The old people/pets issue is a thorny one. I can't take any more than the two cats I have, so my mother only took in a new cat in her seventies because a close friend of mine agreed to take her on if necessary. What we weren't expecting is that my friend would be dead at 57 after being diagnosed with terminal cancer. I just hope Mum outlives her cat, but she has at least had the enormous pleasure of the cat's company for the last ten years