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Most adopting families tend to lean towards pets who are on the younger side. Senior pets are oftentimes overlooked and sometimes not even considered when deciding on a new family member. So, are you looking to adopt a pet soon but you aren’t sure if you should get a young little fella or an older wise one? This blogpost will hopefully help you with your decision! 

There are a lot of upsides to adopting a senior pet. The biggest one is that they have passed and outgrown their hyper and destructive phase. This doesn’t mean that senior pets can’t be playful, but they are definitely on the calmer, more reserved side compared to younger pets. This is why senior pets are usually preferred for people who are a bit older or people who generally live a calm lifestyle. 

Next is the fact that a lot of the basic skills have already been taught. For instance, potty training won’t be needed when introducing your pet to their new environment. Older pets already know that, when it’s time to go, they’ll know to go outside. This saves the adopter a lot of time and stress. This doesn’t mean that senior pets can’t learn new things! You can always teach them new things outside of the basics. 

Every adoption agency is against breeding. There are currently too many unwanted pets looking for homes. Therefore, adoption centers and facilities practice population control. This means senior pets will already be spayed, neutered and oftentimes fully vaccinated with the core vaccines, including rabies. This will save you a lot of unnecessary costs. 

Lastly, consider yourself a hero! Way too many pets get abandoned and euthanized after failing to find a home. Every pet deserves to stay at a loving and caring home for the remainder of their years. The love you are bound to share might even inspire others to go out and adopt a senior pet themselves.

sources:

Foust, M. (2023, March 2). Local animal shelters give senior pets a second chance during Senior Pet Month – Webster Journal. Webster Journal. https://websterjournal.com/2022/11/06/local-animal-shelters-give-senior-pets-a-second-chance-during-senior-pet-month/ 

Hospital, O. R. A., & Hospital, O. R. A. (n.d.). 10 reasons senior doggos are the best. Orchard Road Animal Hospital. https://www.orchardroadanimalhospital.com/services/dogs/blog/10-reasons-senior-doggos-are-best 

BC SPCA. (2024, January 5). Senior animals make great pets. https://spca.bc.ca/news/senior-animals-make-great-pets/ 

I never thought I would be writing this. Growing up, I was never allowed to have pets in the house. It was my childhood dream, and  eventually, I found a way to make it work. Both my sister and mother are religious and they strive to follow the Islamic path.

 In Islam, pets are generally not permitted in the house, with one notable exception, cats. I didn’t know this at first, but when I decided I actually wanted to adopt a pet, I had to find a way to convince my mom and sister. So, I did my research and found promising reasons that supported my case for having an animal.

Cats hold a special status in the Islamic culture.
Unlike many other animals, cats are considered clean in Islam, and cleanliness is a core principle in the religion. For example, before entering a mosque, Muslims are required to cover themselves, wear a headscarf (for women) and leave their shoes outside to avoid bringing dirt inside. However, cats are allowed to enter mosques freely because they are ritually pure and they are believed to carry blessings (barakah).

As the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “It is not impure; rather, it belongs to those who walk around you.”

One famous story from the life of the Prophet Muhammad illustrates the love and respect for cats in Islam. It is believed that the Prophet had a beloved cat named Muezza. On one occasion, when Muezza was peacefully sleeping on the sleeve of the Prophet’s robe, He chose to cut off his sleeve rather than disturb her.

The Prophet Muhammad also said: “A woman was punished in Hell because she imprisoned a cat until it died of hunger. She did not give it food or water, nor did she allow it to hunt for itself.” This hadith is a powerful reminder of the responsibility of Muslims have to take care of their pets.

I’m glad to have learned the teachings of the Prophet and discovered that cats are more important than I initially thought. As I continue to live with my two beloved cats, I am constantly reminded of the blessings that come with this special bond I share with them.

Sources

Wikipedia contributors. (2024, 19 november). Islam and cats – Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_and_cats

Katten als huisdier nemen – Al-Yaqeen. (2013, 13 maart).
https://www.al-yaqeen.com/va/overige/katten-als-huisdier-nemen/

Bukhari, M. (Trans. M. Muhsin Khan). (n.d.). Sahih al-Bukhari (Vol. 1).
https://sunnah.com/bukhari