| He leaped out of the cage and grabbed me | | | | one from a mother cat's litter, are you prepared |
| around the shoulders. My shock quickly turned into | | | | to neuter or spay the kitten and give her the |
| amazement. He hadn't sunk his claws into me! My | | | | vaccinations she needs? |
| thought was, "This cat definitely knows good | | | | 6. Vaccinations. A kitten receives all of her |
| manners. Somebody has worked with him." I | | | | vaccinations over a period of time. You should |
| looked at the ticket on the cage door. It read, | | | | make sure you have the time and interest to get |
| "Morgan, male, age 14." | | | | her the full regimen. |
| Age 14? I hesitated. That was pretty old. I put | | | | ADOPTING THE SENIOR CAT |
| him back in the cage and walked around the | | | | Somebody said cats are like shoes: one size |
| shelter, looking the other cats over. There were | | | | doesn't fit all. Still there are some arguably general |
| many nice ones, as well as a few kittens. | | | | reasons for adopting a mature cat over a kitten: |
| But my mind kept going back to Morgan, and I | | | | 1. An older cat is easier to take care of. In fact, |
| realized that, in fact, I had bonded with him. | | | | to a great extent, an older cat pretty much can |
| Fourteen years notwithstanding, we had become | | | | take care of itself. Great for the working person |
| buddies. | | | | who can't be home during the day. |
| THE PLIGHT OF THE SENIOR CAT | | | | 2. Older cats are generally calmer than younger |
| One of the saddest things you'll see in Animal | | | | ones, and adapt more easily to a new |
| Shelters is the number of older cats waiting for | | | | environment. |
| adoption. By and large, people are looking for | | | | 3. Older cats usually come with their vaccinations |
| kittens. | | | | and spaying or neutering. A kitten, even adopted |
| The older cats languish, many from happy homes | | | | from a shelter will need a series of vaccinations. |
| where they were loved and cared for, but | | | | 4. Older cats are better with small children than a |
| brought into the shelter for some reason known | | | | kitten is. Better to get an older animal that can |
| only to the owner and the cat. | | | | defend itself. |
| Many people, who don't like older cats, like kittens. | | | | 5. Older cats are usually housebroken. You'll have |
| Kittens are cute, cuddly, and funny. They make | | | | to train a kitten. |
| pleasing pets - but lose their "playfulness" when | | | | 6. Older cats can feed and take care of |
| they grow up, and with it the "love" of their | | | | themselves whereas a kitten may need your help |
| owners. | | | | - not good for a busy working person. |
| Somebody said that the mark of a true cat lover | | | | 7. An older cat can "hold its own" against the |
| is to desire to have grown cats over kittens. | | | | other family pets (like the dog) better than a |
| A KITTEN ISN'T ALWAYS WHERE IT'S AT | | | | kitten can. Unless you're there to defend it, |
| Many people don't think through the consequences | | | | certain life situations aren't good for a new kitten. |
| of adopting a kitten, or of taking one or two | | | | 8. Older cats can better handle a move if you |
| kittens from the litter a friend is trying to get rid | | | | relocate your household. The only thing you have |
| of, or bringing into your home one left on your | | | | to make sure of is that your cat recognizes your |
| doorstep. | | | | new location as "its den" and doesn't try to return |
| Here are a few questions you should ask yourself | | | | to your old place. |
| before you adopt a kitten: | | | | 9. And finally - older cats catch mice. In these |
| 1. Taking care of themselves. Kittens are pretty | | | | days of smarter mice that avoid all known |
| marginal in being able to take care of themselves, | | | | mousetraps, a mature cat can be invaluable. |
| especially when it comes to using a litter box. Do | | | | THE JOY OF OWNING A SENIOR CAT |
| you have time to house train your kitten? | | | | Well, his name was "Morgan", but I renamed him |
| 2. Young children. Do you have young children in | | | | "Tab" because he had the typical marks of a |
| the house? A child of 2 or 3 may inadvertently kill | | | | Tabby. Tab and I eventually learned to respect |
| a kitten. Older children need to be taught how to | | | | each other, and he - although a tough old alley cat |
| play with them and need to be closely supervised. | | | | - eventually enjoyed sitting in my lap having his |
| 3. Other pets. Are you bringing a kitten home to a | | | | battered ears stroked. |
| household with other, older pets? Make certain | | | | He lived five more years, and died at the ripe age |
| you have the time to spend introducing and | | | | of 19. During that time he was my companion |
| acclimating your pets to the kitten (and vice | | | | during two years of unemployment, providing |
| versa) | | | | plenty of understanding, comfort, and love. |
| 4. House dangers. Is there anything dangerous in | | | | One day he definitely "earned his keep". I found a |
| your house that could harm a kitten? If you are | | | | dead rat in the living room, its neck bitten almost |
| not home during the day, have you made sure | | | | in half. The rat was almost as big as Tab was, but |
| your kitten is safe while unsupervised? | | | | he'd wrestled it down and killed it. |
| 5. Adoptions other than from an animal shelter. .If | | | | So much for adopting kittens. I'd rather take a |
| you are adopting a kitten from a friend, or taking | | | | tough old alley cat any day of the week. |