Pimp is 11, and every single year he gets better and better. The longer he’s with me, the more love he shows and the more grateful I am that I have him. He’s taught me a lot in his 11 years — a lot of it recently.

I have always adopted kittens, but I’m starting to see why older cats deserve to be adopted, too, and maybe even more. They have so much love left to give. And so without further ado …

1. Old men are not dirty.
You know the stereotype about dirty old men? Doesn’t apply to older cats. He knows where his litter box is, and doesn’t need to be taught. He doesn’t raid the garbage can like rambunctious kittens do, or knock over my glass of red wine in a fit of flying kitten fur.

2. A little gray is sexy.
Don’t you dare tell Pimp his gray whiskers aren’t sexy. He’s one good-lookin’ older dude! Maybe he’s not quite as shiny as he used to be, but he’s just as soft as ever … and just as cute.

3. Good food is one of the most important things in life.
(And so is good wine, but that’s for me, not Pimp. Ahem.) It’s crucial to feed older cats good food, because their tummies are more sensitive. But seeing how much different food affects Pimp has taught me that even younger cats need good food. You are what you eat … and you want your cat to be good, right?

4. It’s not picky, it’s “particular.“
You don’t need every toy in the world. Just because some new gadget comes out or there’s some fancy new model, it doesn’t mean that what you have isn’t perfectly fine. Some of Pimp’s favorite toys are older than his brother, Moo, and he’d rather play with them than anything new and flashy I get him. He doesn’t ask for much. :)

5. A comfy bed is better than any flashy toy.
Adding to No. 4, older cats realize that there are more important things than how many toys are in your toy basket. I used to get Pimp mice every year for his birthday, and he loved them, but lately I’ve gotten him things to make him comfy — and he uses them way more than all his toys combined! Soft beds = 20 hours a day. Fun toys = 30 minutes. (Don’t worry, he still gets tons of toys!)

6. Peace and quiet is underrated.
Pimpy says relax. Older cats are content to just lie around, lounge, and not create much ruckus. You don’t have to entertain them (or lose your nice curtains or favorite vase), and you don’t have to babysit them like kittens. They are easy and content to “just be” … so you can just be, too.

7. Love never stops growing.
Sure, your older cats may be done growing, and may actually be shrinking a little instead, but their hearts somehow keep expanding with more and more love. When Pimp looks at me, it’s with such love and adoration, and such happiness and sweetness. He knows he’s loved and he’ll always be taken good care of. He knows I’ll do whatever I can for him, for as long as he needs it. And he knows how lucky he is.

Older cats are extremely special. They often easily adjust to your home and don’t cause much trouble. If you have the room in your home and your heart, take a look at some of the senior pets in your area that need homes and go adopt one today. (Or tomorrow; I know you may need a day to get their comfy bed and good food ready …)

Sure, they may need some extra care as they age (for the record — Pimp is going to live forever. I’ve already informed him of this.), but the love you’ll get in return and the fulfilling, incredible feeling you’ll get from taking care of them will give you a ton of joy.

Think of your grandma or grandpa — you want them to be happy and comfortable in their sunset years, right? Older pets should have the same luxury!

Note from me: This cute was originally posted on my other blog, Your Daily Cute, but it got such a great response and I love it so much (but not as much as I love Pimp!), that I wanted to share it here, too, for more people to see.

Leave a comment if you have an older cat you love, too!