An elder ceremony is performed once a cat decides that they are no longer fit to serve their clan anymore. This is usually due to old age, but can also occur if a cat is severely ill, or injured.

A ceremony is usually performed if a cat retired due to old age, and if a cat is forced to retire because of sickness or injury, there is generally no ceremony.

A cat that wishes to retire will report this to their leader, who will then call a clan meeting. The following words are spoken:

Leader: "(name of cat who wishes to retire), is it your wish to give up the name of a warrior and go to join the elders?"

Warrior: "It is."

Leader: "Your clan honors you and all the service you have given to us. I call upon StarClan to give you many moons of rest."

The clan will call out the retired cat's name, and they will then go to the elder's den.