There are so many short and long-term benefits to enjoy when it comes to owning a pet. Their constant love, support and companionship can improve everything from physical health to mental health, all of which increases the all-important well-being.
With all of this in mind, it’s not hard to see why people look to adopt pets. While a lot of individuals look into adopting puppies or young cats, they are overlooking a key demographic- older and senior pets.
Offering an older animal a second chance allows you to enjoy the benefits of a pet that understands basic commands and has a whole lot of love to give. With older pets, you can truly feel the love and joy straight away.
8 benefits of adopting an older pet
When looking to adopt a pet it can be easy to gravitate towards young cats or dogs that have their whole life ahead of them. While the benefit is longevity, there are a few downsides such as increased demands for training and supervision.
By adopting an older pet, you get the love and companionship without the neediness that goes hand in hand with youth.
While you might be against adopting an older pet because you want to spend as much time with a pet as possible, there are benefits to consider. Plus, it’s always good to know that you are saving a life by giving an older pet a second chance at love, companionship and happiness.
- Less demanding
One of the great things about adopting an older pet is that they are generally less demanding than their younger counterparts. While puppies and kittens require lots of love, attention and supervision, older pets know how to act.
Older pets are typically a lot more mellow too. This essentially means that they have grown out of the stage of needing constant attention, playtime, exercise time or sneaky snacks here and there.
- Have basic training
Generally speaking, older pets waiting for adoption have basic training down pat. So, not only are they housebroken but they also know basic commands such as sit and stay. This is great news for prospective adoptive parents.
With this basic training laying the foundation for the pet’s behaviours, there is an inherent level of trust. In addition to this, your new pet already knows these basic commands means you have to spend less time training them.
- Save money
When it comes to older pets you can save money by adopting them. In most cases, these pets will already be vaccinated. Further, as the pet is older you won’t need to pay for things like puppy school.
- Great for any age
Another big positive in terms of adopting a senior pet is that these animals can be trusted around kids of all ages. While you can never be sure what a young dog or cat will do with a baby, the temperament of older pets makes them great for everyone ranging from kids to seniors.
- Loyal
At the heart of all senior pets who have been adopted is a feeling of gratefulness. In everyday life, this will translate into a pet who is loyal and loving. This means that your pet might follow you from room to room. It also means that your pet might be more receptive to your commands.
- Calmer
There is a sense of calmness that descends over pets as they age. Rather than getting excited about every little thing, older pets can temper their reactions and their needs depending on the environment. All of which leads to a calmer home life.
- Wiser
When adopting an older pet there is the saying that they are old enough to know better and young enough to learn. So, while your older / senior pet might be wiser, it’s good to know that they can still learn new things such as picking up a new sport or a new trick.
- Established personality
With older pets, what you see is what you get. They already have an established personality and their own likes and dislikes. With younger pets, all of these things can change with the passage of time. With older pets, this stability is a huge bonus, particularly if you have young kids.
Caring for an older pet
Older pets can offer households a lot of different benefits. These benefits are different to the ones you would get with a younger pet. With this in mind, caring for an older pet is also a little different than caring for a younger pet.
For example, older pets like their space and will do well if they have a safe and comfortable space they can retreat to.
In terms of caring for an older pet, it’s also important to consider elements relating to mobility. Does your house have a lot of stairs? If so, are there ways to negate these steps by installing things like ramps?
When thinking about mobility, you should also adjust your pet’s exercise routine to ensure that the activity isn’t too strenuous for ageing bones.
Older pets are a little more sensitive to weather events such as extreme heat or freezing cold conditions. As these events can happen anywhere in the world, it’s important to think about the protection you can offer an older pet during these periods.
Is there a way to have them sleep safely and soundly inside? In addition to this, think about ways to keep them properly hydrated and fed.
Another important aspect of caring for an older pet is ensuring that they have regular access to vets and groomers. The vet will be able to keep track of any changes in terms of lumps or weight gain.
The groomer will be able to keep your pet’s coat and nails under control to ensure that your pet can look good and feel comfortable.
Why you should adopt an older pet
Pets can infuse the lives of humans with so much love and joy. For some people, adopting a younger pet makes sense, they have the time and energy to train a pet in both basic commands and etiquette.
For others, adopting an older pet is more suited. With time constraints but a whole lot of love to give, owners can change the lives of older pets who are sitting and waiting to be adopted. A fact that your pet will never forget once you bring them home.
