What do you think about pets for seniors?

Brookswood said:
I would add don’t go put it through aggressive efforts to extend its life when the end is near just to prevent the human from feeling badly. Letting it pass, or putting the animal out of its misery is far better than extending the misery.
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Agreed. They don't understand "tomorrow". They just know they suffer today, and human need and ego won't make it better. My 19 year old Chow suffered a stroke that left her unable to stand up. I could have put her in the car and hauled her to the vet to try and improve things. But...she was 19 and HATED riding in the car, so I had the vet come to the house and put her to rest, with her head in my lap a she went. I loved her too much to let her suffer.
 

Buffy did something so brave before she died. I was able to retrace what happened. She peed in her litter box, which she couldn't do the night before; then she went to my room and jumped on my bed which she hadn't been able to do for awhile. The exertion killed her, but she did what she wanted to do. Proud of her and will love her for however long I have left.
 
fuzzybuddy said:
I wound up with 3 cats. After about 15 years, they all passed. That was extremely traumatic for me. Considering my health, and who would want a houseful of cats, I decided not to get any more pets. What do you think about pets for seniors? Yeah, they are comforting bundles of furs, but can you take care of them? And what happens to them, if you can't?
After my cats passed, I was hospitalized for months, it would not have been easy finding a home for 3 cats.
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I think one cat or dog are tremendous company. It's according to health and circumstances. I do know people with several pets and that strikes me as rather risky as well as expensive. We do have to plan for if we are sick and in bed. Lately I was in bed for 3 days with vertigo, I absolutely couldn't have taken care of our dog, couldn't even walk, lucky my husband was fit and well.
 

Pepper said:
Buffy did something so brave before she died. I was able to retrace what happened. She peed in her litter box, which she couldn't do the night before; then she went to my room and jumped on my bed which she hadn't been able to do for awhile. The exertion killed her, but she did what she wanted to do. Proud of her and will love her for however long I have left.
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Cats have great wisdom.
 
Not for me! I only like the 2-legged pets. They are more fun and carry on a more intelligent conversation. You can only do so much discussions with bow-wow, ark, ark and moew, moew!
 
It has been about 46 years since we adopted the parrot you see at your left, and she thrives to this day. She has seen many cats come and go. BTW those cats have never posed a threat to her. I suspect she scares them. In the event she outlives us her bird vet has offered to find her a new home.
 
Rose65 said:
I think one cat or dog are tremendous company. It's according to health and circumstances. I do know people with several pets and that strikes me as rather risky as well as expensive. We do have to plan for if we are sick and in bed. Lately I was in bed for 3 days with vertigo, I absolutely couldn't have taken care of our dog, couldn't even walk, lucky my husband was fit and well.
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Pets get lonely so having 2 is a great solution if you can afford it.
 
Teacher Terry said:
Pets get lonely so having 2 is a great solution if you can afford it.
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Oh yes indeed. Though some dog breeds like being an only. They like having their human's complete attention.
What I was concerned about is how some people have lots of cats or dogs. It's risky if you get ill to get care for them. A single cat or dog is less risk as a friend or neighbour could take them. If you get my meaning!

I know someone who has several dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters, fish - the place is a zoo! The costs must be huge and I doubt they could all be insured. If she fell ill, it could be disaster.
 
I may have mentioned this before, but just in case, retired seniors can make big bucks, as much as $20 an hour in high end neighborhoods, walking dogs and caring for them in the dog owners home while the owner is on vacation, or otherwise away. I know two who are very happily in the business.
 
ElCastor said:
I may have mentioned this before, but just in case, retired seniors can make big bucks, as much as $20 an hour in high end neighborhoods, walking dogs and caring for them in the dog owners home while the owner is on vacation, or otherwise away. I know two who are very happily in the business.
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What a great idea. Seniors helping seniors this way. We get exercise, and they get a needed service. I found this site where people go to "hook up". It looks like it is for those living in the U.S..

Rover Loving pet care in your neighborhood.
Book trusted sitters and dog walkers

There is an app for your smartphone also. :)

https://www.rover.com/
 
Someone who works for our local humane society once told me it was estimated that our small county had over 3000 stray cats. I also read that , living wild, their life expectancy was about three years.

In short, I think Pepper should have a cat! Get a kitten from the pound and if it has to go back to the pound some day it will have had a wonderful few years being Pepper's snuggle buddy.

I expect to see pictures by the end of today.

[Our last cat was a stray kitten. I could tell by his fascinated little face, watching me scoop his litter into the toilet, that he could have easily been trained to go in the toilet if I had left the lid up. He went into the tub next to it one day by standing on the edge.]
 
Paco Dennis said:
What a great idea. Seniors helping seniors this way. We get exercise, and they get a needed service. I found this site where people go to "hook up". It looks like it is for those living in the U.S..
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At least around here I believe it‘s mainly seniors helping the employed. Dogs get walked while the owner is at work, and additional care when the owner is on vacation.
 
My Papa had grown up with pets. So, he carried on once married. Which means I grew up with pets. Once I got married myself, I'd miss not having pets, so got them again.

As you know I'm in my 60s now and with hubby gone, we've had our wee black cat for a year come September. We'd be too lonely without at least one. Cats are easy maintenance, good food, a multitude of sleeping places (so don't bother with a bed for them, wasted money).

A couple of important items, the scratch posts attached to a box (which is called a cat tree) for exercise, a sleeping place, a gym to play with a ball on stretchy string. Two floors, two litter boxes with wood natural pellets.

Plenty of good ceramic bowls for food and one luxury item, a stainless steel fountain with filters.

Happy kittoo sleeping on the Ikea shelf unit, his favourite spot.

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We've had dogs all our married life,,mostly, Boston Terriers.

Three years ago our 12 year old female died.

A few days later started looking for an older female Boston Terrier.
Due to the COVID,, small dog prices were sky high.
Shelters had large dogs,mostly pit bull mixes.

After 5 months we saw an ad for Boston Terrier puppies for sale.
We called & said we would take him.

He just turned 3 years old in Jan.
My husband still calls him by our old dog's name.

Yes,,, he was & is a lot of work.
I hope one of our sons will take him after we are gone.
 
I cannot imagine living without pets. I used to have 4 Boxers, but this month I'll be 88 and I start downsizing. While I weigh 165 pounds, their combined weight is 245 pounds and that's all I can handle. Sure, I have a working wife and kids who are in touch with me daily; but my pups are my 24/7 buddies. 95% of the time, they want to be within 5 feet from me. Sometimes they can be a real pest, but I love it. Dogs adjust themselves to the temperament of the owner, and mine are amazingly calm like myself.

I heard talk about the costs of having pets. Well, besides getting neutered and spayed, my pups practically never see a Vet because they never get sick. I take care of minor problems myself, like shots, deworming, ear mites, etc. I never had a pet insurance. Licenses are $12 per dog per year. I buy always 3 different kinds of food at the lower end, plus one more expensive bag.

Covid caused the food prices almost to double. I buy now typically 48 pound bags around $30 - $35 at Sam's Club or Tractor Supplies. Having pups has never crippled me financially. We do have a large yard for exercise, I am walking and hiking with the pups every day for 2 hours, and they sleep in my bedroom. Actually, they are spending perhaps 95% of the time together with me. Living within a secure pack is beneficial for their health.

I expect to outlive my pets. But if it happens otherwise: my kids grew up with dogs, they have now their own dogs, and they would gladly adopt my dogs as well. BTW, because of coyotes, we never dared to have smaller dogs than Boxers, my
smallest weighing 65 pounds while a coyote in our area weighs no more than 40 pounds. And at night, my dogs are always inside the house.

My bottom line: walking with my pups two hours a day is keeping me healthy and is increasing my lifespan. Without my dogs, I would not have the energy to walk, or I would be too afraid of crime. So, my dogs actually are keeping me healthy and secure.

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JBR said:
Do you think cats are intuitive, as well? If so, is that different from their wisdom, or part of it?
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Yes dear @packleader we went out today. As soon as we arrived back home CoffeeBean came to see both of us, meowing what sounded like "Wow, I'm so glad you're home..." Purring, body rubs, tail hugs the lot. Sat by his treat box put a paw on it and meowed "treat".

Then after we'd put everything away, we had lunch. Sitting between the two of us, he enjoyed nibbling on the slices of roast beef sticking out of our sandwiches.

Once completed, he laid down his head on my leg and his backside on daughter's arm. Stretched comfortably, he promptly fell asleep.

They know and learn your routine very quickly and are pleased to come and tell you that they've done their business in their litter box. They enjoy watching you cleaning it out.

CoffeeBean is always into everything we do. Prime example, we've an aid bench across our bath. When we take a shower, you've just turn around and there on the bench is kitty keeping an eye on you. He loves it!

They're more with you than a dog. Sorry, but I've seen the differences over the decades I've had both as pets. Dogs are great for protection and fantastic for the disabled persons.

If you're relatively healthy and able bodied a kitty kat, is quiet (no barking 😂) cuddle buddy and full of love. An adorable wee fury companion to have... Sorry!
 
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