'[I'm] running an old folks home for cats': After his owner passes, this cat is abandoned by his family, but a kind couple gives him a second chance and two senior friends for his purrfect retirement

Author image for Mariel Ruvinsky
Mariel Ruvinsky • Writer and Editor
Oct 5, 2026 11:00 AM EDT

Being abandoned at an old age is a heartbreak that no cat should experience. 

One thing that we always dread as cat owners is the day. The day that they will leave us. The day they will cross the rainbow bridge. We cannot imagine a worse pain. But there is a worse situation, and that is for your cat to lose you. Your adorable spoiled cat is entirely dependent on you - for their physical needs and their emotional ones. A cat losing their owner is something that no cat should experience, because they don't understand why their emotional tether is no longer with them. They just think they got abandoned. 

That is what happened to the cat in today's story, only that in Benjamin's case, it was even worse. After his owner passed, the owner's kids decided that they are willing to keep all of the younger cats, but him - a senior who should be living his best retirement - they abandoned. It was luck - or maybe the CDS - that had this kind couple find Benjamin. They took this brokenhearted kitty and gave him a second chance and a second family - with two pawrents who love him and two other senior cats to keep him company. 

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    "Just adopted this old boy!"

    HAPPY CORNER Emily's Filinver Shy Barble
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    EFX
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    Cheezburger Image 10667905792
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    Last Sunday my fiancé and I adopted this very sweet old man. He's 9 years old and he only has like one tooth left. His name is Benjamin
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    jmkul What a cutie!! I much prefer older kitties to kittens (adopted 2 gals when they were 8yo, to be companions for my 8yo kitty. They are all gorgeous and still living their best lives at 11yo). Enjoy your boy - he looks purrfect
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    Slow-Elephant4448 OP I have 2 other old lady cats that I've had since they were babies. Running an old folks home for cats basically now lol I love them
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    Mission-Ticket247 He looks older than his years. I hope he's not had a rough life. Thank you for taking him in, he looks like such a gentleman. Benjamin is a great name for him.
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    Slow-Elephant4448 OP They told us his previous owner had passed away and her kids kept the younger cats and put him and another elder cat up for adoption :( but he's so chill that I assume his previous owner was nice
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  • Adopting a senior cat is always an extremely kind thing to do. So many people won't do it. These senior cats oftentimes spend so, so long in shelters. But adopting a senior cat who was abandoned in his senior years by his family? That's beyond kindness. That's saving this cat's life. 

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    Mission-Ticket247 He looks older than his years. I hope he's not had a rough life. Thank you for taking him in, he looks like such a gentleman. Benjamin is a great name for him.
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    Slow-Elephant4448 OP Hoping all my cats live til their 50 somehow
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  • He not only got abandoned, he also lost his owner. And cats don't really understand it when we pass. For him, it might have been yet another level of abandonment. He could have had behavioral issues, trust issues, and we would have understood. Instead, he recognized that this couple was a safe space for him and that his new senior friends are no threat. He's thankful. Even if he can't say it in words. So, we're going to say it for him. Thank you for giving him this second chance. 

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    Perpetual_Caffeine Such a handsome gentleman. I have 3 that I hope live very long lives, but decided that in the future I'm adopting the old or ill that have trouble finding homes. Bless you for giving Benjamin your home.
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    Slow-Elephant4448 OP I've never seen a cat adjust so well! He immediately was very comfortable and a lap cat. We drove over an hour to get him because I saw his ad on fb from a very small shelter and he had been there for a few months. I think he's very happy to have a nice home again
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    Potential-Eskie2724 He's gorgeous! And who needs teeth? I found out when I had a cat with resorptive lesion issues that cats do very well without them! I love his wide muzzle. Such a stud.
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    Slow-Elephant4448 OP Yeah he eats just fine without them! And his little mouth is so cute cause it's a little droopy lol
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    Teepletea Older cats are the sweetest. We got our boy Moon when he was 11. He's got FIV, arthritis, a little asthma and he's diabetic. He's still here with us at 17 years old and he's still lively and sweet as ever.
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    ABookishSort Domino was approximately 12 when I adopted her. She had been at the rescue center for a year. She's is approximately 15 now though I think she might actually be older.
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    astrocreepiest So sweet. I took in my neighbours 15 year old cat when he was diagnosed with diabetes. They were going to put him down but he instead lived another 3 comfortable and lazy years with me. My sweet old man Mr Frank
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aww wholesome cat adorable adoption heartwarming cute adopted story Cats rescue
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