Pets for the Elderly

Last Updated: July 9, 2025

Animals provide comfort and reduce stress, and pet ownership has been found to improve general well-being, particularly for older people.

As well as the health benefits associated with exercising and looking after a pet, they provide companionship and purpose. Pets not only bring a sense of joy to their owners, but they can also bolster social interaction and reduce feelings of loneliness.

When it comes to what the best types of pets for older people are, there isn’t a right or wrong answer. Rehoming an older dog can be a good option – they will most probably have had some basic training and will need companionship and moderate exercise. Many rescues happily rehome pets to older people too.

Cats are also a good choice for older people as they are more independent, don’t need walking and generally require less maintenance than a dog.

However, some animals will probably fit your lifestyle better than others. For example, if you suffer from mobility problems, an energetic large breed dog requiring lots of exercise likely won’t be the best fit!

It’s also worth bearing in mind that when we think of pets, we tend to automatically jump to dogs and cats, but other options include smaller animals like rabbits or guinea pigs.

The benefits of pet ownership for the elderly

Pets can benefit our mental health in many ways – helping us live more fulfilling and happier lives. From encouraging people to get more exercise to reducing anxiety; from helping you meet new people, to simply providing companionship, they are a source of both motivation and comfort.

A 2020 survey asking dog owners to state their reasons for owning a dog showed that 100% of respondents linked their ownership to either improving their happiness and/or providing companionship.

Caring for an animal (feeding, exercising and generally interacting) can also add structure to your day providing you routine.

Pet ownership can also help people with specific conditions. Assistant animals or service animals are trained to help people cope with tasks in their everyday lives.

The Mental Health Foundation has a great article on Pets and mental health which explores these benefits in greater detail.

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What are the challenges and concerns of pet ownership?

Taking on a pet is a big commitment. You have to take into account the financial requirements: possible vets fees, insurance costs, and food, as well as things like the time needed to exercise your pet and what you will do if you have to be away.

As we age, one of the main things people worry about is what will happen to their pet should they become too ill to care for it, or if they have to move into care. Help is available for many of these situations however, as detailed below.

What happens if pet care becomes too much? What help is available?

If you are struggling to keep up with exercise demands for your pets, you could try asking family/friends for their help. If they’re unable to, you could try:

Dog walker service. Find local services via the UK Dog Walker Directory
Dog-sitting services like Borrow My Doggy
The Cinnamon Trust. They offer a variety of services for elderly pet owners and those facing terminal illness including (for those meeting the criteria) voluntary dog walking support and short-term fostering for those facing hospital treatment

Can pensioners get help with vet bills?

If you’re struggling to pay for your vet bills, speak to your vet about your situation to see if you can work out a treatment plan. Some charities also offer help, either by providing some of the payment or by offering reduced costs through their clinics. For example, Pet charity PDSA offers low-cost treatment to pensioners living in a home in Council Tax Bands A-D. You can also get help with treatment bills if you are receive benefits.

Planning for the future

You can register your pet with a charity to safeguard their future. For example, anyone of any age can make long-term provisions with The Cinnamon Trust.

Head of Operations, Marnie Cude, explains that, ‘Future planning for your pet helps establish your intentions regarding your beloved companions’ welfare, happiness and long-term care. It also offers invaluable insight to those closest to you, ensuring that your wishes for your pet’s future are understood and respected.

‘At The Cinnamon Trust, we offer owners the option of Pet Profiling. By making arrangements for your pet with us, you ensure that your pet’s future is secure and we will always be there to look after them. This in turn gives owners/you peace of mind, whilst also equipping us with everything we need to know about your pet to find them a new loving home.’

Their Pet Profiling service can be used by anyone worried that there will be no one to take on their pet in the event of their death or if they have to move into permanent nursing care.

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Owning pets while in care

If you do move into residential care you don’t necessarily have to rehome your pet. Some care homes are pet-friendly. ‘Pet-friendly’ is a loose term, however, as this can mean anything from being able to keep your animals with you in the home, to having them come to visit you. It can also depend on the type of pet and how able you are to look after it. It varies from home to home.

How to find a suitable care home that allows pets.

Because ‘pet-friendly’ can mean so many different things, it’s best to contact potential homes directly to find out exactly what their stance is on pet ownership within their homes. You can use the Care Choices search to create a short list of suitable homes that meet your needs and their contact information here. Then it is a case of speaking to the homes directly to discuss your situation and see what can be agreed upon. You will likely also want to arrange a visit with your potential homes. Alternatively, the Cinnamon Trust also holds a register of ‘pet-friendly’ homes which you can request via their website.

Pet Therapy

Pet therapy, also known as animal-assisted therapy, or AAT, involves the presence of trained animals to promote physical, emotional and cognitive well-being. The goal of pet therapy is to enhance quality of life.

Pets – and animals generally – have been found to have such a positive impact on the lives of the elderly that many care homes and nursing homes have ‘therapy pets’ or visiting ‘therapy animals’ for residents to interact with.

Benefits of animal therapy include:

Mental stimulation.
Decrease in anxiety.
Reduce loneliness.
Lower blood pressure.
Trigger the release of endorphins (feel-good chemicals) that boost mood.
Improved motor skills.

Is having a pet right for me?

Pets offer many benefits. For older people in particular the companionship and purpose they provide can make a huge difference in improving mental health and wellbeing.

Ultimately, owning a pet isn’t for everyone, and some people may just not be in a position to take on an animal – due to financial or physical constraints. In these situations though, there are some innovative befriending and visiting schemes running which allow the elderly to get that animal interaction without taking on the responsibility of pet ownership.

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Where to get extra help with your pets when you get older – Useful contacts

The Cinnamon Trust

The Cinnamon Trust’s main objective is “to respect and preserve the treasured relationship between owners and their pets”. It has a national network of volunteers who give practical help like dog walking and fostering. They also help with rehoming after you pass away via their pet profiling scheme.

Oldies Club

If you are looking to adopt an older dog, the Oldies Club might be able to help. Another volunteer led charity, they work with animal rescues to raise awareness of the plight of their oldies – older dogs – looking for homes. They rescue and rehome Oldies Club dogs through their own network of foster homes, and list older dogs from many UK rescues.

Pet Samaritans

A Derbyshire based animal sanctuary and wildlife rescue, the Pet Samaritans provide emergency pet rescue across the UK for owners with terminal illnesses or bereavements were pets have been left without support. You can find out about their Lifetime Pet Care program by calling or writing to them. They also offer a pet bereavement helpline to provide support to those navigating the grief of losing a pet.

Care Dogs

A South London-based befriending charity who pairs up dog owners with older people to connect over a walk, increasing both general wellbeing and physical activity.

Wag & Company North East

The only visiting dog charity befriending older dog lovers in their own homes as well as in care or in hospitals, Wag & Company match and enable professionally assessed volunteers and their special dogs (Visiting Wag Teams) to safely befriend elderly dog lovers across the North East.

Give a Dog a Bone… and an animal a home

This charity helps the over 60’s to afford a rescue pet companion – tackling loneliness for older adults through animal companionship and friendship. If you are eligible, they can provide financial support to help you adopt a rescue companion animal. They also offer help to those who already have an animal but are struggling to afford them.

Keep Your Pet

Keep your pet is a service provided by Age UK (York). Volunteers provide assistance for older or vulnerable domestic pet owners at times of ill-health or other emergencies. Including dog walking, visiting to feed an animal, taking an animal to the vet and short term fostering.

A number of pet charities also offer Guardian programmes, so that if anything should happen to you, your pet will be taken care of and rehomed. Examples include Cats Protection, RSPCA, Dogs Trust and Blue Cross.