Despite having a lot of love to offer, scores of unwanted OAP felines are struggling to find their forever homes and take on average three times longer to rehome than energetic young kittens.

Daniel Cummings, Behaviour Officer at Cats Protection said: “It’s a common misconception that older cats don’t play or interact much with owners, when in actuality, mature cats are just as loving and playful as younger cats. In fact, it could even be easier to introduce a mature cat to a home than a younger cat or kitten.”

Mature Moggies Day is on 16 June and Cats Protection aims to show people that an older cat can make the perfect companion, especially if they are battling loneliness.

Nine out of 10 cat owners think that owning a cat has a positive effect on their mental wellbeing, and nearly two-thirds of owners who regularly work from home say their cat helps them by calming them down.

“Loneliness is affecting millions of people across the country, particularly as they adjust to life after lockdown.” Daniel continued. “Cats can help prevent feelings of loneliness in all sorts of ways, whether providing entertainment through play or being there for a soothing cuddle. Often, people tell us it is a great source of comfort to simply have another living being in the home to care for and talk to.

“Some people may be worried about adopting an older cat because they are concerned that they have had too many negative experiences in the past and will have lots of complex behavioural issues. The reality is that a lot of mature moggies in our care have come from happy loving homes, but sadly their owner was just unable to care for them any longer.

“The amount of love these older ladies and gents have to give is vast. If you are someone who is struggling with feeling lonely, adopting an older cat could not only provide you with the company you crave, but you will also be doing something wonderful by giving a loving home to a cat.

“In the same way as a human’s personality develops as they get older, a cat’s personality shines more with age too. It’s even easier to find the perfect match with an older cat because they are pretty robust in who they are. You could walk into an adoption centre today and find a kindred spirit sitting there waiting for you.”

If you are adopting a cat, make sure you take time to chat talk to the Adoption Centre staff and ensure you provide everything a cat needs to settle into a new home. Cats Protection has produced a guide on how to care for elderly cats, including behaviour to look out for, recommended diets, and how to ensure they’re comfortable at home.

All cats adopted from Cats Protection have been health checked and come with four weeks’ free pet insurance which will cover any new conditions that arise after adoption.