Cat's Name, Age, and Gender:
Purrscilla is my 15 year old girl. She is a dilute Tortie, and gorgeous!
Best Characteristics of my Senior
Even at her age, Purrscilla looks and behaves like a kitten most of the time! She's full of energy, still has a sense of humor, and loves people. And she's very talkative. She has slimmed down a bit with age, but has been certified by our vet as very healthy. She has become more patient with age
Challenges of Life With an Older Cat
Sometimes Purrscilla has "senior moments": she'll talk non-stop to the point of distraction, or she'll have difficulty deciding where she wants to have her meals. Makes for a lot of chasing around, until she finally settles down to eat. That can try my patience a little bit.
When, Where and How I Got My Cat
I got Purrscilla as a frightened, 3 month old kitten that was born as a street kitty. A bit of patience and a lot of love, and presto! the most amazing kitty started to emerge. She adapted very quickly to our household, which included our two other cats, Peepers and Sahara. And she bonded immediately with Suki, our Akita, who was five years old at the time. Our intention had been to foster Purrscilla until she found her forever home, but here we are 15 years later...and absolutely no regrets!
I'd Describe My Cat As…
Funny, very loving, playful as all get out, a dedicated cuddler, very assertive, vocal (especially if she thinks she's being ignored). Purrscilla has been blessed with excellent health all her life, despite her rocky start in life. A couple of kitty colds here and there, but that's it. She gets a bit achy on really cold days, but her mobility hasn't been affected at all. I just give her a homeopathic remedy for joint relief when she needs it, which is seldom. Of course, being a full-indoor cat helps a lot, I'm sure.
She has younger brothers and sisters, and she still keeps up with them without extra effort. And she holds her own around them when they try to boss her around. She has gotten more mellow with age, sleeps a bit more these days, talks more than she used to in her younger days (and she has always been a talker!) So you do the math... But all in all, I can say that age has improved her temperament. She used to have a bit of a short fuse as a youngster, now she's more patient. She also has become more of a bedtime cuddler as time has gone by. Which is OK by me, we keep each other warm. So what's not to love?
Advice
- Decide to make your senior kitty a totally indoor cat.
- Provide time every day to bond, for gentle play and cuddling.
- Schedule a yearly checkup with your vet, and follow the vet's indications regarding changes in diet, sleeping arrangements, etc.
- Get to know your cat very well. This will make it easier to spot changes in behavior, or physical changes that may need your attention. If the changes are abrupt, or very marked, call your vet for advice.
- And most important of all: enjoy your senior kitty! They come with experience, so training needed is minimal.
