Most domestic cats live an average of around 20 years or so, but Thomas – he’s made it to the ripe old age of 26. Sadly, his owners could no longer take care of him and surrendered the senior cat to the shelter.
Last month, Thomas was surrendered to the Baltimore County Animal Shelter suffering from a few “senior health issues,” The shelter knew that a cat of his age was going to be hard to adopt out because people often wanted to adopt younger cats or kittens.
Thankfully, after the shelter put up a Facebook post explaining Thomas’ situation, Laura Cassiday with Animal Allies Rescue Foundation (AARF) saw it and knew that the cat had to become part of her family, no matter what time he had left.
“Pretty much when I saw ’26’ I knew there was no way I was leaving him there,” Cassiday said. “I coordinated with AARF and picked him up on Thursday.”
Cassiday also happens to volunteer with The Feline Rescue Association and the Maryland Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), so it was only natural to welcome Thomas into her home, along with her six other rescue cats.
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Knowing that the old cat needed a bit of stability in his life, Cassiday was happy to take him in and be a part of her family “for the rest of his days.” But, it wasn’t going to be easy to take care of such an elderly cat.
The shelter says that Thomas suffers from “severe dental disease, arthritis, hyperthyroidism, and an abnormal liver” and a veterinarian found that the elderly cat has a mass that could possibly be a tumor, so, Cassiday said, “we honestly have no idea how much longer he even has.” However, he’s “otherwise in fairly decent shape for an old man.”
Often working at animal shelters, Cassiday knows all too well that senior cats like Thomas often don’t have a second chance.
“Pretty much every day at work I hear, ‘Where are the puppies, kittens?'” she said. The older animals, who generally have medical problems, are passed by “in favor of cuter, younger ones.”
Cassiday wishes that more people would consider taking a chance on an animal that might otherwise not have a second (or third, or fourth) chance at life. Those are the often the ones that need the most love and attention.
“The shy ones, the old ones, the ones that hide in the back of their cages, the ones that just don’t stand out,” Cassiday says, are “the ones that need you the most and have just as much love to give as any other pet.”
Thomas wasn’t entirely sure about his new surroundings at first, but it wasn’t long before he warmed up and wanted a bit of affection.
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Now, the old kitty has his very own Facebook page – The Adventures of Thomas the 26-Year-Old Cat. Cassiday is documenting the sweet cat’s life, which will serve as an absolutely beautiful way to remember him when he crosses over the Rainbow Bridge.
“I’m getting more comfortable in my new home. I love to eat and I purr all the time. It sure is tough to adjust to a new home after 26 years but I’m doing a good job with the help of my new mom,” a Facebook post reads.
Thanks to Laura Cassiday, this beautiful 26-year-old cat will spend the rest of his days surrounded by comfort, safety, and love. We applaud her for taking a chance on Thomas.
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