Senior cats hold a special place in our hearts, Whether you have had them all their lives or not, elder cats are a lovable addition to any family and are worthy of some pampering. I have an elder Siamese who is 15 and is a real sweetheart. She is such a wonderful companion to me I would not hesitate to do anything I could to make sure she has the best life possible, and lives as long as possible. I can’t imagine life without her.
If you have an older cat that you want to pamper, there are many ways to do so, especially if you focus on key areas that are vital to a pet that is getting older.
Health
Once a cat reaches age 12 or 13, health check ups should be increased to twice a year. An elder cat examination should focus on teeth and jaw health, liver health, digestive and bowel health, and joint health, focusing on possible arthritis and pain problems.
In between vet visits, you should carefully monitor the health of your cat and be aware of any changes that occur in your cat’s health. If you are not sure what to look for, I recommend the book Complete Care for Your Aging Cat by Amy Shojai. Not only does it help you know what to look for in your cat as they get older, but it helps you to understand how cats age and how best to care for them.
Behavior
it is very important to monitor your cat’s behavior at any age, but especially when a cat is older. Any change in behavior could be significant. The four most important things to keep an eye on are:
Eating and drinking – your cats consumption of food and water should remain the same. Any significant change could be a sign of a health problem.
Urinary and bowel habits – keeping an eye on this takes a bit more work. Try to monitor these functions for any differences from normal. If you notice any changes, such as diarrhea or constipation, frequent urination or no urination, you should see your vet immediately.
Sleep habits – Cat sleep a lot normally, and older cats even more. However, if you notice your cat sleeping all the time, especially if they are hard to wake up, or if they seem to rarely sleep and pace around restlessly, a trip to the vet is called for.
Demeanor – This means attitude and action. If your cat is usually easy going and is suddenly grumpy or mean, or if you can is usually cuddly and loving and suddenly wants nothing to do with anyone, then you should take them in to the vet to check out why this change may have occurred.
Diet
As cats get older, it is a good idea to feed them food that is made for senior cats. It is specially made to be easier to digest and could help your older feline to process his or her food and eliminate it more comfortably and successfully. If your cat is in poor health, weak or ill, you can get canned cat food from your vet that is especially made for infirm cats. It has more protein, and nutrients than regular cat food and will better help nourish a sick animal. A cat that is older and less active may gain weight, and need a food with less calories, or your senior may be like my elder Siamese and get hyperthyroidism, which means they are not getting enough nutrition from the food they eat and grow very thin. I feed her Kitten food, because it has more nutrition. If you cat is eating well, and still losing weight, they see your vet for the proper medication to give your pet.
Other Ways of Pampering
There are two things I do for my kitties once they reach about 14 years old. I find that it helps their daily life and they seem to love it!
Self Warming Pet Mats - Buy a few and put them where your cat likes to sleep. Older cats get cold easier and these mats have some kind of film inside the quilting that reflects the cats own body heat and helps keep them warm. I find these to be better than heated mats because they warm automatically and do not need anyone to turn them off and on. I have a few of these mats, which are not expensive, only about $10 each, and my senior uses them all the time when napping.
Pet Stairs - My bed is very high off the ground so I noticed when my kitties were getting older they had trouble jumping up on my bed. I imagined that it also hurt them when they jumped down. I shopped around at Amazon for an answer and I found the perfect thing for me: a sturdy set of cat steps that also had scratching posts on the step supports! The one I chose also has a little fluffy ball on a string for them to play with, so not only does it help them up on the bed, but it also serves as a play area. They have many different kinds of pet steps, but be careful because many of them that are foam or foldable are not sturdy enough for playing cats! I put a set by my bed and one in my office because my cat loves to sleep on my desk when I am writing! I love the fact that she can now still get up to the places she loves to go. Cats love to be independent and this helps them to keep their autonomy longer.
I hope I have helped you find some great ways to pamper your beloved feline well into their golden years. Being older is only another stage of life to love your cat through. With a little understanding and knowledge you can make these some of the best years of your life together.
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