Older black felines can offer many advantages
On many occasions, I have exhausted the virtues of the domestic black feline, and I will not go on and on here except to say that they have personality plus.
Being a black feline in a shelter setting is only the tip of the problem in finding a forever home. There are other variables at play besides color.
The odds of finding a home from a shelter setting decrease even more as the cats age. Just think of it; the shelter is full of kittens and young adults, both in abundance in color and quantity. The older black felines are lost in the shuffle.
Just think of being an advocate for the underdog or, in this case, undercat. I would like to think there is a little bit in all of us who want to advocate for the unlikely champion. Our older black felines need you!
The definition of what is classified as "senior" has changed dramatically in recent years. The old senior of 7-10 years is now the new "middle-aged." Why the changing definition?
Food companies and advanced veterinary care with older felines seem to have assisted in more progressive thinking on what is defined as senior or aged. Just look down the food isles at a supersized pet store and read the bags.
The new jargon is "active mature," even if the two descriptors do not go hand-in-hand. Do we get to decide as consumers the age category of our animals? I guess only we know when they have slowed down a bit.
Why consider adopting an older feline? My number one reason is "what you see is what you get." An older adult has a personality that is not likely to change. A kitten or juvenile, not so true. An older feline is easy to train to a routine because it has already been trained at least once before.
An older feline is also calmer, which can be defined in a number of pluses. When the animal is in the litter box, it is there for the reason of taking care of business. A younger feline has to engage in minutes of litter throwing before it remembers why it is in the litter box, hence more cleanup for you.
An older animal has already gone through this terrible tantrum stage (just cross-relate to small children and toddlers). They also have learned their manners and are less destructive with your things; remember the shredded chair from the last kitten?
Life in general is slower and calmer with an adult feline. Some have learned life lessons the hard way and have just become calmer on their own.
If you already lack energy from keeping up with children, an adult cat is really what you want. They naturally know kid avoidance when their ears or tails have been pulled. I ask you, why go back for more? The adult knows not to.
The senior for senior connection works well, too. If you are slowing down in your own life, an older cat or feline is just for you. As felines age they are more likely to be lap cats. They bond with us more deeply because they seem to acknowledge that they need us more.
Sometimes an older feline will find its way to Buddy as a declawed adult. Many seniors are concerned about damage the claws may inflict because of blood-thinning medications. A declawed older cat solves the problem without the guilt associated with declawing.
It is time for all of you so-called black cat enthusiasts to step up and give an older black feline a permanent home.
• The Buddy Foundation, 65 W. Seegers Road, Arlington Heights, is a nonprofit 501(c) 3, shelter. Call (847) 290-5806 or visit www.thebuddyfoundation.org.