Even Better with Age

CARSON CITY - If the saying "People get better with age" also applies to the animal kingdom, then Blue is a great cat.

At age 9 - old in cat years - Blue loves to be petted, but she also has arthritis, a condition that requires her to take daily medication in her food.

Even though her medical problem makes adoption difficult, Pet Network, an animal rescue group, hasn't given up on her.

On Sunday, Pet Network held a "senior" cat adoption fair at the local Petsmart store in Carson City. Unfortunately, none of the cats went home with a new owner.

Still, Pet Network isn't discouraged.

A long-haired gray and white snowshoe cat, Blue is among 10 senior cats up for adoption through the nonprofit animal rescue organization, which doesn't practice euthanasia.

"We had a lot of lookers but no takers unfortunately," said Beverly Keil, an Incline Village resident who volunteered at the event.

"Some of the senior cats need medication for arthritis or thyroid problems," Keil said. "That makes it harder to place them in homes."

However, they're still loving pets who need a good home, she said.

To encourage pet lovers to adopt senior cats with medical problems, Pet Network has joined forces with Pet Pharmacy in Incline Village, which sells discounted medication to prospective adopters and doesn't charge shipment fees.

All senior cats up for adoption have been spayed and neutered, vaccinated and house trained. They can be adopted for a $45 administrative fee. The cost of medication can average $30 a month. The adoption price for other pets runs up to $100.

"Unfortunately, we cannot give (the senior cats) endless shelter," said Suzanne Ewasko, development coordinator with Pet Network. "We have limited resources and need to make room for new pets."

Winter - being "cat season," when cats breed- is particularly bad, as shelters need to accommodate an influx of newborn kittens.

Despite the cost of medication, Ewasko says there are benefits to owning senior cats.

"They represent a shorter commitment," she said. "And they won't tear up your curtains. These are indoor cats, ideal for seniors and childless households without other pets."

Pet Network relies on private contributions from donors. Believing that euthanasia is wrong, it rescues pets from individuals who can longer care for their animals and overcrowded shelters that would otherwise kill unwanted pets to make room for new ones.

"We will keep the senior cats as long as necessary," Ewasko said. "But even someone who would give them temporary shelter would be nice."

Ewasko added, "People didn't see in these cats what we see, but on the other hand we don't want to force them on people who won't love the cats."

Pet Network actively works with animal shelters in Carson City, and some of its pets are available for adoption at Petsmart.

Ewasko encourages prospective owners to visit Pet Network in person before adopting. "Sometimes people have their heart set on a specific kind of cat, but when they come down here they find a cat - not necessarily the breed or color or gender they wanted - with a special twinkle in its eye."