Laugh. Learn. Love cats.
The past two weeks have been kind of hectic around here, because Aunt O was on vacation, and the head peep was taking care of Cousin Shep and Cousin Earl. That meant she was taking time to hang out with them instead of us. We were totally getting two-timed.
We guess we can’t complain too much, they are our cousins, after all. And Aunt O takes really good care of us when the head peep travels.
Shep: Hello, birdies!
Earl: Does this mat make me look fat?
It’s been a while since we checked in with Cousin Earl. He is living a lot of the good life these days. Unfortunately, cats with three legs have to distribute all of their weight onto their remaining limbs, and that makes Cousin Earl’s weight a real concern. While everykitty should watch their figure for health reasons, we want to be sure that Earl doesn’t end with a higher chance of arthritis or other issues in his joints from the extra weight, so we’re discussing the best way to put a kitty who loves his kibble onto a diet that satisfies his big appetite. We’ll keep you posted how it goes.
Seniors are living independently in their homes for longer than ever these days, and sometimes their best friend and constant companion really is a dog or cat. A study in the Journal of American Geriatrics said that seniors living independently who have pets tend to have better physical and mental well-being than those who don’t. They have shorter hospital stays and lower healthcare costs than seniors with no pets, and they are more active and are better at coping with stress.
Cousin Earl was the much-loved companion to our grandpeep in her final years.
Yet aging issues can make it difficult for seniors to keep their pets healthy the way they once did. Caregivers for seniors need a good understanding of resources available to help, and to have a realistic assessment of the situation.
A growing number of groups around the country help through outreach mostly through organizations that seniors already use to help them assist seniors who are already enrolled in other senior assistance programs with help for their pets, too. For example, the Pet Food Pantry in Orlando, FL, run by the Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando, delivers packages of pet food to seniors and their pets who are on fixed income, allowing the seniors to be sure that their pets are getting better nutrition than table scraps. They also provide basic annual vaccinations and spay/neuter surgeries. Since pets are sometimes a senior’s sole companionship, they may not have anyone to take care of their beloved companions if the senior becomes incapacitated. The group also includes an option that Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando will care for the senior’s pet if the senior becomes incapacitated.
How can you find a group like this in your area? You probably haven’t heard of them even if they are there, so you may have to ask around. Since this type of group usually partners with groups that provide services to seniors, try contacting your area’s county senior programs, church senior programs, meals on wheels, and even ask your veterinarian. You can also contact your local hospital to find out who their social workers refer to at discharge.
With all the benefits that pets can bring to seniors, let’s help them be sure they can spend their golden years together.
