Cats into old age

[Jenko109]

When I was growing up, we had lots of cats over the years.

I can probably think of 10.

Out of those ten, two were killed on the road, one was killed by a dog.

So that leaves seven.

Of those seven, only one of them stayed with us until old age.

The rest disappeared over time. Possibly adopted by the old ladies in the local care home. Possibly died without us knowing on roads etc.

I did see one of them some years later absolutely fat as butter so clearly had found a home she preferred.

So how often do cats stay in their first home?

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

We had both of ours from kittens to their PTS age 23 and 24, my aunt owned their mum (who was sadly run over). That being said of all the other cats I know, I can only think of one other oldie approaching 20.

We did have two cats prior to them, one was shot at close range by some sicko and one was run over. We also then took on two more cats alongside having the above cats out of pity from a horrid situation, both ended up being pregnant and had 7 babies each in my wardrobes. We rehomed them all and the two pity cats, once neutered, to friends and family and as far as I know they're all still going.

 

[Cortez]

I've just last month said farewell to our old cat Timothy at 19. He's the oldest I've ever had, our childhood cats tended to meet more dramatic ends, killed on the road, one got caught by a pack of hounds.

 

[ihatework]

Ive had cats all my life and never had one leave! One was killed on the road all the others have seen out their natural lives into (mostly late) teens

 

[ycbm]

I've had ten cats in 40 years. 3 killed on the road were all under 2 years old. 6 lived their entire lives with us, one still going strong at 12. I was surprised to read the other day that the average age for PTS of a cat is 11 years 7 months. We feed ad lib, always available wet and dry, I think that possibly helps them think it's a nice place to keep coming back to.
.

 

[julesjoy]

One childhood cat lived till 18ish.

Then a stray arrived and had three kittens. Kittens PTS between 10-17 for various health reasons. Their mum made approx 15.

Another stray arrived but vanished again after a few months of food and love.

Third stray arrived approx age 2. Still with me two house moves later age 12. Although in my last residence he was a village cat and shared with various neighbours but he knew where home was.

Orange cat acquired from a pet shop as a kitten still with me age 12, although lacks braincells so this is somewhat of a miracle.

Fluffy cat from a cat rescue as a 12 week old kitten. Still here age 7.

 

[Burnttoast]

All our cats ended up coming to us from homes they'd left (or been kicked out of). Three recent ones from a place up the road where the owner with MH issues kept a string of unneutered females with predictable results and rarely seemed to feed them. The most recent one was dumped in our field (miles from anywhere) at about 10 weeks old. My first cat when I was an adult just moved in, young and pregnant, with an abscess the size of half a golf ball behind one ear - had been living under next door's wheelbarrow for a fortnight (I was away) and I found her on my bed the day I got home, having left the back door open... So far they've all stayed around to a decent age (fingers crossed for the newest one, who's coming up to a year old), although we lost one at 10 to cancer.

 

[Equi]

I have had many many cats. We had a feral group for a while that had came from the dairy farm (where the kittens were dispatched..) I always was able to catch the kittens and rehome them and eventually got traps for the mother cats. They then all filtered away. I’ve got one cat who’s been here 11-12 years now and he’s the oldest cat I’ve ever had! I dunno why they don’t stay here but I suspect the dairy is very tempting for them when they are not breeding so not being disturbed much!

 

[Birker2020]

My parents had one cat that they adopted as a stray, Tiddles. They believe she had been dumped in a dustbin and emptied into a dustcart. She was terrified of the dustcart when it came down the road and would run and hide under the bed shaking in fear.
.
They had her 19 years, she was at least 12 months old when they found her as a stray.

 

[pistolpete]

I have had a few second hand cats. So no idea how old they were but we had them years. The two kittens we had from same litter one went at 10 the one I chose 15 and my mums one went at 11. Their mum was about 16 I think when she died of kidney failure so all fairly good. Always grateful none got run over.

 

[SEL]

We had one vanish when I was younger - but he was a feral the local cats home had taken in and in all honesty I don't think he wanted to be a house cat.

One lost on the road.

All the others have made it to late teens / early 20s and have been PTS by the vet.

The only one I'm not sure about was our current yard cat. He came with the yard and we knew he was old but it looked fabulous and just disappeared in Feb. I'd like to think he'd found himself a farmhouse somewhere but I suspect his age or the roads caught up with him.

 

[Britestar]

I have 4 cats.
Eldest is 21, had him from a kitten.
Next is 20, she was a captured feral at about 8 weeks, got her at 5 months out.
Tortie is 19. Got her as a 6 month old, no one wanted her. She is diabetic and has kidney problems.

Youngest is 11yrs old. I hand reared him from 2 weeks old. Total thug.

 

[Cloball]

I've had 9 cats and I'll include me Grandmas last cat too as he lived to 24.

4 were hit by cars, one survived and lived to 21 she also left briefly but came back. Cancer for her in the end.

1 rescue died under GA, an op for kidney stones, her rescue companion lived to we think 15 but who knows how old rescue cats really are, he was very geriatric and passed away in his sleep on his personal sheepskin rug. We rescued him as an adult of at least 3.

My mum's current cat pitched up 15 years ago as an adult cat without a chip and no owner found. He's a bit arthritic with bad teeth now but on his 4th house move with my parents so he's quite settled I think.

My current cat is 8 he was gifted by his previous owner after he left home and was living rough. He seems to have put his house hopping days behind him but he does get Christmas cards from the neighbours

 

[Cloball]

I did read somewhere that cats are far more likely to be lost on the roads in their first year which is my experience.

 

[webble]

I have had several over the years and never had one move out, most have lived until old age. My last was pts on Tues aged late teens

 

[Alibear]

Does anyone have any tips for getting weight on an old cat who is a picky eater with not the best teeth? (Teeth are as good as Vets can get them)
She does have an overactive thyroid and is on the maximum dose of meds for that, and the vet just says to give her whatever she'll eat.
She has adlib wet and dry food, including kitten food, pate cat food, Purina Pro Plan wet food, and those flavoured yoghurt sticks they do now.
She'll pick at the odd tin of tuna over time. Anything too rich makes her sick because she bolts it.
She is bright, alert, and happy, and the vet is happy with her, but she is very thin, to the point neighbours have asked about her as she does go visiting.
She is 17, we lost her sister at 14 due to cancer.

 

[SEL]

Does anyone have any tips for getting weight on an old cat who is a picky eater with not the best teeth? (Teeth are as good as Vets can get them)
She does have an overactive thyroid and is on the maximum dose of meds for that, and the vet just says to give her whatever she'll eat.
She has adlib wet and dry food, including kitten food, pate cat food, Purina Pro Plan wet food, and those flavoured yoghurt sticks they do now.
She'll pick at the odd tin of tuna over time. Anything too rich makes her sick because she bolts it.
She is bright, alert, and happy, and the vet is happy with her, but she is very thin, to the point neighbours have asked about her as she does go visiting.
She is 17, we lost her sister at 14 due to cancer.

Purina Gourmet Revelations Mousse come highly recommended from her Ladyship Princess Missy. I feed a small amount at a time otherwise she bolts it too.

It has helped put weight back on her

 

[Sussexbythesea]

Of two childhood cats from kittens one was run over at around 6yrs and the other became diabetic and was pts at about 10yrs. We then rehomed two adult females who lived into their late teens.

Of my adult cats the first two females one lived to 16 then got thyroid disease which didn’t respond to treatment. The other lived to 18yrs before succumbing to kidney disease.

My last two boys from kittens I feel very cheated. The ginger one whom was the most loving cat left home and moved in with an old lady and my little black buddy I lost a few months ago at 8yrs from an undiagnosed neurological symptomatic condition.

I now have my remaining 2yr old cat and my future adopted 15yr old yard cat who is thin but recent health check came up as healthy in all blood work. .

 

[P3LH]

Sadly I think it’s much less common than we think that they choose to relocate - although I have had one move in with me over the years. I think more often than not when they don’t come home they’ve met their maker, and either taken themselves off or been taken away by road services etc. I’ve had some meet known outdoor ends, and some who never returned and I’ve always just assumed they too have ‘gone on’.

 

[FitzyFitz]

Most of mine have stayed with us into old age. Had one who was a wanderer and had 4 homes on our road, always looked very round and happy until she got older and got injured. We had her PTS as she hated being kept in and prognosis wasn't great. Another of mine got stolen. House was set right back from a road though and backed onto woods so pretty safe for even outdoor kitties.

 

[Ratface]

The Killer Burmese lived until he was 20. His Abyssinian wingwoman went at 18. Both identified by vet. friend as normal for their breeds. After them, a variety of moggies who lasted into their early to mid teens. More recently, King Kevin Kat was pts at 14 due to a stomach tumour and Madam Carrie Cat at 12 due to heart and lung failure, eleven months afterwards.
The current incumbent, Mad Catto aka Rodriguez, at fourteen months old, is either a whirling dervish, wandering around and demanding "Fooood! Nooow!!, batting his toys round the saloon sole, stirring the contents of the litter box with a contemplative paw, lying in the sun in the wheelhouse, roasting his tummy - or wrapped up in his tail, fast asleep.
He's also perfecting a heavy stare, about a foot from my head whilst I'm reading. This indicates that he wants something, so I have to get up and find out what it is. At which point, he jumps down and finds somewhere to go to sleep.
Who's a clever kitty, then?

 

[Ratface]

Purina Gourmet Revelations Mousse come highly recommended from her Ladyship Princess Missy. I feed a small amount at a time otherwise she bolts it too.

It has helped put weight back on her

His Highness Rodriguez Catto wishes to endorse the choice of Purina Gourmet Revelations Mousse (Chicken only, though). He bolts his because, as everyone knows, he's Staaarved.

 

[Fransurrey]

Haven't ever had one leave home thankfully (I'd be devastated!), but have had a few try to move in over the years!

Of 18:

1 was rehomed (I was an 11yo kid and had no say - we were relocating and I never forgave my mum for not letting me take him).
1 died of pneumonia in his teens.
3 died of cancer, aged 10, 12 and 14.
4 died aged of old age, at 17, 18, 20 and 22 years.
1 went missing during a vet visit (vet assembled carrier incorrectly and it fell apart. ).
2 had congenital problems, never diagnosed, just always ill from kittenhood (adopted aged 3 months) but neither lived beyond age 5.
2 run over.
1 was a 'hospice case' with liver failure. I forget how old she was, 14 I think. I had her for 6 months before she was pts.
The last 3 are my current ones. Adopted in May aged 1 (x2) and 9. I think the 9 yo is older.