Future cat ladies.
No "future" about it. From what I've witnessed, that starts somewhere in the mid to late 30's and continues on from there.
I once had a friend of my GF's ask me why she was having difficulty finding someone to retire & live out the rest of her life with.
She's an attractive and charming woman who one would think wouldn't have any issues getting dates and finding someone to spend her retirement with. She has no children, never been married, and has few family members left. A handful of nieces & nephews, a brother and a sister. That's it, along with her two dogs and a cat.
She lives on her own, financially independent, no debt, all the things you'd "expect" from a woman at her age who's made a life on her own and had a successful career. So when she asked me "why" I was at first shocked she asked me and then I had to think quickly "do I tell her the truth or do I lie and say "I don't know?"
So I told her the truth: She didn't have any experience raising children, didn't know the struggles the majority of us men at the same age went through with children, wives, families, etc.. and as a result didn't really have the shared life experiences that men at our age would look for.
The thing is, at "our age" (we're both at/near 60) we kinda want someone to talk to who understands all the things I mentioned above, and can bring the perspective of a woman who's been through those same challenges & situations, to the discussion. Having similar experiences helps, and coming at the problems they've presented from different perspctives also helps us poor men to think about things differently than we otherwise may. Let's face it, women are often far more emotionally in touch with themselves and others around them, then we men are. It's not a bad thing, IMO it's how God made men and women: we're different on purpose.
She's not the only woman I've met in her situation. I've met quite a few. After I'd divorced, started dating again, and ultimately found my long-term GF (who's also divorced and has children of her own.) These women who've made the choice to remain single and without children typically all ask the same basic question. This was the first time I actually gave an answer.
Yes, she still speaks to me. No, she's not dating anyone.