Our feline friends are living longer than ever before so it's important to help them stay healthy as they age. Today, our Woburn veterinarians discuss how you can keep your senior cat happy and healthy.
Your Cat's Age in Human Years
Like humans, each cat experiences aging differently. Many cats start exhibiting age-related physical changes between 7-10 years, and most have by about 12 years old. The common understanding that one "cat year" is equivalent to 7 "human years" isn't quite accurate; instead, the accepted wisdom is that the first year of a cat's life is similar to the growth of a 16-year-old human, and a cat at 2 years old is more similar to a human between 21-24 years old. After that, each year for a cat is equal to roughly four human years (e.g. a 10-year-old cat = 53-year-old human; a 12-year-old cat = 61-year-old human; a 15-year-old cat = 73-year-old human, etc).
Cats are considered to be "senior" when they are about 11 years old, a 'super senior cat' is 15 years or older. When caring for older cats it sometimes helps to think of their age in human terms.
How to Care For Your Senior Cat
You've likely cared for your aging cat over their entire lives. This makes it a little easier to spot signs of potential health complications through changes in their behavior. Even so, there can be some subtle signs that are missed. For this reason, twice-yearly senior pet care examinations with your vet combined with diligent at-home care are essential to your cat's ongoing health.
Changes That May Affect Your Aging Cat
As your cat begins to settle into their golden years you will need to take a different approach to their veterinary care. You will also need to consider making some changes to their diet and environment while monitoring your kitty for signs of health problems.
Some of the changes that your senior cat may experience include:
- Altered Sleep Cycle
- Changes in Thyroid Function
- Decreased Kidney Function
- Vision Impairment
- Decreased Sense of Smell
- Brittle or Ingrown Nails
- Circulatory Issues
- Inability to Absorb Nutrients and Digest Properly
- More Easily Affected By Stress
- Decreased Mobility/Joint Diseases
How a Proper Diet Can Help Your Senior Cat
While feeding your cat a healthy diet throughout their life is important, it can become a crucial aspect of their health during old age.
When you feed your cat a healthy diet that is specially formulated for senior cats you can help:- Manage weight
- Increase lifespan
- Maintain healthy skin, coat, and bodily functions
You can serve these senior cat foods either wet or dry. Older cats tend not to drink enough, often leading to dehydration. To help elevate this issue, our vets in Woburn suggest offering your senior cat wet food, and always ensuring your cat's water bowl is full, clean and fresh.
You can also focus on providing your cat with a few smaller meals throughout the day as opposed to larger meals. This allows for easier and more complete digestion.
The cognitive abilities of your cat will diminish with age. This can lead them to forget where their food is located, but can also result in overeating when they do find it. Overeating at one mealtime can result in vomiting which may cause low nutrient absorption.
Your pet's veterinarian in Woburn can recommend the best food to offer your kitty and provide feeding guidelines to help ensure your elderly cat's nutritional needs are met.
The Preventive Care Needed as Cats Age
Having a good relationship with your geriatric pet vet is crucial as they will be able to help you sport when something is not quite right with your pet. They also know you and your pet and know the specifics regarding your life and what your cat's unique needs are.
Your vet will likely perform a routine exam and diagnostics such as bloodwork during your cat's visit but they will also offer any preventive care that your cat needs. Your geriatric pet veterinarian will look at your cat's teeth and offer preventive dental care as well as any vaccinations and parasite protection that will help them live comfortably through their golden years.
What To Expect From Veterinary Geriatric Care
During your senior cat's routine checkup, your veterinarian will focus on the following:
- Review of Habits and Behavior
- The Weight and Condition of Your Cat
- Skin and Fur Quality
- Dental Health
- Ears and Eyes
- Thyroid Gland Palpation
- Heart and Circulatory System
- Lungs and Nose Health
- Abdomen Discomfort
- Muscles and Joints
- Blood Pressure
- Bloodwork and Urinalysis
At Woburn Animal Hospital, our vets will also perform any necessary testing for feline diseases as well as administer any preventive care during your cat's visit.
At-Home Care For Your Senior Cat
Ensuring life-long health and happiness for your cat doesn't stop at the veterinary clinic. You will also need to provide diligent care and a little extra TLC at home to help keep them safe, healthy and stimulated mentally.
Some of the things that you should consider when it comes to at-home senior cat care include:
- Ensuring Easy Access to Food and Beds
- Making Changes to Make Your Home More Accessible
- Diligently Monitoring Your Senior Cat for Uncharacteristic Behaviors
- Providing the Necessary Medications as Prescribed
- Following Feeding Guidelines Provided by Your Geriatric Pet's Vet
By understanding the health and lifestyle needs of your cat you can help ensure that they live comfortably well into old age.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. Please make an appointment with your vet to accurately diagnose your pet's condition.