Born in 2002, Pippin started her life as a stray – fed by an older woman who was glad to take the kitten in off the streets. When she was relocated to residential care, she wanted to be sure that her kitty was safe – and so she surrendered her to the RSPCA, where Pippin was put up for adoption.

As an older cat, it took a while for Pippin to be adopted, and it was during her time at the shelter that her first owner passed away.

The head of RSPCA SA’s cat-care team Jacky Barrett recalled that Pippin spent “much of that time living in foster care with a staff member who has a soft spot for senior cats”. It was on her ninety-seventh day with the team at Lonsdale that Pippin was finally adopted.

In December of 2021, Pippin met her new owner Jennifer.

Sixty one year old Jennifer was looking for an older cat to adopt while living with a diagnosis of a terminal illness. Pippin spent six months with her new owner before Jennifer sadly passed away and the cat was surrendered to the Lonsdale shelter once again. “Her last owner’s main concern when she became unwell was that Pippin be well cared for while she was in hospital,” said Jacky.

RSPCA SA’s vet team checked over the elderly cat to ensure she was in fit enough shape to be adopted. Still, the team knew that senior cats often struggle to find a new home, as many potential owners are deterred by their old age and the health issues that can potentially develop. Despite her advanced years, Jacky noted that Pippin was “very agile and acts like a cat half her age – we’ve all got a soft spot for this resilient old girl”.

The congenial kitty was soon introduced to stardom when RSPCA SA shared her story.

News outlets swarmed to find out more about the twenty-year-old cat who outlived two owners, and soon Pippin was enjoying wide attention as she was broadcast across SA. The kitty caught the eye of many cat-lovers across the state. Matthew, the person who would give Pippin her next home, has his sister to thank for the opportunity.

Matthew’s sister had sent him a post about Pippin, knowing that he would be the perfect fit for the elderly cat. Matthew has loved senior cats ever since he adopted his first one seven years ago, as he believes they are generally more relaxed than kittens – and that they enjoy more attention and affection in their old age. In July of 2022, only five days after she was officially forfeited to the shelter, Pippin met her owner-to-be when he came to visit her at the Lonsdale shelter.

Matthew knew that his “mini retirement home” would be the perfect place for Pippin.

He was happy to report that it didn’t take long for her to settle in. His other cats got along well with the new addition, although there was a slightly rocky start.

“There was some hissing to begin with, but they got over that pretty quickly,” laughed Matthew. His youngest cat, Gracie, is fourteen-years-old and has only three legs, while his other cat, Penny, is sixteen and deaf.

Now, almost 2 months since her adoption, Pippin spends her days relaxing with her family in Matthew’s Campbelltown residence. “She’s so affectionate,” he laughs, adding that the elderly cat refuses to leave him alone.

“She wants to cuddle all the time, and it doesn’t matter how I sit on the couch – she will find a way to come and sit on my lap.”

Matthew hopes to move to a larger property with room to take in even more cats in need. “I can’t encourage people enough, if they’re looking to adopt, to look at the older ones first because they will be left there for longer,” he said.

“It’s always sad to say goodbye when they pass away, but it’s so worth it to give a good home to an animal that is usually overlooked.”