Keeping Your Senior Cat Healthy

Digg

Del.icio.us

Stumble

Keeping Your Senior Cat Healthy

By: PetPlace Veterinarians

See Larger Image

Much as you hate to see it happen, your cat will eventually enter his senior years. Although you can't hold back the clock, there are many things you can do to help keep your cat healthy and active as long as possible.

Monitor Your Cat's Health

Visit your veterinarian frequently. Most vets recommend a check-up once every 6 months when your cat reaches his senior years. Blood tests, X-rays, electrocardiograms, ultrasound, CT scans or MRIs might be necessary. Be prepared to tell your vet about any changes in your pet's stamina, appetite or behavior, when it began and what might have triggered it.

Have hearing and eyesight checked. It's not unusual for an elderly cat's eyes to look cloudy, and the condition may not signal illness. Like humans, however, they can develop cataracts and glaucoma, and can experience hearing loss.

If your pet seems surprised when you come close to him, bumps into things or doesn't come when you call him, the culprit may be failing faculties.

Groom Your Cat Often

Brush your cat's teeth daily. This staves off tooth decay and helps prevent gum disease and tooth loss. Brushing regularly will also allow you to notice mouth and tongue ulcers early on.

Note any increase in "kitty breath." Cats have their natural smells and cat food can linger on their breath, but a change in breath to the point that it becomes strong or offensive can signal various illnesses.

Groom him at least once a week. It's more important than ever to spare your cat the annoyance of fleas and other parasites. As he ages, he won't be able to groom himself as easily as he used to. As you brush him, take note of any bumps, skin lesions or unusual hair loss. And remember that his skin is less elastic than it used to be, so be careful not to scrape or pull it. Be sure to clip his nails to prevent overgrowth.

Massage his joints and limbs. If your cat isn't able to exercise routinely, improve his flexibility and circulation by gently massaging his muscles and joints. If he objects, just pet him for as long as he allows. Don't force massage on an unwilling kitty.

Keep Your Cat Active

Provide moderate exercise. The old adage "use it or lose it" is as true for cats as it is for humans. Exercise helps your cat maintain muscle tone, keeps his heart and digestion healthy and even improves his attitude. Gentle games with toys or catnip not only keep him in shape, but keep him mentally alert and interacting positively with you.

Give him a clean "bathroom." His digestion may be irregular and his bladder may lose elasticity and capacity. The litter box may need more frequent cleaning or changing.

Stick to a regular schedule. Your cat always liked a routine; he'll appreciate it even more now. Feed him and play with him at the same times each day.

Minimize stress. As he ages, even the most social cat may not welcome strange animals or people, or even tolerate familiar children. Due to his failing senses, arthritis or forgetfulness, your cat may shy away from previously welcomed social situations.

Help Your Cat Eat and Sleep Comfortably

Don't leave him outside alone. Keep your cat indoors and minimize his time outside. As a cat ages, he'll be sensitive to changes in temperature – aging hearts and lungs don't adjust as well to extremes of hot and cold. Since his senses, reflexes and thinking aren't as sharp, your cat is likely to be more prone to accidents, injury from other animals or even getting lost.

Give him a soft bed. Arthritis and other conditions will make it harder for your cat to sleep soundly. Orthopedic cat beds are available.

Feed him properly. An aging cat gains weight more easily because his metabolism is slowing. Your vet can recommend food that is high in fiber and lower in fat, so that your cat is eating his accustomed amount of food, but fewer calories. As digestion worsens, he might do better with smaller, more frequent meals. Conditions such as diabetes, arthritis, heart or liver problems also call for special nutritional plans.

Always provide fresh, cool water. This is a good policy for creatures of all ages, but especially important for an older cat.

Printable Version

Digg

Del.icio.us

Stumble

Share this Article with a Friend Email To:

Have a Pet Question?

Send Your Pet Question to Dr. Jon
and His Staff of Veterinarians

Dr. Jon's Newsletter

Yes! Send Me the Latest Health Information, Pet Tips, Pet Stories and more...

Search Over 15,000 articles

1 When Your Senior Cat Needs to See a Vet
If your senior cat is getting twice-yearly veterinary exams, you need not be alarmed at small changes in his behavior, but if you notice any of the symptoms detailed in this article you should report them...
Read More
2 10 Common Disorders of Senior Cats
By being aware of some concerns regarding older cats, you can be a more educated and prepared guardian for your aging companion. Here are some of the most commonly diagnosed illnesses known to afflict...
Read More
3 Geriatric Cat Care
Understanding the aging process and the most common problems that face the geriatric cat is the first step in providing the best possible care to your older animal. The main focus is owner education and...
Read More
4 Obesity in Cats
The primary causes of obesity in cats are overeating and lack of exercise. When regular caloric intake exceeds the energy burned, the excess is stored as fat on your cat.
Read More
5 Life Expectancy in Cats
Life expectancy in cats depends on many things, but the most important factor is whether he is an indoor-only cat or an outdoor cat. Life expectancy varies significantly between the two.
Read More

Over 10,000 Veterinarian Approved Articles

Dogs & Puppies

Dog Breeds

labrador retriever, golden retriever, yorkshire terriers, german shepherds, beagle, boxers

Dog Medication

dog allergy medication, dog pain medication, dog anxiety medication, dog flea medication

Dog Products

dog bowls, dog crates, dog toys, dog beds, dog ramps, dog food storage, dog tags

Dog Symptoms

dog vomiting, dog limping, dog diarrhea, dog bad breath, dog coughing, dog seizures

Dog Health

dog cancer, dog diabetes, dog epilepsy, dog hip dysplasia, dog health, sick dog

Dog Care

dog vaccination, dog microchipping, dog grooming, dog neutering, dog spaying, dogs mating

Dog Training

dog aggression, dog barking, dog chewing, dog behavior, dog jumping, dog whisperer

Dog Pictures

puppy pictures, funny dogs, cute dogs, dog breeds, sleeping dogs, silly dogs, small dogs

Cats

Cat Breeds

persian, siamese cats, devon rex, ragdoll cats, sphynx, maine coon cat

Cat Medication

cat flea medication, cat heartworm control, cat tick medications

Cat Products

cat litter box, cat food, cat bed, cat flea collar, cat carrier, cat urine odor

Cat Symptoms

cat vomiting, cat limping, cat diarrhea, cat bad breath, cat coughing

Cat Health

cat health, cat liver cancer, cat diabetes, cat scratch fever, cat aids, sick cat

Cat Care

cat vaccination, cat grooming, cat microchipping, cat neutering, cat spaying

Cat Behavior

cat urine marking, cat furniture scratching, cat litterbox training, cat toilet training, cat fears

Cat Pictures

cute cats, funny cats, playful cats, fat cats, jumping cats, lazy cats, sleeping cats, cute kittens

1 Life Expectancy in Cats
Life expectancy in cats depends on many things, but the most important factor is whether he is an indoor-only cat or an outdoor cat. Life expectancy varies significantly between the two.
Read More
2 Geriatric Cat Care
Understanding the aging process and the most common problems that face the geriatric cat is the first step in providing the best possible care to your older animal. The main focus is owner education and...
Read More
3 When Your Senior Cat Needs to See a Vet
If your senior cat is getting twice-yearly veterinary exams, you need not be alarmed at small changes in his behavior, but if you notice any of the symptoms detailed in this article you should report them...
Read More
4 10 Common Disorders of Senior Cats
By being aware of some concerns regarding older cats, you can be a more educated and prepared guardian for your aging companion. Here are some of the most commonly diagnosed illnesses known to afflict...
Read More
5 Obesity in Cats
The primary causes of obesity in cats are overeating and lack of exercise. When regular caloric intake exceeds the energy burned, the excess is stored as fat on your cat.
Read More

Keeping Your Senior Cat Healthy

Keeping Your Senior Cat Healthy

Related Articles

Over 10,000 Veterinarian Approved Articles