One year after being rescued this senior cat celebrated her 24th birthday

This cat is over 100 years old—in cat years, that is! Ora was surrendered to a local shelter in Chicago at the ripe old age of 23, in human years. She had lived with her family since 1994, but came to the city shelter for an unknown reason. All they really knew about her was her age, she was sweet, and she needed help.

The folks at the shelter knew a kennel there was not the place for this senior girl and they reached out on Facebook to find her a more suitable place. Within 24 hours Young At Heart Senior Pet Adoptions answered the call. YAH is a volunteer-based organization dedicated to the rescue and rehoming of mature and senior dogs and cats.

"We rushed to rescue her, wanting to make her last days or weeks as comfortable as possible and not spent in a cage at animal control," Dawn Kemper of Young At Heart related. Not knowing what her future held or how long it would be made no difference at all. They just wanted her to live out her time in comfort and surrounded by loving people.

Ora loved her heated bed and baby food treat they had ready for her. She settled in quickly and affectionately rubbed up against anyone who came near. "We treated her urinary tract infection which cleared up beautifully, had the mass evaluated under her eye (which turned out to be an inoperable but non-painful tumor), and got her settled into one of our sanctuary homes where she would be spoiled rotten for whatever time she had left."

It's been a year now, and Ora just celebrated her 24th birthday. "Ora is loved beyond words in her sanctuary home. She is a feisty old girl with attitude and she gets everything that she wants! From her heated beds to pureed food to the best window seat in the house, she enjoys each day as an old kitty should - in comfort and wrapped in love," Dawn happily reports.

Watch the video of Ora and share it on Facebook with your friends. "Ora's birthday wish is that more senior kitties like her get to live out their lives in love and comfort." If you're considering adopting a kitten, maybe you should think about offering your home to a senior cat instead. The benefits of an older cat include an already settled personality and a quiet presence in your life. Or you can help support senior pets by donating to Young At Heart.