For many, pets are a terrific companion and there’s no time that we need this more than later in life. Not only do pets provide a loyal friendship, but they can also offer an escape from loneliness and despair. Pets often have the ability to bring happiness and laughter to their owner’s lives and evoke a special bond.
There are all kinds of pets that can be great companions, including cats, and owning one can be so beneficial to the elderly. Studies have suggested that owning a cat can help fight negative feelings such as stress and loneliness; in turn helping to reduce depression, which sadly can be common among the elderly. A survey conducted by Cats Protection found that 87% of people who owned a cat felt it had a positive effect on their wellbeing, while 76% said that they could cope better with everyday life thanks to their cats.
By choosing to adopt a cat from Cats Protection, not only could this be beneficial to yourself, but you’ll also be giving a cat a new home and a new lease of life.
Although owning a cat is a big responsibility, our feline friends are very independent animals and don’t take a lot of looking after compared to some other household pets. Older cats in particular can be the ideal companion for an older person as they are much calmer than a kitten and already house trained. When you adopt an adult cat, you know what you are getting and they can give you years of companionship and affection.
Many elderly people are often worried about what might happen to their pets in the years to come, meaning they may be reluctant to take a pet into their care for the fear that their health could deteriorate and their beloved pet will have nobody to care for them.
With Cats Protection this doesn’t have to be a concern as our Cats Guardians service will make sure that your cat will be cared for in the event of your death. Through the Cat Guardians service, if you were to pass away before your cat, we would bring your cat in to one of our branches or centres and find them a new home. The service means that older cat owners can experience all the benefits of owning a cat, with the knowledge that they have made a plan for their cat’s future.
For more information about the Cat Guardians service and details about how to register, please click here.
If you think that you could benefit from owning a cat, or know someone else that might, please do get in touch with your local branch or centre who will be able to find the perfect feline companion for you. For more information about the cats who are ready for adoption in your area, please call our National Information Line on 03000 12 12 12 or click here.
