Elderly Cats Saved Thanks to Cat Retirement Village

Britt
by Britt
Published:  June 10th, 2024
Photo credit: ROBERT ENRIQUEZ / Shutterstock.com

Animal shelters and rescue organizations often struggle to find homes for older cats, leaving them at risk for euthanasia. However, a UK rescue is stepping up to address this growing problem and offer a new ray of hope for senior cats caught up in the rescue world.


Shropshire Cat Rescue is a large regional cat rescue and rehoming organization that has been providing shelter, veterinary care, and compassion for stray, abandoned, and otherwise “unwanted” cats since 1989.


Recognizing the growing number of elderly cats needing assistance during their most vulnerable years, the organization decided to create a sanctuary specifically for these aging kitties. Known as the Retirement Village, it consists of six luxury cat chalets, each designed to house up to four cats. Additionally, a larger house, called “Moggies Mansion,” extends the number of lives they can change.


Cats housed in the Retirement Village are weighed and vet-checked weekly, allowing the organization to provide for all their medical needs. They are also groomed as needed.


“The shelter was intended to create an area for cats who were too elderly or had ongoing health conditions that needed regular treatment and monitoring to live out their days in comfort,” explained Susie, a volunteer vet with the organization.


Each of the cat chalets features comfortable beds with cozy pillows and blankets, litterboxes, and shelter from the elements. A cat door on the front allows the cats to explore outside in the Retirement Village, where they can bask in the sunshine and enjoy the fresh air. Plus, once a month local children visit the sanctuary to spend time with the cats, reading to them and providing much-needed socialization.


“It also opened the door for people who had elderly cats and were going into a nursing home and couldn’t take them with them,” explained Susie. “It gives a different option and eases a stressful upsetting time by finding somewhere the cats could live out their final days.”


Occasionally, cats from the Retirement Village are adopted into new homes, but most of the residents will live out the remainder of their lives happy and healthy under the organization’s care.


While the Shropshire Cat Rescue’s Retirement Village is located in the UK, there are other similar sanctuaries operating in the United States. In Lutz, Florida, Terry and Bruce Jenkins created their own retirement community, Cats Cradle, in their backyard. This community began with a repurposed children’s “Frontierland” play area, including a hotel, a general store, a saloon, and a sheriff’s office.


“Most of them have come from hardship situations, and we don’t adopt out,” explained Terry. “Our mission is to rescue senior cats that need a home.”


Since they created their retirement community, the couple has rescued and cared for over 350 cats, providing them with the best possible quality of life during their golden years. The cats come into their care largely through veterinarian’s offices and private homes when their owners are no longer able to provide care for their beloved furry family members.


You can make a donation on their website or join their Guardian Angels program, committing to monthly donations to access 24-hour live streaming of the cats.


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Britt
Britt

Britt Kascjak is a proud pet mom, sharing her heart (and her home) with her “pack” which includes her husband John, their 2 dogs – Lucifer and Willow – and their 2 cats – Pippen and Jinx. She has been active in the animal rescue community for over 15 years, volunteering, fostering and advocating for organizations across Canada and the US. In her free time, she enjoys traveling around the country camping, hiking, and canoeing with her pets.

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 On St. Patrick’s Day, everything is in green – people wear green outfits, put up green decorations, even drink green beer, and it seems that one pooch from Florida wanted to join in on the fun. Born exactly on St Patty’s Day, one Golden Retriever from a seemingly usual litter of pups sported green fur instead of the usual cream color! He was aptly named Shamrock for his emerald hair and became an internet star overnight for the same reason.Carole DeBruler, the owner of the Golden Treasures Kennel in Pensacola, Florida, was the first to snap photos of the incredible puppy, just moments after it was born. “It was so shocking when we saw her”, she said, adding that the little doggo was clearly “born lucky”. DeBruler filmed a detailed video of the puppy, posting it on the popular platform TikTok, where it quickly garnered over 8 million views. Of course, DeBruler was quick to explain the strange phenomenon at play here. The puppy was most likely stained with biliverdin, which was caused by bile in the womb of the dog's mom. It goes without saying that doggos don’t come with green fur, but the reason for this phenomenon is a natural, albeit rare occurrence. The condition is absolutely harmless and went away on its own as little Shamrock grew older.  DeBruler emphasized that Shamrock is completely healthy and happy, and just a tiny bit smaller than the rest of the puppies in the litter. In a follow-up video, a few weeks later, it was clear that Shamrock’s unique lime green color faded, but that his "feisty personality is just getting stronger."

First Pet Lounge Launched at Chinese Airport

Flying with pets can be stressful, from navigating security screening and busy airports to keeping your pet safe and settled on the flight. But Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport in China has decided that it’s time to make some changes to pet-friendly travel.After recognizing that a growing number of pets are traveling through the airport, it was decided that there was a demand for pet-specific accommodations. As a result, they created the first pet waiting lounge in the country, offering a comfortable place for pets to wait during layovers, flight delays, or unexpected cancellations.The lounge features 24-hour surveillance, temperature and humidity monitoring with alerts, and location tracking. It is regularly staffed and patrolled by pet specialists and offers both on-demand feeding and remote medical services as needed.The facility is approximately 2260 square feet (210 square meters) and was designed with pets in mind. It offers separate dog and cat zones, a pet entertainment area, and dedicated waiting spaces.“Pets are often treated as ‘live cargo’ in air transport, but the ‘furry children’ have already become members of many families,” explained Zhou Jie, general manager of Shenzen Airport Domestic Cargo Terminal. “The establishment of the pet lounge has changed the mode of mixed transport of pets and air cargo in the past. Based on the digital platform and internet of things technology, a remote medical diagnosis system and epidemic prevention measures have been introduced to provide pets with foster care, nursing, and other services to ensure their safety and comfort.”While this is the first pet-specific lounge in China, it’s not the first to be built worldwide. Several other airports have created specialized services to care for pets traveling through their doors or are near pet-focused accommodations.Directly next to Los Angeles International Airport, Kennel Club LAX provides luxury amenities for pet visitors, including a high-end pet hotel, grooming, spa treatments, training, a play area, and other activities to ensure that furry travelers enjoy the best possible experience during their stay. Soothing music helps to create a relaxing environment, and a dedicated free shuttle will ensure your pet doesn’t miss their flight.Another US-based example is the ARK at John F Kennedy Airport in Queens, New York. Unlike Kennel Club LAX, the ARK is airport-owned and operated – the only such facility currently operating in the country.In addition to dog and cat zones, the ARK offers care for horses, birds, and livestock. The ARK Pet Oasis, dedicated to caring for companion animals, features spacious kennels with 24-hour observation. Pets are provided with food, water, crate cleaning, opportunities for outdoor relief, and, if you choose to add the service, a bath. They are also uniquely qualified to assist with U.S. Customs Clearance.A USDA Level II certified veterinarian is on-site to provide care in the event of illness or emergency. When required, pets can be transported off-site to a nearby veterinary hospital.Dedicated pet lounges and facilities like those listed here are the exception. However, travel-loving pet parents across the country and worldwide can celebrate the fact that new accommodations continue to be developed and opened for pet travelers. We look forward to a pet-friendly future at airports everywhere!Join the PetGuide community. Get the latest pet news and product recommendations by subscribing to our newsletter here.

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