Richard is the 'purrrr'fect senior pet

This Adopt a Senior Pet Month, we're shining a light on the older pets that sometimes get overlooked.

We have had a wonderful update from Corkie’s owners (now named Richard). He was rehomed from our NAWT Berkshire centre back in January this year and has made the perfect companion for his new family. His owners have shared his journey so far, as well as why they think adopting a senior pet was right for them.

“We adopted Corkie - who now goes by the name Richard - in January this year. He is about 17.

I'd always wanted a senior cat as I think they're just the perfect pets, plus I absolutely love ginger cats. I grew up with one and they're such little goof balls with such good temperaments, so when we saw Richard up on the website, I had a feeling he was the one for us!

When we first went to see Richard at the centre, he was very shy and quiet. He didn't come out of his den to say hello - not even for a treat. This was distinctly different from some of the other, bolder personalities who were in there at the time and vying for our attention! He didn't respond much either to us giving him some attention, with only a small purr, and didn't come out of his bed at all. So, we weren't 100% sure what we'd get when taking him home with us! I'm sharing this because I want people to know that sometimes the older cats are hesitant to come out and make friends. There's a lot of rhetoric when it comes to adopting pets along the lines of "the cat chooses you" or "there's an instant bond". I think it's important to know that with senior cats this isn't always the case, and that's ok! We can choose the cats too sometimes, and we can create that strong bond over time.

He took a few weeks to come out of his room, and a few more to come out of his shell. He's found the perfect sleeping spots now and will happily spend the whole day snoozing there while we work. He's incredibly sociable though, so don't think a senior cat will leave you alone all day! He knows our routine now, so will come downstairs to watch telly with us in the evening, and sleeps with us every night. When we go to bed now it's only a moment before we hear his little feet padding down the corridor, then jumping on the bed with a little 'meow' to let us know he's there! He also loves sitting on us! Every time we are lying or sitting down, he just needs to be on us. A lap cat through and through.

He's also very well behaved and polite. Just like you'd imagine an old gentleman to be! He's such a calm cat. If you are worried about adopting cats because you think they'll destroy the house, then a senior is the right way to go. He doesn't make any mess or scratch anything other than his post. He's very respectful of our things! He's also very playful and can be quite energetic with the right toys and stimulation. Even at his ripe old age, there's still a lot of life left in him.

In short, we couldn't be happier, and I like to think he couldn't be happier either. He's become our perfect companion. Sociable yet happily independent. We really do love him so much!

When I tell people we adopted a 17-year-old we often get asked a question about his health, or sometimes about his death. Things like "Aren't vet bills expensive?" or "Aren't you worried about him passing away?" or "I could never adopt an old pet; I'd be too sad when they die". While I understand these hesitations, they really apply to all animals regardless of age. I've had kittens and I've had older cats, and the worries are exactly the same! When the time comes for him to go - and I accept that this won't be too far in the future - I'll of course be absolutely devastated. But I will also know, without a doubt, that he enjoyed his retirement and had all the love, care, and attention he could have asked for in his golden years. I also know that the pain of loss will be worth it for the joy he's giving me every single day.”

Thank you so much to Richard’s owner’s for sharing this with us, and giving a real insight into what life is like with an older cat. We wish you all a wonderful life together, and it’s so nice to see Richard looking so settled and loved.

If you would like to rehome an animal, you can view all our pets that are looking for homes via our website here.