Adopting a Dog or Cat Later in Life
Submitted by: Christine Stone, RN Clinical Liaison LifeQuest (and cat lover)
I LOVE my cat. I can’t imagine living without a cat (pet) – – their companionship and unconditional love is irreplaceable.
It’s not uncommon for seniors to feel lonely or depressed when they retire. Their children have moved away or they’ve lost a spouse or close friends. The American Humane Society states studies show pets help seniors overcome loneliness and depression by providing affection, company and entertainment. Pets also provide much-needed mental and stimulation, and pets can also help their owners to remain physically active.
Seniors who adopt pets may also feel a sense of purpose (the “need to be needed”) when helping animals who might not have anywhere to live. This is particularly true with older companion animals which may not appeal to younger families with children. Mature pets are a great fit for seniors. Adult pets may already be housetrained or litter box trained.
A dog or a cat? Which to choose?
Nothing against dogs, but a cat may be a better fit to a senior’s lifestyle. Cats are usually less active and don’t need to be walked or played with as much as dogs. Cats are often content to spend hours sleeping on their owner’s lap. I joke that my cat “sleeps 23 hours per day.” This is probably an exaggeration – but not by much! Small dogs that can be active in the house might be a good choice – especially for seniors with mobility issues. Keep in mind that a larger dog would need to be walked and exercised several time a day. Small dogs and cats are easily transported to and from the veterinarian,
Other considerations:
Seniors who frequently travel or have medical care issues that require them to be away from home for extended periods of time should carefully weigh the benefits of adopting a pet. It’s a good idea to have a pet care “back up plan.” Make sure a child, friend or neighbor knows about the pet and has a key to the house or apartment.
Also make sure there’s adequate money to care for the pet – food (and cat litter), medicines and vaccinations, veterinary bills.
Pets and companion animals bring joy to their owners – no matter what age. Careful choice of your pet will certainly bring years of happiness to you and your chosen “best friend.”