Retired Man Looking for Companion Pet Adopts 18-Year-Old Cat: 'Loves Her'

In a tale of resilience and newfound happiness, a cat has finally found her forever home at the age of 18—with a fellow retiree looking for a companion.

Franny ended up in the care of a shelter following the death of her previous owner. Alongside her, other senior cats who had shared her previous home were also taken in, but despite their shared circumstances, Franny didn't form a strong bond with them.

Her story was shared in a video published on TikTok in February by the shelter, under the username rspcacanterbury.

The viral clip comes with a caption that says: "A lot of you may have seen the previous video of our 18-year-old Franny and wondering if there is any update! Franny will be going to her forever home next week where she will be given all the love. We are over the moon and we think she will be too! Enjoy your retirement Franny!" It was followed by: "Good news for Franny - we love when the oldies get a chance."

Scarlett Howard, the animal rehoming coordinator at the RSPCA in Canterbury, told Newsweek: "18-year-old Franny came into our care as unfortunately her owner passed away... We got her seen by our vets and had all her bloods checked and she was in perfect health - even her teeth were great!!

Despite her good health and gentle nature, Franny faced challenges in finding a new home. Her age proved to be a significant barrier, with many potential adopters overlooking her in favor of younger cats.

Nothing solidified until a previous adopter, a retired gentleman, decided that Franny's age did not diminish her potential as a loving pet.

"Since going home she has climbed on his countertops and likes to sleep in the day in her favorite spots. At night she likes nothing more than to cozy with him on his bed - he loves her!" Scarlett said.

Franny's adoption issues were not unique to her—older animals often remain in shelters for longer periods.

Each year, 6.3 million pets enter U.S. shelters, which is an average of 17,260 a day, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The number of dogs and cats taken in by pet shelters hit 46,807 during January 2023, an increase of 1,744 compared with January 2022, the 24Pet Shelter Watch Report found.

Around 920,000 surrendered animals are euthanized every year. Shelters are striving to minimize euthanasia rates by promoting adoption campaigns, spaying and neutering programs, and behavior rehabilitation.

The video quickly went viral on social media, getting viewers from across TikTok. It has so far received over 6,000 views and 1,000 likes on the platform.

One user, Fin, commented: "When I'm in my early 20s I'm giving older cats second chances because every baby deserves a home."

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