Image Credit: STOCKSNAP
January 29, 2022 - 6:06 PM
An animal rescue is pairing up older cats with older humans to help with loneliness in the South Okanagan.
The Seniors for Seniors program is for elderly folks who live alone and would like to share their space with a mature cat. It’s run by Happy Tails Cat Rescue in Oliver, though their services extend as far north as Kelowna.
“It’s the best of both worlds for cats and seniors – they get to spend their golden years relaxing with someone else,” founder Shari Rowland said. “It’s like a long-term foster situation. If the senior’s situation changes and they have to go into care or don’t like the cat then we take it back.”
Before connecting the senior cats with senior citizens, Happy Tails makes sure that cats are healthy with a check-up at the veterinarian. Also the cat rescue will help out with food and litter for seniors on a tight budget.
“We’ll provide the litter, food and scratch post – they just need to provide the love, care and attention.”
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Rowland said older cats generally have a tougher time getting adopted, and they prefer quieter spaces, so having them pair up with seniors addressed both of those issues.
12-year-old Mitzee
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One of the cats participating in the program is 12-year-old Mitzee who’s “quite happy” living with her senior, she said.
The shelter has taken in around 100 cats since it opened last spring, and currently there are just under 20 living there. However, all of the cats living there now are under the age of eight, so any seniors interested in the program will have to be placed on a waitlist.
“The availability of cats is limited to what we have. What comes in is what we have to offer.”
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However Rowland said spring time tends to be busy for cat rescue organizations so she’s anticipating an influx in the coming months.
Any older folks who would like to apply for Seniors for Seniors can fill out an application on the Happy Tails website here.
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