That's terrible.  I mean, old or not, anyone can go at any time.  Regardless
of age.  However, if its their policy, there isn't much you can do about it
except I would write a letter to the editorial section of a newspaper and
out the agency to the public.  Maybe then they would change said policy.

I have my cats covered in my will.  It's a thing we all need to think
about.  Life is short, and you never know.

Eva

I suspect that is what they were thinking.
Talking about someone possibly dying is not a pleasant subject so that
might have
been why they didn't explain their reasons.

That probably is their concern. If this person listed someone who is
committed to taking care of the cat in the event the woman is no longer able
to it might make a difference. They might also be more inclined to adopt an
older cat to her rather than a kitten too.

The fact remains that the rescue groups' purpose is to be an advocate for
the cat. They would want a reasonable expectation that the cat will have a
lifelong home.

W

We always ask prospective adoptives if they have someone who will care for
the cat in the event of the adoptive's illness or death. That's our policy
with everyone at any age.

Most of our senior cats are adopted by middle-age and senior citizens.  Its
better for the cat- she doesn't have rambunctious kids bothering her to play
all the time; and its better for the adoptives- they get a great cat for
companionship.

The only real concern I have is financial since older cats are prone to
long-term age-related illnesses. Are the adpotives on a fixed income? and
can they afford veterinary care?  This is a concern for both: the cat and
the adoptive.

Phil

i can see both sides to this; the old dear wants to have companionship
in the twilight of her life and is willing to share her home with a
needy puss, feed it, protect it, love it etc etc which is great and
there should be more people out there willing to do this. Also when an
older person has something like a pet to look after their quality of
life tends to improves and they tend to be much more active and
positive about life than if they had nothing and noone to get up for
every morning, and this in itself can help extend and enhance the OAPs
life sometimes. Simple symbiotic relationship there; old dear looks
after and feeds kitty, kitty gives old dear something to live for, and
if it were that straight forward then I am sure the rescue centre would
be happy to hand over a small puss for her to look after as they are
always looking for good homes for their cats.

the flip side is just as a lot of people have said already; what if the
aforementioned old timer pops her clogs, kicks the bucket, shuffles off
this mortal coil, i.e. dies? then the rescue centre are going to have
to take the kitty back in again and start looking out for a new home
for her. this constant toing and froing from one place to the next can
be stressful for little pusscats, highly unsettling, and really should
be avoided at all costs for the sake of the cat. The rescue centre are
merely looking out for the cat's welfare, that is what they are there
to do, harsh as it may sound to this old dear but their first priority
is to the welfare of the cats not the old lady and that is why they are
reluctant to let her take one away permanently.

They have offered to let her foster which basically means that the cat
remains the property of the rescue centre (in law) so that if the old
dear became too old or infirm to look after herself let alone still
keep feeding kitty then they can come and legally remove the cat before
things get too much and the woman is taken into a home and the kitty is
abandoned. Remember, sometimes when old people go into a home or die
the pet are the last consideration and are sometimes left to fend for
themselves. i had one old cat who had spent the previous 6 months
before being handed to a rescue centre living alone in his dead owners
house by himself with his dead mum's son coming in once a day (if that)
to feed him until such time as he managed to sell the house. Only then
did anyone bother to sort out the cats situation, by whichtime he was a
very confused and nervous puss and did not liek to be left alone by
himself in my house for obvious reasons. Fostering a cat to an older
person might help to avoid this problem reocurring in future as the
rescue centre woudl keep regular check onthe cat's situation. ALSO as
happens with some organisations in the UK they may pay for vet
treatment and similar since the animal is stil legally theirs, which
woudl be a great financially burden lifted off the shoulders of someone
who is trying to cope on a pension and who may not be able to afford
emergency vet care (I don't know what pensions are like in the US but
in the UK they are crap and the cost of living is high)

actually come to think about it Jasper (previously mentioned cat) was
only fostered to me, the cat rescue society paid for the majority of
his vet treatment which was v helpful as he was v old and had all sorts
wrong with him. I was not insulted at all, and I am nowhere near 77
years old!

no doubt lots of people will argue with me over what i have just
written, but that is just the way i see it,
ciao for now, B

thank you I knew that rescue centre would not uproot a cat form a
foster home if it settled there and it was the best thing for the cat.
Can't believe that someone would get a cat then declaw it, can't
believe that declawing is still allowed to go on in some countries it
si certainly illegal here and quite rightly so. If you dont; want an
animal clawing your furniture get a tortoise! no i won't start on that,
that is a whole new topic so ignore all that please before anyone
starts ranting and raving.

I know kittens are cute and all that but I prefer my sedate older
kitties, even with all their medical problems and other foibles, last
one i adopted was 14 years, she is abot 16 now and stil going strong
despite hyperthyroidism and gives as much love and companionship as any
mad kitten. i think the tale of the old dear who was adamant about
getting a kitten is a fine example of how soem people (not just senior
citizens) are in denial of their true circumstances and are really not
in the best position to adopt a cat and then it is the centre's
unenviable job of having to turn them away (which then starts heated
debates like this)
and yes I know i could die in a car crash or whatever tomorrow but i
have made provision already for my someone else who is a firm cat lover
to take care of my cat if that should happen (ok it is a bit morbid but
you do have to be sensible)

B

Good for you!!!! golden oldies need homes too and they are harder to
place than young furry scallywags. When you do adopt again I hope you
and your furry senior citizen are very happy together, I know you will
be and so does my 16-year old jessie (who is currently snuggled up in a
pile of old jumpers in the bottom of my wardrobe snoring gently, bless
her furry little heart)

B

That is a wonderful idea. There are sooo many older cats looking for good
homes.
Gail