A Purr-fect Match: 101-Year-Old Woman Adopts 19-Year-Old Cat to Spend Last Days Together

A Purr-fect Match: 101-Year-Old Woman Adopts 19-Year-Old Cat to Spend Last Days Together
(Courtesy of Humane Society of Catawba County)
Epoch Inspired Staff
11/2/2021
Updated:
11/2/2021

A 19-year-old cat, at the tail-end of his life, found a new home after being surrendered to a shelter in Catawba County, North Carolina.

The cat, named Gus, has something in common with his new elderly owner: being 101 years old, she too is in the twilight years of life.

Gus’s previous owner, who had him since he was a kitten but could no longer provide care, surrendered the furry friend to the Humane Society of Catawba County (HSCC) in the second week of September.

With Gus’s impressive 19 years of age (133 in cat years), shelter staff were anxious to find him a new permanent residence as soon as possible.

(Courtesy of <a href="http://www.catawbahumane.org/">Humane Society of Catawba County</a>)
(Courtesy of Humane Society of Catawba County)

“Although Humane Society of Catawba County has a great staff and medical team, shelter life is very different to living in a home and can be very stressful, something we were very conscious of for Gus,” HSCC executive director Jane Bowers told The Epoch Times.

Medical staff at HSCC did bloodwork and tests on Gus and found that he was “relatively healthy” for his age.

Luckily, around the same time, they ran into an adoption match made in heaven; family members of the centenarian, Penny, visited the shelter in search of a cat of around her age.

“The family visited and immediately decided Gus was the one,” Bowers said. “At 133 years in human terms, it was a great match.”

(Courtesy of <a href="http://www.catawbahumane.org/">Humane Society of Catawba County</a>)
(Courtesy of Humane Society of Catawba County)

Fortunately for Gus, his new forever home is a perfect fit—for both cat and owner.

Penny, who lives with her family (who already have dogs), simply needed some extra company; in turn, Gus now has a roof over his head, a warm place to sleep, food, and a tender owner to care for him.

Sharing an update on Gus’s new situation on their Facebook page, the HSCC posted photos of the senior cat enjoying his new home with his human mom.

They captioned: “Our [heart]s are full with this beautiful adoption. Our 19-year-old (133 in human years) Great-GrandPAW, has found the loving arms of his new mamma who is the ripe young age of 101. Congratulations Gus-Gus! ?Wishing you the best days ahead watching squirrels and sharing your love and purrs!?”

(Courtesy of <a href="http://www.catawbahumane.org/">Humane Society of Catawba County</a>)
(Courtesy of Humane Society of Catawba County)
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