The Way of Cats

To get a great cat in the easiest, most direct way, consider the Over Eights.

From eight on up, they have known great stretches of good care, or they wouldn’t have gotten this far. A eight year old cat is almost fifty human years, true. But that could be ten more years of life in the cat. They are just as deserving of a good home for the second half of their life, aren’t they?

We could provide that.

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Because the older the cat is, the more quickly we will be trained. Then we start enjoying the cat. Because you know the secret about older cats?

They don’t have a dark past. Older cats have known qualities.

Older cats know a lot of our tricks already. They can communicate very well. They are eager to start the dialogue, because they know that is the way to get what we both want. This makes them great cats for newbies to start with; this is a case of the cat knowing far more than we do, and they make eager teachers.

Being human, we often feel we want to start with a kitten and look forward to a long life of companionship. But there are no guarantees in life. With every beloved cat companion, we know the fun must end. The hesitancy at taking on an older cat springs from the anxiety that the end will come too soon.

But the end always comes too soon.

It breaks my heart to see the cats many consider unadoptable, simply because of their age. When these are fantastic cats who have so much love to give. They are perfect for many people who are not up to kittens, but would love a sweet, quiet, companionable cat.

I placed such cats with those people who most need a companion in their life; the elderly, those differently-abled, those dealing with illnesses that interfere with full enjoyment of a more active social life.

Two lonely beings, lonely no more; it’s one of the great joys of rescue.

If there’s a slot open in our own home, we can add an older cat with the proper introductions. An already functioning cat civilization (three or more cats) will reform in fascinating ways when we bring in a older cat.

They come with the gravitas and pre-formed interests that will not demand attention the way a kitten or younger cat will. Older cats will let friendships form at their own pace, seek and find their own mellow niche, and assert their dignity in a way that calms skittish cats and provides a role model for the wilder ones.

If you know a cat-deprived person who needs more company, talk to them about providing it with a cat who is already trained, won’t rampage through their stuff, and is just as eager as they are to create a happy family.

Everything these people might be looking for is right there at the local shelter.

Waiting for them.

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There’s more to choosing a cat with The Way of Cats than the article you are reading now. See my CHOOSING A CAT.

Cats stay kittens long after people stop thinking of them that way.

The Under Threes can have a great childhood at any time. Because, despite most age scales, the first three years of a cat’s life counts up to only twenty in human years.

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So there’s actually a big window to influence a young cat all during their growing up stage. Cats don’t mature for at least three years. The big kittens, even longer.

Any cat, under three, is not grown up yet.

We should broaden our definition of cuteness past that first, fleeting stage, so beloved of greeting card companies, and we will realize that there is so much more cuteness in the world than we thought.

So remember that it doesn’t matter how big they are; it’s about how mature they are. If they have been rushed along that path too soon, a good home will let them slow down and catch up.

If they are secure and cared for, they can keep, or rediscover, their baby behaviors. They can take their time growing up. If the process has been interrupted, the young cat can catch up on parts of their childhood they missed, just as their bodies can catch up and get over past malnutrition.

They just need time and a supportive atmosphere.

That under three-kitten in the shelter might not have enjoyed much of a childhood up to this point. They might need to be treated like a kitten… by someone.

Someone who will love them like the baby they still are.

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There’s more to choosing a cat with The Way of Cats than the article you are reading now. See my CHOOSING A CAT.

Age happens. It happens so gradually we might not be aware of it. That’s the gap we have to look out for with our older cat.

It seems like yesterday that they were a bundle of fluff who could play with a paper ball for seven hours straight. Or the long-limbed youngster who made us laugh with their athletic antics. But we have to face the fact that a ten year old cat is already middle aged. They are going to be changing their behavior, and their needs.

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As cats slow down physically, they don’t necessarily have to slow down mentally. In fact, along with sleeping more and whacking toys around less, a cat has an increased need of mental stimulation as they age.

If we haven’t been big on the mental games before, we can be surprised how much our older cat is receptive to these ploys, simply because they have much better focus and concentration than they did as a distractable kitten or active youngster. What kinds of games do older cats like?

Bring back the hunt. Hide the can of dinner somewhere, and then encourage the cat to help you look for it. Show them three cans, and let them choose one. If their dining area is noisy or cluttered, try to create a more relaxing and private area, and make a fuss over the new spot. Or play these same games with treats, using a puzzle cube, puzzle box, or even a tissue box with a transparent window. Food should never lose its appeal.

In fact, Mr. Bond has come up with a new game a few months ago, where he hangs around for the food ritual and then disappears. I’m supposed to seek him out and carry him over to his food, which I’m glad to do. I have one-upped him by leaving his food on the counter, so when I bring him into the kitchen he looks at his spot on the floor, and it’s empty! Your turn, Mr. Bond.

Change the channel. Liven up the same old window or bookcase with something new. A comfy pillow to sleep on, a suncatcher to make rainbows on the wall, or adding a birdfeeder on the outside is a great way to liven up the same old places for the older cat.

Since they will be sleeping more, see if we can’t create new spots that will be handy in our daily routine, and let us keep tabs on them. Baskets, boxes, and condo towers might be appreciated more now, especially if we make sure they are padded. Many cats lose muscle as they get older, and need a little more comfort.

Create moments. Older cats can retreat into extra sleep and more hiding spots because their mental filters, which keeps the input down to protect their sensitive nervous systems, do not work as well as they used to. Senior cats need more quiet time.

This can have the unwanted effect of the cat getting less attention. Find little ways of letting the older cat know how much we still care by having special times with them in the morning and evening, even if it’s only a few minutes of chat and some petting. Older cats will appreciate us seeking them out, and they will come out more if they are certain of getting our attention when they do.

Inside, they are still our lively kittens. It’s only that they cannot be as quick to seek us out if they have limited energy. So make sure their effort will be rewarded, keep a close eye on their routines and their mood, and we can enjoy our cat’s older years with the richness of a relaxed, well-seasoned relationship.

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There’s more ways to care for our cat with The Way of Cats than the article you are reading now. See all of my posts on CAT CARE.