When Barbara Yerrington first thought about getting a cat for her friend Jan, she almost dismissed the idea. Jan was 94, a former professor, and lived in an assisted living community in Orem, Utah. With Jan’s limited mobility, a pet seemed impractical.
But the idea would not go away. Jan had been Barbara’s friend and mentor for many years, and Barbara wanted to bring her some daily companionship.
The question that mattered
Before going any further, Barbara needed an answer to one question: would a cat even be allowed? She asked the manager of the assisted living community. The answer was yes.
Meet Daisy
At the Best Friends Pet Adoption Center in Salt Lake City, Barbara met Daisy. Daisy was a 20-year-old brown tabby with green eyes so bright they were described as looking like little flashlights. She had been surrendered to a local shelter before being transferred to Best Friends.
Daisy had a mild heart condition that needed regular check-ups but no daily medication. For a calm, quiet home, she was a wonderful fit. Barbara adopted her on Jan’s behalf.
Two old friends
Jan and Daisy bonded quickly. Daisy now spends her nights sleeping on Jan’s bed, and her days keeping Jan company in her apartment.
Together they are more than a century old, and they show that companionship has no age limit. Sometimes the best friend for an older person is an older pet who also knows the value of a quiet afternoon.
Thinking about adopting a senior pet?
Older dogs and cats are often calm, gentle and already house-trained. If you are curious whether a senior pet could fit your life, our Adopting an Older Pet guides are a good place to start.
Source: This story was originally reported by Best Friends Animal Society. We have retold it in our own words.
Images on this page are AI illustrations based on a true story. They do not show the real people or animals.
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