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120 Of The Oldest Cats Adopted By People With The Biggest Hearts
Adopting a shelter cat is one of the most wonderful acts of kindness that a person can do for an animal, but older cats, who might not be as adorable to most as young and playful kittens, often get overlooked. Hopefully, this post will show you how awesome older cats can be and inspire you to adopt one of your very own!
Older cats are often the first to go if a shelter has to euthanize some of its animals, so your impact on your new elderly adoptee's life will be all the greater. Though they can suffer from more diseases than young cats, older cats are often already house-trained and socialized, and their personality will already be set – no surprises!
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#1
This cat adopted this 102-year-old woman
RELATED:
#2
A Friend Of Mine Just Adopted This 6-Year-Old Cat, And This Is How She Waits For Her Food
#3
Fulfilled A Life Goal Of Mine Today And Adopted The Oldest Cat At The Local Shelter
#4
Adopted At 10 Years Old, Meet Lil' T
#5
I Adopted A 14 Year Old Cat Named Venture
MaryseMeunier 9 years ago
My last cat lived 20 years. I wish you at least 6 years of happiness with Venture. :0)
#6
I Adopted My 9 Year Old From The Shelter Last Year. She Hasn't Left My Side Since
#7
Zeta Is About 15 Years Old Now And I Adopted Her 5 Years Ago From The Vet Clinic I Worked At
#8
My So And I Adopted A 10+ Year Old Cat Who Used To Live In The Park
#9
I Adopted A 4 Year Old Cat. She Hated All The Toys Except One
#10
Adopted An 8-Year-Old Cat From Local Rescue, This Is 10 Minutes After We Got Home
#11
I Adopted This Beautiful 13 Year Old Cat. Her Name Is Q-tip For Now But We Are Trying To Think Of A New Name
#12
This White Cat In The Middle Was About 19 Years Old. He Was Adopted By An Older Woman
#13
I Just Adopted This 9 Year Old Girl From The Shelter. Her Name Is Pumpkin
#14
I Recently Adopted My Parents 15 Year Old Cat
#15
Just Adopted My First Cat. He Is 11 Years Old
Sunniva Saksvik 3 years ago
So instead of congratulating on her new feline friend and how lovely he seems, your first response is to criticise his weight? Shame on you who said that!
Megan Devillers 8 years ago
He ID very cute but if you want him to live comfortably into his old age you really need to help him lose some weight. The bigger they are the more health complications they get. Especially when older. Just like humans. Don't free feed. Having set feeding times and use the feeding guide.
NatashaOsgood 9 years ago
Many cats of that age have got health conditions that cause them to be overweight such as diabetes. Which are commonly caused by a life-long diet of excess wheat (sometimes under the name cereals) and carbohydrates which is commonly found in your 'top brands' of cat food at a supermarket / store. It is usually one of the top three ingredients in your pet food as a filling agent. Go ahead and look it up, I bet some of you are feeding your cat on wheat right now, go Google what wheat does to cats if you care. Or read the articles below that I have linked. Have a nice day! This is about cat obesity and some causes - http://www.catinfo.org/?link=felineobesity This is about human foods to avoid feeding your cat - http://www.petmd.com/cat/emergency/poisoning-toxicity/e_ct_human_food_poisoning | And here's one from the ASPCA http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/cat-behavior/foods-are-hazardous-cats Q & A about why wheat is bad on yahoo - https://answers.yahoo
#16
We Adopted A 7 Year Old Cat. Meet Ethan
#17
Adopted This 7 Year Old Cat This Morning
#18
We Adopted An 8 Year Old Cat From The Shelter Because He Stole Our Hearts With His Cuddles
#19
Meet Floyd. This 6 Year Old Looker Was At The Shelter For Months
#20
I Adopted An 11-Year-Old Cat Yesterday
#21
I Adopted A 7-Year-Old 27 Pound Cat Today, His Name Is Atticus But My Boyfriend Calls Him Fatticus
IreneRussak 9 years ago
haha the look on his face says he doesn't really approve being called fat:D
#22
My New Roomie 18 Year Old Mr. Salem Schmusel
Final score:
60points
#23
My Sister Adopted A 6 Year Old Cat Today. Meet Barnaby
#24
He May Not Be The Cutest Cat But We Adopted A Fiv+ 5 Year Old Tomcat And He Loves Having A Forever Home
#25
I Adopted Bubbles, He's 7, With No Tail And Just 3 Legs... And We Love Him To Bits :)
Final score:
54points
#26
Timmy Adopted At 15 Now 18 !!
Final score:
49points
#27
Miss Smiley Was Adopted By Will (pictured) And I Last Fall, At The Age Of 20!
Final score:
46points
#28
8 Year Old Cat I Adopted Today. She Won't Leave My Side
#29
Adopted This 10 Year Old Lady From The Shelter Today
#30
1 Week Ago I Adopted An 11 Year Old Cat From A Rescue Center
MichelleGoldsmith 9 years ago
What a beautiful kitty -- hope you have many, many more years with your new cat!
#31
I Adopted An Older Cat Today - This Is Lenka, The First Pet That Is My Own
#32
Adopted 9 Year Old Monty As A Younger Play Mate For My 14 Year Old Rescue Kitty.
Final score:
44points
#33
I Finally Adopted My First Cat. She's 5 Years Old But Still Looks Like A Kitten
#34
We Took A 13 Year Old Siamese Cat
#35
Meet Cuddles, The 13 Year Old Cat My Boyfriend And I Adopted. Best $5 We Ever Spent!
Final score:
42points
#37
This Is Bailey, My Recently Adopted 14 Year Old Cat
#38
Angus Is 12 Years Old And Daffodil 2 Years Old, Adopted As Strangers And Now In Love.
Final score:
41points
#39
I Just Adopted A 5 Year Old Kitty From The Humane Society.meet Bitsy
#40
Meet My New Adopted Cat Jerry. He Is 7 Years Old
MeghannHafner 9 years ago
Lol I've never seen a cat fit it's name more perfect! He looks like a jerry!!
#41
We Adopted An Older Cat Today. We Felt That Dexter Was A Fitting Name For Very Serious Kitty
#42
Stella Was 15 When We Adopted Her. We Had Her For 5 Years And Loved Her To Bits.
Final score:
32points
#43
I Adopted My First Cat Who Is 6 Years Old. Her Name Is Asha.
Final score:
31points
#44
Just Adopted This Beautiful 8 Year Old Girl This Past Monday
#45
I Adopted This Beauty From The Shelter When He Was 22! I Named Him Grandpa. He Was Wonderful
Final score:
28points
#46
I Adopted A Beautiful 6 Year Old Bengal Cat Called Saffi
#47
Mitzi. She Is About 8 Years Old And She Adopted Us.
Final score:
27points
#48
My Girlfriend And I Adopted A 5 Year Old Cat From A Shelter And He's Finally Settling In
#50
Cher Is 6 1/2 Years Old And Has Been A Shelter Cat Her Entire Life...until We Adopted Her!
Final score:
23points
#51
Adopted An 8 Year Old Cat Today His Name Is Jasper A.k.a. Mr. Handsome
#52
I Rescued My 10+ Year Old Friend From The Streets A Year And A Half Ago. She Passed Away Last M
Final score:
20points
#53
I Adopted Big Garfield When He Was Six. He Spent Five Furryful Years With Us
Final score:
18points
#54
I Adopted Chester Nearly 2 Years Ago, He Was 8. He Is The Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me!
Final score:
18points
#55
I'm Not Even Sure How Old Josie Is, But She Was At Least 13 When I Adopted Her Years Ago....
Final score:
18points
#56
This Is Barry. The Vet I Adopted Him From (after He Was Found In A Bin) Suspects He's 10 Or More.
Final score:
17points
#57
We Adopted 4-year Old Cat After A Year In Shelter Where She Was Taking Pills For Depression
Final score:
17points
#58
We Weren't Looking For A Cat Like Him.. But Luckily Viljo 10+ Made It Clear That He Chose Us.
Final score:
17points
#59
Poppy. Adopted Years Ago, Now 16. Sleeps Like A Pro. The Bear Is His Snuggle Buddy
Final score:
17points
#60
Here Is Merlin. 13 Years Old. He Was In The Shelter For More Than 1 Year.
Final score:
17points
#61
I Adopted This Sweetheart From The Shelter When She Was 3 Years Old And Has Been There For 6 .
Final score:
16points
#62
I Addopted This Big Boy 3 Years Ago. He Was 4 Then. His Name Translated Is Fat Leo. Nr #1 Cat
Final score:
16points
#63
Steve, Our Three-legged Love, Was Adopted 3 Years Ago When He Was 6.
Final score:
16points
#64
We Adopted Sir Mortimer When He Was 9! He Is 14 Now
Final score:
16points
#65
My Boyfriend & I Adopted The Cat Who Had Been At The Shelter The Longest. 5 Yr Old Jax!
Final score:
16points
#66
This Is Our Nala. We Adopted Her Just After Christmas Last Year When She Was Seven.
Final score:
16points
JulieNichols (Submission author) 9 years ago
Nala follows me around the house like a shadow. When I'm sitting in the living room, she is sure to either be sleeping in her bed next to me or right in my lap. We miss our other kitties that have passed away, Rumpleteaser (8), Mungojerrie(10) and Mistofleas(14). So happy my kids asked to visit the local shelter during the holidays.
#67
I Adopted Saphira An 8 Years Old Silber Bengal. The Cat Loves Me...
Final score:
16points
#68
Rumsfeld. Adopted At 10, Lived To 21.
Final score:
16points
#69
We Adopted Deuschess When She Was At Least 1 Year. She Died Last Year After 21 Years With Us.
Final score:
15points
#70
Tinkerbell Was Dumped At The Cat Shelter Because 'she Didn't Match The Furniture' Which Was Bro
Final score:
15points
MPaulaWhelan 9 years ago
Tuxedos are ALWAYS appropriate. Previous humans were obviously philistines.
#71
Adopted This Sweet 7 Year Old Girl Who Is Blind From Animal Shelter Few Months Ago
Final score:
15points
#72
I Took In 9 Yr Old Ozzy After His Owners Moved And Left Him Behind.
Final score:
14points
MichelleGoldsmith 9 years ago
It's one thing to place a cat you can't keep with a shelter or adoption home, but to just leave it behind -- what kind of a person abandons a pet like that! So glad you were their to take him in!
#73
Barlin And Zimba
Final score:
13points
#74
Adopted From Incapable Owner, Now Proud Grandmother Of 14+ (?) Years
Final score:
13points
#75
#21 Uncle Grandpa On 17 Years Old! Great Companion For Summer Days!
Final score:
13points
#76
I Adopted Gucci (8) And A Bit Later Louie (12). Both Lost Their Humans Before.
Final score:
12points
#77
Alice Derbyshire Who Lived Until Nearly 26 Years Old And Was Such A Treasure Xx
Final score:
12points
TheresaDerbyshire (Submission author) 9 years ago
We inherited her from my mother in law after she passed away. Alice was still a sprightly old lady in her 20's and could still jump onto the garden fence
#79
I Adopted The Oldest Cat In The Shelter And I'm Totally In Love With Her. Gatto 11+
Final score:
12points
MPaulaWhelan 9 years ago
Such sharp contrast in fur colours makes for a grand tuxedo, which is always in style.
#80
I Adopted Mello Many Years Ago As 5 Years Old Wild Hunter. My Husband Call Him Melon Xd
Final score:
11points
#81
We Adopted Sisco When He Was 8 From Family, He Wasn't Getting Enough Attention! He's 15 Now!!!
Final score:
11points
#82
Adopted This 4 Year Old Handsome Man After He Spent 2 Years At The Shelter!
Final score:
11points
MPaulaWhelan 9 years ago
I ave no idea how people choose cats. That he could languish for 2 years boggles my mind. He will give you years of pleasure, I'm sure.
#83
My Boyfriend Gaves Me This Cute 9years Old Lady For My Birthday. Couldn't Love Them More.
Final score:
11points
#84
This Is Honey. She Was Four When We Got Her. She's Not Eight And My Best Friend
Final score:
11points
#85
I Found This Kitten By The Street Five Days Ago
Final score:
10points
#86
Oliver (inbred) Would Have Been Euthanized If I Hadn't Adopted Him. He's 8 Now And I Love Him!!
Final score:
10points
#87
My Cat Adopted Me! Three Years Agieren This Cat Chose Us As Ist Family. He's About 12-14 Years
Final score:
9points
#88
Came With Her Brother At 15 Years Old, Purrs In Her Sleep.
Final score:
9points
#89
I Adopted Both Of Them At Different Time.the Big One Is Barlin, The Little Kitten Is Zimba
Final score:
8points
TillieMartinussen 9 years ago
Kitty looks so scared. So cute. Hope the older cat'll show Kitty the ropes around the house.
#90
Cooper Was Feral She. He Found Me Three Years Ago. Now He's A Toothless Old Man And I Adore Him
Final score:
8points
#91
My Darling Chas Who I Adopted At 14 With An Endless List Of Health Issues. Still Miss Him :(
Final score:
8points
#92
I Adopted Rosie Last Year When She Was 13. She's A Total Love.
Final score:
8points
#93
Prince Albert Aka "bertie" Was 10 When We Adopted Him. He Is Now Living In The Lap Of Luxury
Final score:
8points
#94
This Is My Sweet Grey, We Found Her Outside The Door, Very Skinny And Lots Of Scars,and Now...
Final score:
8points
#95
Our Beautiful Ellie Was 7 When We Adopted Her. She Loves Her "little" Brother Ramsey!
Final score:
7points
#96
Meet Olive, She Was 3 When We Adopted Her.
Final score:
7points
#98
We Adopted Mia From Lap Cats In Elk Grove They Said She Was In System For 14 Months She Is 8
Final score:
7points
#99
He Is Now 13th Years Old, We Have Flipke From A Resque Shelter. It Was Very Warm That Day.
Final score:
6points
#100
Callie Was 6 When I Adopted Her From A Shelter, Three Years Ago. She's Cuddly Sweet Girl.
Final score:
6points
#101
My Gorgeous Mimi Was 7 Years Old When I Adopted Her From A Shelter Sept. 2014.
Final score:
6points
#102
I Finally Got To Keep My Family's Cat After They Moved. She's 13 But Still Plays Like A Kitten.
Final score:
6points
#103
6 Years Ago We Adopted This 7 Year Old Sweetheart, Rupert.
Final score:
6points
#104
Venus, Adopted Last Year At 13, In A Rare Off-lap Moment
Final score:
6points
#105
We Found Her Out In The Street At Age 6. Now She Is 9 And Feeling Even Younger! We
Final score:
6points
TammyChapman 9 years ago
Wow!!! So beautiful. I would gladly become a cat person for her, drop dead gorgeous. Those eyes. Get her own Facebook page, she would get a lot of admirers. Seriously gorgeous!!
#106
Adopted This Beautiful 9 Year Old Boy From My Elderly Father.
Final score:
6points
#107
This Is Brandon, His Owner Moved And Left Him Behind, He's About 5-6 Years Old, We Love Him!
Final score:
6points
#108
We Adopted These Two Brothers At 6 Years Old From The Shelter. They Have Be A Joy Ever Since.
Final score:
6points
#110
Cooper Was Feral When He Found Me. Now He's A Toothless Old Man And I Adore Him.
Final score:
5points
#111
This Little Honey Is Boo, A 10yo Burmese We Adopted. She's A Cheeky Little Devil!
Final score:
5points
#112
I Adopted Nanna, A Devon Rex, When She Was 13 And We Had 2 Wonderful Years Together
Final score:
5points
#113
This Is Brett. He Came To Us When He Was 5, Now He Is 16.
Final score:
4points
#114
Maggie Lived Her First 6 Years In A Shelter Run By Amazing Ladies. Then She Found Me!
Final score:
3points
#115
Went To The Shelter For A Kitten And Came Back With 2 Year Old Simba Had Him 11 Years Now
Final score:
3points
TarynWallace (Submission author) 9 years ago
I know 2 isn't very old but at the shelter I went to he was still considered an adult cat that no one would get. He's been the best kid I could ever hope for.
#116
Melike. Had About 6, Maybe 8, Maybe 10 Years When I Adopted Her. Pure Love!
Final score:
2points
#117
We Got This 5-6 Years Old Soft-furred Lady When She Lost Her Former Servants
Final score:
2points
#118
I Adopted Joe When He Was 7. He's 11 Years Old Now And Still A Ball Of Energy!
Final score:
2points
#119
Molly - 15yrs (in Pic). Inherited In 2013 At 14yrs With Diabetes. Got Cancer. Rip 16jul15
Final score:
1point
Add New Image
What do you think ?
JessicaHaesevoets 9 years ago
I work at an animal shelter as a volunteer and ever since I started working there, I made a promise to myself to adopt an old cat once I live on my own. At home we've got 7 cat now that used to be strays, all +10 years, so I know older cats are awesome and give so much love back to the people loving them.
JudithBandsma 9 years ago
I adopted her when she was just a kitten but she was 24 when she died. I don't see a cat under the age of 15 as 'older'.
Megan Devillers 8 years ago
24 is actually remarkable. Cats are actually classed as senior once they hit 7 years old but cats are living longer and longer these days. Better food, care and medicine.
Load More Replies...
Kevin Smoot 7 years ago
My first older cat was a girl who'd been in and out of the shelter three times and her issues were minor ones (she clawed furniture- back to the shelter. She sneezed when they got her home- back to the shelter!) and she was perfect for the other adopted one who was also 4. When he passed she was 14 and I found a 12 year old (also a multiple shelter return who was sent first because his owner of 10 years was leaving town and then because he was being chased by the owners dogs) and he came home this spring. It's the best twosome I could have ever dreamed about and or hoped for!!!
CateLawrence 9 years ago
We adopted Mr Pablo aged 14 and took him with us to Germany when we moved last year. He passed away in January aged 18. RIP sweet boy, old kitties are the best. We now have Miss Ginger aged 7
AngelikaEriksson 9 years ago
When I am going to loose my old cat Hansi, I will adopt an old cat too.
LindaNewhouse 9 years ago
I adopted a 4 year old cat, 2 weeks ago. She, Princess, is still in stealth mode, so no pictures yet. She has trust issues. She had to be bottle fed as a kitten and became strongly bonded to her foster human mom, who adopted her. Then a human baby came into the family. The baby had severe cat allergies, so Princess got relegated to a single room, where she received little if any attention. She became very withdrawn and scared as a result. She got adopted again, but got dominated by another cat in the family. and never felt secure in this home. So she got surrendered again to a cat rescue. After 4 months at the rescue, she was just starting to feel a bit more secure by staying in the director's bedroom. So, I adopted her from them. Not sure how long it will take her to trust me enough to let me give her some attention. There are no other people or animals in my studio apartment. She is starting to feel a bit more secure in this small space and is exploring more.
GeorginaGonzalez 9 years ago
I've just adopted a 5 years old cat, his name is Tapioco (Cassava)
JovanaDacic 9 years ago
I have 3 right now. Rescued strays, around 1 I think. I would LOVE to adopt a senior cat as well. My only fear is my own weakness. I get attached so easily and so quickly...and these senior cats...well, you guys know where I'm going with this. One of the reasons I prefer older cats is lack of surprises. You can kinda guess their eating & bathroom habits and they LOVE to cuddle :) In any case, great post. Kittens are cute, but older cats are more loyal & sweeter I think.
JessicaHaesevoets 9 years ago
I work at an animal shelter as a volunteer and ever since I started working there, I made a promise to myself to adopt an old cat once I live on my own. At home we've got 7 cat now that used to be strays, all +10 years, so I know older cats are awesome and give so much love back to the people loving them.
JudithBandsma 9 years ago
I adopted her when she was just a kitten but she was 24 when she died. I don't see a cat under the age of 15 as 'older'.
Megan Devillers 8 years ago
24 is actually remarkable. Cats are actually classed as senior once they hit 7 years old but cats are living longer and longer these days. Better food, care and medicine.
Load More Replies... Kevin Smoot 7 years ago
My first older cat was a girl who'd been in and out of the shelter three times and her issues were minor ones (she clawed furniture- back to the shelter. She sneezed when they got her home- back to the shelter!) and she was perfect for the other adopted one who was also 4. When he passed she was 14 and I found a 12 year old (also a multiple shelter return who was sent first because his owner of 10 years was leaving town and then because he was being chased by the owners dogs) and he came home this spring. It's the best twosome I could have ever dreamed about and or hoped for!!!
CateLawrence 9 years ago
We adopted Mr Pablo aged 14 and took him with us to Germany when we moved last year. He passed away in January aged 18. RIP sweet boy, old kitties are the best. We now have Miss Ginger aged 7
AngelikaEriksson 9 years ago
When I am going to loose my old cat Hansi, I will adopt an old cat too.
LindaNewhouse 9 years ago
I adopted a 4 year old cat, 2 weeks ago. She, Princess, is still in stealth mode, so no pictures yet. She has trust issues. She had to be bottle fed as a kitten and became strongly bonded to her foster human mom, who adopted her. Then a human baby came into the family. The baby had severe cat allergies, so Princess got relegated to a single room, where she received little if any attention. She became very withdrawn and scared as a result. She got adopted again, but got dominated by another cat in the family. and never felt secure in this home. So she got surrendered again to a cat rescue. After 4 months at the rescue, she was just starting to feel a bit more secure by staying in the director's bedroom. So, I adopted her from them. Not sure how long it will take her to trust me enough to let me give her some attention. There are no other people or animals in my studio apartment. She is starting to feel a bit more secure in this small space and is exploring more.
GeorginaGonzalez 9 years ago
I've just adopted a 5 years old cat, his name is Tapioco (Cassava)
JovanaDacic 9 years ago
I have 3 right now. Rescued strays, around 1 I think. I would LOVE to adopt a senior cat as well. My only fear is my own weakness. I get attached so easily and so quickly...and these senior cats...well, you guys know where I'm going with this. One of the reasons I prefer older cats is lack of surprises. You can kinda guess their eating & bathroom habits and they LOVE to cuddle :) In any case, great post. Kittens are cute, but older cats are more loyal & sweeter I think.
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