Hi…sorry for your loss..Losing 2 of your family members so close apart is devastating. In 2015 my mom passed and I moved from New Mexico to Washington State. At 55 I didn’t know a lot about how to approach such a big change, but I knew one thing for sure. A year prior my beloved f Tuxedo, Mouse was snatched from the yardaring by what I was pretty sure was a hungry Coyote, but it could have been a Mountain Lion as well.. Irregardless I was devastated and sad. Preparing to move I was sure of 1 thing! That as soon as I could I would find another Tuxedo cat to fill the hole in my heart and ease the transition of the move. Well, long story short, I found the Silverdale animal shelter and as they had an abundance of cats who needed homes and a small notice had been placed in a local free publication announcing a free cat adoption day for the up coming weekend. Well I almost missed it as it was just on Saturday and I just happened to call to verify that Sunday would be open for the event and was informed that today was the only day and I had only 4 he ours before closing and I was at least 45 minutes away? Well it must have been meant to be as I became the daf’ to Rocko a 5 year old man/boy who had maybe lost his home perhaps due to a death.. I will say with our hesitation that now over 10 years later, thatI couldn’t be happier with perhaps the sweetest, most perfect companion to this 65 year old guy. I realize that he is looking into the Twilight and 20 will be a pretty long life if that’s his fate..So far he has been hanging tough and other than a touch of feline diabetes he still runs and jumps and a picture of heath and contentment. My recommendation would be ‘full steam ahead’ and go out there and find a nice rescue cat, most of the Shelter as re online and keep an updated section on the dogs and cats available for adoption and any associated fees or spay/neuter /vaccination info. These animals are not the products of puppy mills and are used to loving homes and are carefully screened to insure thoughtful placement… they don’t really euthanize excess animals who end up homeless..they make huge efforts to find homes and provide Healthy, sound animals that aren’t fixed, or aggressive animals, perhaps abused. The other huge difference in a modern shelter is that donations as readily accepted and used to provide quality Vet care and even the license is provided depending on where the animal will be living. When I got Rocko they provided a lifetime license for my town of Port Orchard for either 5$ or $10? and current required vaccines included,. The shelters if crowded will move animals to less crowded facilities to insure no animals are ever put down. The care and planning is quite remarkable including when fires or other disasters happen, the shelters are already moving animals to less impacted areas with full contingency plans to provide seamless care…So I wholeheartedly endorse the Shelter system and what is it has evolved into…good luck in finding your next pet!

I am 80 yo and lost my beloved cat at 17 you. I wanted another as a companion for my 14 y o cat. After thinking about it and talking to my friend, we decided I would go to Animal Rescue League in our city and choose a male kitty for all of us. That was 2 months ago and we have all fallen in love with him. He is now 9 months old and a little more rambunctious than I wanted, but I wouldn’t give him up for anything now. He’s our funny boy and has brought a lot of joy and laughs to our lives. He is crawling up on me as I speak..lol. he is the most loving and playful boy, so we made no mistake in choosing him. He has a very slight cleft lip, and I kind of worried he may not get adopted. His sister in perfect condition was adopted a week earlier. If anything should happen to me my friend, who already loves him, will take him and my girl kitty, and give them both a loving home. Don’t be afraid to adopt at our older age, just make sure you have made plans for them. I haven’t smiled and laughed so much.

I inherited a RagDoll from family – it was VERY tough moving from home, land, garden to an apt!! This sweet little boy (almost 6) made that “move” SO much better!! So I’m researching the BEST food for my little lover — to allow him to live a long sweet healthy life!! Glad he’s inside only!!

Thanks for the suggestion!

Hi Lisbeth! You can learn a lot about it in our article on the best DNA tests for cats!

I have had 2 sisters that were the greatest unfortunately I lost Mabel last year to cancer. Marney her sister will probably have the same fate as she has been diagnosed with cancer.