Studies have shown that our felines are living longer lives than ever before, a fact that should be celebrated. However it seems that they are less likely to be chosen by prospective owners than their younger, perhaps friskier counterparts.
Cats Protection, the charity that this data has emerged from, has said that the improvements that have been made in veterinary care and the advances in medicine have helped to raise the life expectancy and quality of life for thousands of cats.
This includes those cats being cared for by the Charity’s 256 branches and 29 centres throughout the UK.
However, figures have recently emerged suggesting that these ‘OAP’s’ of the cat world are being frequently overlooked in favour of the younger generations. These figures show that it talks almost twice as long for a cat aged ten or above to be re-homed than a young cat or kitten. Understandably this is putting a massive strain on Cats Protection’s resources.
The charity’s Head of Veterinary Sciences has said: “Whilst ten years ago the household moggie could have been expected to live to around thirteen, today’s life expectancy is much higher, with countless cats in our care surviving to their late-teens and early-20s in remarkably good health.
''However, their longer existence places Cats Protection under strain because older cats can block up pen spaces for many months, which means we are unable to help other needy cats or kittens until the older ones are found new homes.
''It is a shame because older cats have a lot to offer, as they tend to be lap cats and have much more settled natures. Though the charity does its very best to care for older cats, life in a cat pen is no substitute for a permanent home so I would urge people to consider adopting an older cat.”
One such cat enjoying the benefits of a longer life with a happy ending is 13-year-old Tizer.
Despite Tizer’s years, this sprightly car spent only a month at the charity’s North London Adoption Centre before being adopted by the King’s Cross British Transport Police Station, to keep their building rodent-free.
PC Tizer, as he is now known, has easily become the most popular member of the staff, helping to de-stress everyone on busy days with his purr therapy.
If you would like to adopt an older cat, or make a donation to help Cats Protection look after the 7,000 cats that are in the charity’s care at any one time, please call the charity’s national Helpline on 08702 099 099 or log on to www.cats.org.uk
