Translated by Nick R
Did your cat reach its senior age and you don’t know if he needs additional care? We often don’t know how to take care of a senior animal but don’t worry, you’ve come to the right place. Let me explain in detail everything you need to know to offer the best care to your senior cat.
Table of Contents
At what age is a cat considered a senior cat?
Over time, your cat will change his behavior as he ages and will require more attention than before. This stage may begin at 8 years of age with small changes; however, once he gets older, he will be fully classified as a senior.
According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASCPA), a senior cat is considered to be between 12 and 14 years of age.
On the other hand, if the cat is in good health and has no serious problems, it can even reach 18 and 20 years of age. This clearly requires much more care as it is much older age.
What traits does an older cat show?
Some signs of aging that cats show are:
- Decreased level of activity.
- Hearing and/or vision impairment
- Changes in appetite and water intake
- Weakened immune system
- Change in sleep pattern (more sleep, but not deep sleep)
- Change in coat appearance
- Decrease in muscle mass
- Behavioral changes (aggressive, forgetful, dependent)
- Decreased sense of smell
- Brittle nails
Common diseases in senior cats
Cats begin to show health problems due to both physical and mental fatigue. For that reason, you must take into account which are the most common diseases that your senior cat is most likely to develop in order to prevent or treat them in time.
Arthritis
This disease is very common in older cats and consists of an inflammation of the joints. Arthritis is sometimes not given the attention it should be, as they mistake it for the cat’s behavior being less active without taking into account the pain it actually causes them.
Symptoms:
- Stiffness, lameness, and reduced mobility (unwillingness to climb or jump).
- Difficulty grooming, especially in areas such as the mid-back and tail.
- Less interest in playing
- No longer using the sandbox if it has high walls (becomes more difficult to access)
- Increased stiffness right after resting
- Due to the discomfort caused by arthritis, there will be behavioral changes such as moodiness and reduced interaction with people.
Cancer
Due to the deterioration of the immune system, the cat is more susceptible to developing benign or malignant tumors. The latter have accelerated growth and is very harmful. These tumors can be located in any part of the cat’s body, so you should be aware of the presence of strange lumps or bumps.
Symptoms:
- Depression
- Poor coat condition
- Weight loss
- Increased water consumption
- Vomiting and diarrhea
- Increased urination frequency
Hypertension
Hypertension often occurs in cats as a result of other diseases that can lead to hypertension, such as hyperthyroidism or kidney disease. However, it can also develop as a primary disease.
When hypertension is the underlying disease, there are few signs of high blood pressure and sometimes they appear suddenly. The eyes, heart, kidneys, and brain are the organs most susceptible to the result of high blood pressure.
Symptoms:
- Change in the appearance of the eye (includes bleeding).
- Disorientation
- Seizures
- Blindness
Hyperthyroidism
Hyperthyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland becomes overactive, causing metabolism to speed up more than normal. The thyroid helps control the body’s metabolic rate (energy expenditure).
The thyroid is formed by two glands and is located on each side of the trachea (windpipe). This disease usually occurs in cats over 10 years of age and can develop in one or two glands.
Symptoms:
- Weight loss
- Vomiting and diarrhea
- Increased appetite and thirst
- Poor coat condition
- Presence of hyperactivity, agitation, or increased meowing.
Nephropathy
Kidney disease is caused by impaired kidney function, whereby the kidneys stop filtering and begin to accumulate waste with blood. This disease is very serious and the signs start to become noticeable when 75% of the kidneys are badly damaged so be aware of the cat’s condition to prevent and treat in time.
Symptoms:
- Weight loss
- Decreased appetite
- Increased water intake
- Increased frequency of urination
- Lethargy
- Depression
- Vomiting
- Bad breath
- Poor coat condition
Cognitive dysfunction and senility
This disease causes a decline in the higher brain functions, involving memory and learning. They deteriorate due to the process of aging.
Symptoms:
- Change in social and environmental interaction.
- Change in vocalization (such as meowing).
- Change in sleep pattern (sleeping more during the day and remaining restless at night).
Diabetes mellitus
Diabetes affects not only overweight cats but also cats reaching old age. The disease causes changes in blood sugar levels. In addition, if it is detected early, treatment will be more effective.
Symptoms:
- Weight loss
- Increased urination frequency
- Increased water intake and appetite
- Weakness
- Lethargy
- Vomiting
- Susceptibility to other skin or urinary tract infections.
Constipation
The cat’s bowel habits change during the senior stage, so it is common for them to change their frequency of bowel movements.
Symptoms:
- Hard stools
- Pain during bowel movements
- Straining to pass stool
- Decrease in stooling frequency
Deafness
Aging affects several senses and among them the hearing, product of the deterioration and wear of the same. Although, deaf cats are able to compensate for the lack of hearing through their other senses, making it difficult to realize that they are deaf.
Symptoms:
- Easily startled
- Meows very loudly
- Shows signs of dizziness or disorientation.
- No response when called
- No reaction to loud noises
To find out what other types of diseases your cat may present throughout his life, I invite you to read about the most common diseases in cats.
8 Tips to take care of a senior cat
It’s clear that a senior cat requires more care, so you have to pay attention to different aspects of their life and health that must be changed and adapted.
Aspects such as behavior, type of food, sleeping habits, and comfort in their environment should be adapted to make life easier for your cat and thus, continue to live a healthy and happy life.
Regular visits to the veterinarian
The American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) recommends that you take your cat to the veterinarian every 6 months to monitor if everything is in order. It’s very important to create this habit because through physical and blood tests the veterinarian will know your cat’s current health status.
Since cats don’t show much when they are having an illness, the best way to make sure they are doing well is to go regularly. On the other hand, if your cat already has an illness beforehand that is developing, more visits to the veterinarian are necessary.
Adjusting nutritional needs
As time goes by, the cat’s diet must change so that it receives the nutrients and vitamins it needs to stay healthy in its senior years. The cat’s appetite may decrease as his sense of smell and taste will be weakened by aging.
So, here are some tips for you to cheer up and feed your cat successfully.
- Meal frequency should be higher and in small quantities. It can be 4 to 6 meals with small portions distributed during the day, this will help the cat to assimilate the food better.
- In some cases, if the cat has dental problems, it’s better to try different food consistencies. Your cat will probably prefer soft foods or added sauces to soften his food so that it does less damage. Another way to soften their food is to add a little water and mash it into a sort of mush.
- You can heat his food a little bit, which will enhance the smell and make your cat feel more willing to eat.
- Accompany him while he eats, your cat will feel comfortable if from time to time you are there while he eats, and you can even give him some gentle caresses.
- At mealtime, you can use food puzzles to keep your cat’s brain active, so that he can entertain himself for a while and exercise his mind.
- Water is another part of his diet to keep him well hydrated and prevent diseases such as kidney disease and constipation. That is why you should provide him with more water, either in a larger cup or in several containers.
- Watch how often he eats and drinks water to see if there is a significant change and treat a possible health problem early.
- Consult with your veterinarian as to what foods he needs to eat more of to meet his nutritional needs.
Creating a comfortable environment
Several factors in the cat’s environment need to be changed to make the cat’s life easier and more comfortable.
Access to food
Ensure easy access to food and water. Keep them close to his resting area to avoid extensive travel and try to avoid joint pain and stiffness.
In addition, some cats find it difficult to bend their neck when drinking or eating from the lower bowl. To avoid this, you can place both on top of a box or elevated surface to minimize movement in the cat.
Bed
The cat should have a comfortable bed so it can relax and rest well. As older cats sleep more, they need a cushioned, quality surface so they can have a restful sleep.
The location of the bed should also be accessible, so that the cat doesn’t have to make any extra effort, and it should be in a quiet area.
Litter box
The litter box should be large to allow your cat to move around comfortably. It should also have low sides so that the cat can get in and out easily. On the other hand, using a fine and soft litter will give a very comfortable feeling to your cat’s paws.
If you are in a position to place more litter boxes in your home, do it! This will make potty time easier.
Ease of movement
You must adapt the environment to make it uncluttered or free of disturbing noises for your cat. Make it easier for him to move around with mats on floors that are slippery like laminate or wood and remember that if he has a hard time climbing stairs, it’s best to move his things to a single floor.
Fall Cushioning
The senior cat will still enjoy his normal activities such as jumping or climbing, to facilitate this, make sure that the shelves are not so high and that there are some cushions around them to soften a possible fall. This also applies to the places your cat usually climbs, put pillows around to avoid hard knocks.
Scratching posts
At this stage, cats feel more need to sharpen their nails, and some scratching posts are upright and can be difficult to use; try to get a horizontal scratching post. Another option might be a soft rug for comfortable scratching.
Physical and mental activity
Cats are prone to developing obesity if their diet is not controlled, so even if you are a senior, you can also do exercises that accommodate your lifestyle so that you keep your cat’s health in good shape.
In addition, both physical and mental exercise is important to avoid stress for your cat, so playing with puzzles will help your cat’s concentration. If you want to know what types of exercises your cat could do and some tips, I invite you to read – How much exercise do cats need?
Keep your cat at home
You should not leave your cat unsupervised when going outdoors, as the interaction in these places is no longer the same for your cat. The ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) states that cats kept indoors have a longer and healthier life expectancy than cats that are kept outdoors.
On the other hand, if you’re going to leave your cat outdoors for a while, it’s best to keep an eye on him so he doesn’t get lost in case you don’t have a catio (a trellised yard built for cats). Getting lost is very serious if the cat has an illness that needs to be treated frequently, is injured by another animal, or may eat something poisoned. Senior cats can be happy if they are given the attention and love they need at home.
Maintaining grooming and physical care
Your cat loses flexibility as he ages, which will make it difficult for him to groom his fur. You should brush the coat regularly so that it stays clean and fresh, and your cat feels comfortable.
In addition, you should watch for common secretions presented at this stage, such as around the eyes and, if he has long hair, watch out for foreign objects getting entangled. Another part of the grooming routine is to keep the nails short so that they do not get tangled in rugs or furniture. They should be trimmed every 2 to 4 weeks to keep him safe.
Grooming also includes dental hygiene, aging leads to weakness, causing broken teeth, holes, and the possibility of developing an oral tumor or gum disease. Therefore, every time you go to the veterinarian, make sure they also perform a dental care examination to prevent possible conditions.
Comply with the vaccination schedule
To prevent infectious diseases that can be even more dangerous for a senior cat, it is vitally important to comply with the annual vaccination schedule. It will also depend on the cat’s health and lifestyle and whether it requires complementary vaccinations. To learn more about this, I invite you to read the Feline Vaccination Schedule: Complete Guide.
Play and give him lots of love
Apart from all the physical care, you should also pay attention to emotional care. For your cat, it’s important that you are there for him, that you pet him and play with him every day. This is an excellent exercise in mental stimulation and also strengthens your emotional bond.
Remember that you must always take care of your cat, no matter what stage he is in, the important thing is to commit to giving him a good quality of life so that he lives happy and healthy.
