Taking Care of the Older Cat

Veterinary advances and improved nutrition mean more and more cats are living to greater ages. Senior cats are classed as 8 year plus, however many cats will live to 16 or more. Older cats, in common with older people have changing metabolism and ways in which their bodies work. Ageing itself is not however a disease!

Older cats are less active so their muscle tone reduces. This can inhibit their ability to run and jump and encourage stiffness of joints. Appetite tends to reduce with age in line with deterioration of the senses of taste and smell. Dental disease is very common in the older cat and can discourage eating. Weight loss and constipation can occur in the older cat as bowel function deteriorates and can reduce the amount of nutrients absorbed from food. Thirst can increase with disease but can also decrease in old age which can cause problems especially in cats with kidney problems.

Sleep tends to increase. Very old cats often have poor coats which may make them less resistant to the cold and wet.

While many cats can be pretty fussy eaters at the best times, you can probably expect your cat to become even more choosy in his/her eating habits as he/she gets older. Good quality, easily digested sources of protein should be fed, such as fish, chicken together with a reputable balanced mineral supplement. If your cat appears to be losing weight, you should try to encourage him/her to eat starchy foods as well as meat. This is not very popular with many cats, but you could experiment with foods such as rice, pasta with butter, bread and butter, potato chips and potatoes. Older cats will often want to eat smaller and more frequent meals, and should be fed on demand.

Common ailments of older cats to watch out for are:

Kidney problems

This is a gradual loss of function to the kidneys and then suddenly appears as an illness. Look out for increased thirst and weight loss and bad breath.

Metabolic problems

Diabetes and thyroid problems are a common complaint in the older cat. Watch out for lethargy, overeating or not eating enough.

Tooth decay

Cats teeth need care, and if not given the correct balanced diet, along with regular cleaning it will most probably develop tooth decay and will need veterinarian assistance. Regularly check your cat's gums and teeth and look for red gums, bad breath, discoloured teeth, and missing, or broken teeth. Healthy teeth are essential in order to eat the correct foods and it has been known for cats to be put to sleep for no other reason than rotten teeth.

Loss of appetite

While many cats can be pretty fussy eaters at the best times, you can probably expect your cat to become even more choosy in his/her eating habits as he/she gets older. Good quality, easy digested sources of protein should be fed, such as fish, rabbit, chicken together with a reputable balanced mineral supplement. If your cat appears to be losing weight, you should try to encourage him/her to eat starchy foods as well as meat. This is not very popular with many cats, but you could experiment with adding small quantities of foods such as rice, pasta with butter, bread and butter, potato chips and potatoes. Older cats will often want to eat smaller and more frequent meals, and should be fed on demand.

Cataracts

Cloudiness of the lens within the eye is very common in the eyes of elderly cats. They usually progress gradually and do not cause blindness until they are well advanced. Elderly cats seem to adapt to a gradual loss of vision reasonably well, and although surgery to remove the cataracts is possible, it is not usually considered wise for an old cat.

Change of routine

Your cat will need different things from you as he/she gets older. Ensure that your elderly cat has the opportunity to escape the household's hustle and bustle and try and establish a quiet comfortable and warm area where they can have their own quiet time and privacy. Also your elderly cat will be making more use of the litter tray so it is important to keep this clean on a very regular basis.