year old when she was learning to read - he sat and listened to her telling him bedtime stories!

But it's a great thing to do and will make the whole change less painful for both of them.

Good luck,