Last May, the ASPCA Adoption Center received a request from the Animal Care Centers of NYC to take in a senior cat in need. Little did we know at that time, handsome, 14-year-old Ben, was about to change the lives of a lot of people!

When Ben arrived at the Adoption Center, it was clear that despite his age, he had plenty of energy and personality. He was a big, spry guy, and many would be hard-pressed to guess his actual age.

During his initial intake exams, it was noted that Ben had some conditions commonly found in senior cats, including early signs of chronic kidney disease. However, none of these things slowed him down, and were determined to be manageable conditions. After treating Ben for an ear infection, our teams soon made him available for adoption, and the search began for his purr-fect home.

While waiting, Ben spent time as an office foster with Chloe Sternlicht, a senior manager for the ASPCA Foster Care and Placement team at the Adoption Center.

Above: Ben cuddling with Chloe while he spent time in her office waiting for his purr-fect match.

“Ben was a superstar office cat, and he stole my heart,” said Chloe. “He would greet me every morning with head rubs and snuggles. He loved to lay right next to me on his bed while I worked and was incredibly perceptive. If I was starting to feel stressed or tense up at my computer, he would come right over to me and ask for pets or to be held. His favorite thing was to be held and rub his head all over my head and shoulder. He was just the best little buddy!”

Meeting His New Family

That fall, Yulia A. and her daughter were planning to adopt their very first cat. They already had two dogs at home and were hoping to find the ideal feline companion for their family. Yulia reached out to the Adoption Center team to help her figure out which cat would be the right fit.

Though she initially asked about kittens, Yulia let our teams know that she was open to meeting adult cats as well, as long as they would get along with the dogs. As big fans of Ben’s outgoing friendly nature, and since he had positive experiences with dogs, staff members quickly recommended him as a potential match for Yulia’s family! He was certainly not a kitten, but Yulia could tell he was special from their very first interaction.

“As soon as we walked into the room, he greeted us by rubbing his head on us and purring loudly,” Yulia says. “He was slightly cautious at first, but he almost immediately started asking for attention and play. After that, we knew he was the right cat for us.”

Soon enough, Ben was headed to his new home.

Ruling the Roost

In his new home, Ben showed off his high confidence right away! Yulia set up a space for him during his adjustment period, but Ben had other plans.

“He immediately wanted to explore everything,” Yulia says, “which we allowed under careful supervision. He adjusted very fast.”

For the first few days, Ben was a bit cautious in his new surroundings and stayed independent, but he still asked his new friends for plenty of attention and praise.

“Every day, he bloomed even more,” Yulia says. “And now he’s an incredibly playful, confident and loving cat who always wants to be with you, following you from room to room.”

Of course, Ben does still have his few health conditions, which Yulia keeps an eye on. After noticing him drinking more water than usual, she took him to their veterinarian to check on his kidney health. They discovered that his symptoms had progressed slightly, so a prescription diet was recommended. Since switching diets, Ben has had a dramatic improvement!

“His appetite became even better, and he gets the zoomies more often, running like a kitten!” Yulia says.

Enjoying Life Together

Ben is now 15 years old, and things couldn’t be better for him and the rest of the family. He shares his affection regularly, clinging to everyone’s side — even the dogs! Ben would love to play with them too, but the dogs are still figuring out how.

“He makes friends with any guests that come to our house instantly and always greets everyone at the door like a puppy,” Yulia says.

They have a regular routine in their house now, too. Despite his age, every evening includes playtime with Ben’s collection of wand toys, and then a rousing game of fetch around the apartment. When it’s time for a meal, he will even lead his family over to the refrigerator and meow loudly to let them know that he’s hungry!

“Over Christmas, we went on a family vacation where he was able to go outside on a leash and see the snow,” Yulia says. “He surprisingly enjoyed it a lot and was incredibly curious in his surroundings, exploring everything.”

Yulia feels that Ben changed their lives in the biggest way. When they come home from school or work, they are always greeted by a loud “purring machine,” asking for cuddles and attention!

“He is like a warming blanket, always eager to snuggle and just spend quality time with us,” Yulia says.

For those thinking about adopting a feline companion, Yulia recommends giving them the time they need to adjust to their new surroundings.

Yulia also strongly recommends giving senior cats the chance they’ve been waiting for!

“In our experience with Ben, we’ve learned that senior cats are truly the sweetest and most loving whilst also having a great amount of energy,” Yulia says. “Senior cats will truly award you with so much love and gratitude.”