At the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria, cats and dogs who are over the age of 8 years old are designated as seniors, meaning they receive special veterinary screenings to monitor their health as they progress through their later years. While an 8-year-old cat or dog is likely just as playful and active as their 4- or 5-year-old counterpart, some of the senior pets at our shelter have a greater distinction. Each year we see a few super seniors, teenaged pets – in human years – who still show off their personalities and enjoy playtime and learning new skills, just at a slower pace and with more naps in between. Cali and best friends Lizzie and Slinky were just three of those special seniors who were adopted from our shelter recently, and their Happy Tails stories show that more years just mean more happy moments.

Cali

When planning to welcome a pet into the family, some adopters might look for a kitten or puppy, young and full of energy.  But when Christa Oxley decided she was ready to adopt, she knew she wanted something different. “I was looking to adopt an older kitty,” said Oxley, “one who had been in the AWLA for a while, and one who needed a good home.” Cali checked all those boxes.

Cali wore many hats during her time at the AWLA, both figuratively and literally. Since coming to the AWLA in May 2018, Cali enjoyed the company of our Book Buddy youth volunteers in the cat adoption room, supervised staff while staying in one of the shelter’s administrative offices and spent some time with one of our foster caregivers, enjoying a sunny room all her own. She posed for adoption photos but also served as a model for requests for donations and other outreach (which is where the hats came in).  But approaching her second anniversary with the AWLA, Cali headed back to the shelter in hopes of meeting her future family there, and in early January, that’s just what she did.

A seasoned cat owner, Oxley knew she could give Cali everything she needed to continue enjoying her senior years in a home of her own. After a brief period of settling in, Cali now hogs the bed, the couch and every other place she likes to cuddle with her family. She especially enjoys cozying up in her signature Cali Cocoons — any blanket she can burrow in. Oxley remembers during one of Cali’s first days home, she spent 30 minutes calling for Cali, worried the senior feline had somehow slipped out the front door, only to find her emerging from her blankets wondering why she had been woken up from her nap.

Photo courtesy of Christa Oxley.

Oxley’s favorite moments with Cali are the routines Cali has developed as part of the family. When Oxley walks toward the patio door, Cali meets her there, ready to enjoy a little fresh air through the screen. At night when Cali meows before bed, as many cats do, she lets her people then carry her to bed as if that is what she wanted all along. And now at 18 years old, Cali still enjoys playing with her laser pointer toy, even if she usually does it from the couch with her best friends right by her side.

 

Lizzie and Slinky

At 16 and 17 years old, Lizzie and Slinky have enjoyed a life of adventures, so why should should those adventures stop when they came to the AWLA? During their time at our shelter they enjoyed slow, meandering walks with our team of volunteers, many considering the pair of senior pups their favorites. Nothing brought a smile to Slinky’s face like the sound of a leash being brought to his kennel, except for a treat for course. Lizzie and Slinky didn’t find their new best friend right away, which brought more new experiences their way. They went on The Pet Show with Dr. Katy in case their future family was tuning in and learned about how to take the best “selfies” so they could share their photos on social media. Maybe their new best friend would scroll past.

Their hard work paid off because one sunny August day, Lizzie and Slinky headed home with their new best friend. And even after this, their greatest adventure so far, there was more to come. Although they still enjoy leisurely strolls, long naps and good treats, Lizzie and Slinky always have their nose to the ground in search of adventure. Sometimes these adventures would take them to nursing homes to cheer up residents and other times to playdates with their fellow senior pups. The pair can often be seen rolling along in a wagon pulled by their best friend sometimes smiling and sometimes napping as they go.

Throughout a life full of adventure, Lizzie and Slinky have always been side by side, going through all of the happy moments together. You can follow their adventures on with their Instagram account @TheAdventuresofLizzieandSlinky, a fitting name to share the stories of these pups’ golden years.

Photo courtesy of @TheAdventuresofLizzieandSlinky.