What Age Cat Should I Adopt? Benefits & Risks At Each Life Stage Explained

You’ve decided it’s time to get a warm, fuzzy love ball – in essence, a cat. But there are so many unwanted cats up for adoption that it can be overwhelming to choose one. When selecting a cat, you might consider size, temperament, shedding, and other criteria, but the first issue to solve is how old you’d like the cat to be.

There are lots of different aspects to consider, but is there an ideal age to adopt a cat? All cats have something special to offer, regardless of age, but some considerations will help you make the best cat selection.

Adopting Cats at Different Lifestages Explained

Adopting Kittens

Kittens are so much fun, but they’re a lot of work, too. What’s the best age to adopt a kitten? The ideal age is 10-12 weeks, but if you are adopting a kitten from an animal shelter, they may need a new home when they are 8-10 weeks.

If you don’t have any other pets, you might want to consider bringing home a pair of kittens. Not only does it mean double the fun, but it means they will have company when you go out, and someone to engage in rough play with, sparing your hands and ankles from sharp teeth and claws.

Adopting Middle-Aged Cats

Adopting Elderly Cats

Cats over 10 are considered elderly. When considering whether to adopt an older cat or a young kitten, consider these issues:

Final Thoughts

Selecting a cat is such a personal issue. Considering whether an older cat or a young kitten fits your life is essential, and knowing the issues of each age will make your cat selection an easier task. Although the obvious appeal of an adorable, playful kitten is pretty hard to resist, if you want to be more confident about the health and temperament of your new pet, an adult might be the way to go. After all, they’re not kittens for long!

Giving a forever home to an older cat can be very rewarding, but you need to be prepared for the added costs and potential heartbreak this will likely entail.

In any event, adopting a cat in need from an animal shelter is a wonderful thing to do, and even better, you might want to think about adopting two!

Featured Image Credit: BearFotos, Shutterstock