In 2016, Awoman adopted an old cat to "die gently," but the animal lived longer than intended. Julia, 27, decided to adopt an older cat after realizing she had room for a third.
Julia wanted to adopt an elderly cat to love for its last years, knowing that people normally choose younger animals.
Research show that older dogs and cats are less likely to be adopted than younger ones. Older animals are also more likely to return to shelters following adoption.
Some animals are returned to shelters after a decade because their owners change their minds, while others struggle to find a home.
"I knew I could handle it emotionally," Julia told Newsweek. "For some individuals knowing their pet will die is devastating, for me it is sad but not the end of the world."
She visited the local shelter and found their oldest cat, an 11-year-old who had been there for two years. She took her home and hid from her new owner.
"I didn't have a cat for four months," Julia added. "Cat food and water disappeared, and feces respawned in the toilet. I was used to having a phantom cat. While I cooked, she left her hiding once a day."
During month five, she came out more but still ran back into her hiding spot when her new owner moved. She ran away till month eight.
Julia became comfortable petting her new owner after a year. "If she dies tomorrow, my purpose is fulfilled—a elderly cat became comfortable in my house," she remarked.
Six years later, the geriatric cat is doing well. "My goal to give this animal a peaceful death failed, but I'm glad," she remarked. The senior cat remains healthy despite being diagnosed with allergies and FIV in 2021.
"She's not worried by her age," stated the owner. Since I found food that doesn't cause her allergies, I take her to the vet every six months for a checkup.
The heartwarming anecdote received hundreds of Reddit comments. "Love this tale. More individuals should adopt elderly pets "commenter. Another wrote: "Love rejuvenates. I guess so. Your affection made her kitten-like again."
"It's cute... You've nurtured the old girl to greater health, and she's kicking "replied again. Julia hopes her tale inspires others to adopt elderly pets.
"If you know you can manage your pet needing a lot of medical treatment and you know you can endure the death of the pet and concentrate not on them dying but on life you give them before they die, you should consider it," she added.
But, if you find yourself horrified by the prospect that your pet doesn't have many years left in them, or you aren't willing to spend a lot on food and doctor appointments,
you should definitely prefer to fostering or volunteering at your local shelter, donating, or simply adopting a young healthy pet."