Purrfect results for "senior kitizens" day

Wednesday 06 June 2018

An initiative by the GSPCA and Pet Concern to re-home older cats with older citizens has been a huge success with at least three feline friends gaining new owners as part of the scheme.

Cats, like people, are living much longer these days and the GSPCA found it had a number of older cats in need of a quiet forever home to live out the rest of their years.

On Monday 4 June, the GSPCA and Pet Concern held the first senior cat re-homing event aimed at senior citizens. By early evening three cats had already been reserved as part of the scheme and the advertising of the event.

Steve Byrne, GSPCA Manager, said "We have around a dozen older cats or those with medical needs looking for a home and the Senior Kittizen and Senior Citizen is the first ever event of its kind we have held to help those animals in need. 

"Sometimes older people are put off from re-homing a cat as they feel they are not active enough or able to physically care for them which is such a shame as cats can bring so much love and companionship to a home and an elderly person."

One such lady was Marie Bichard, aged 87, who had sadly lost her much loved cat, Tilly, the previous weekend. She had thought she may be too old to get a new cat and was delighted to find out she could have a cat called Millie aged 11, who she bonded with immediately.

Mrs Bichard said: "I have had cats all my life and have been so sad since I lost Tilly as she was great company and always there to greet me. My home is all set for a cat  and I am really excited to have Millie."

"Cats are great, I talk to them all the time and they don't talk back."

Anna Paint Senior Animal Care Assistant said "We recently had a meeting to discuss how to find our older cats a home and decided that running a special night might just help find them that forever home.

"We have some great links with the Pet Concern team that help a number of islanders care for their pets and they too want to help us find some of our older cats find a forever home." 

Pictured: Jingles the cat

"We have older cats like Jingles who is hyperthyroid and has been with us since March last year, to cats like 9-year-old Captain Jack who has allergies and has been with us since last January.

"We are hoping that holding a Senior Kittizen and Senior Citizen evening it could just help one of these lovely older cats find their forever home."

Express is pleased to report that 'Jingles' also found a new home and will be enjoying the company of her new family as soon as her medical conditions are stabilised.

Pictured: Marie Bichard and her new cat Millie inset