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Is your old cat having trouble keeping up?
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Whenever I lift Petunia, she gives a little growl of affronted dignity, and I feel her age — 17 and a half. She's fragile, light as a feather. This regal calico has slowed down and become more pernickety over time. She has less patience with other cats (though she never had much) and a deeper appreciation for warmth, peace and quiet, privacy, and cuddling with her human friends.
But when it's time for her regular pill, she's all spitfire. She knows when I'm even thinking 'pill' — and simply vanishes. Watching her trot briskly upstairs or dash after a toy, it's hard to think of sleek, fiery-tempered Petunia as 'elderly'.
High energy and low energy
Some cats show signs of aging as early as eight years, while others remain kittens well into their teen years. Thirteen-year-old Dominique races straight up walls to perch on top of doors. Her companion Bunny galumphs up and down stairs dozens of times daily without a care. These two are both past retirement age in human terms!
Vets generally treat cats ten and older as 'senior catizens'. If your older cat starts to show signs of illness, a complete physical examination, including baseline blood tests, will provide valuable reference points. Older cats tend to get ill fast, and any change in your cat's daily habits, food intake, elimination patterns, or behaviour calls for a visit to the vet. These changes can include increased thirst, lethargy, a change in appetite, or drooling. Any lump, bump, wound, swelling, bad breath, sudden weight loss or gain, or other physical change needs to be looked at immediately.
Cats age beautifully and almost never become senile. But they're very good at hiding pain or illness until it's quite advanced. Always be alert for clues to possible problems. There are lots of things you can to do to help maximise your senior cat's health, happiness, and quality of life. Here's a list of dos and don'ts:
Do:
ease her access to favourite perches with ramps, steps, or a hand
give her extra assistance with grooming; use softer tools and be especially gentle
minimise changes and stress in your household
offer extra warmth; a heated sleeping pad or bed will be appreciated
keep up daily, gentle play and exercise sessions
keep multiple low-sided litter trays around your home, especially if your house has more than one floor
follow your vet's diet recommendations for your senior cat
monitor her food and water intake and elimination and report changes to the vet
respect your senior cat's dignity and independence
accommodate her food preferences, as far as medically possible
allow her to set her own eating schedule; many seniors prefer 'grazing' or having several small meals per day
check her weight weekly and report any gain or loss of a half-pound or more to your vet
give her a daily once-over (nose to toes) as part of your routine; check for lumps, bumps, swellings, hot spots, sore spots, and mats or other grooming problems
visit your vet with your senior cat at least once a year (and more often if she has chronic problems)
spend extra quality time with her, just being together and quietly enjoying one another's company
Don't:
Don't:
stress your senior cat by adopting new pets
force your attentions on her
let other pets or children chase her, torment her, or cause her stress
let other pets eat all her food before she can get to it
laugh at her when she stumbles or misses a leap
make unnecessary changes in your household; even moving furniture can be disruptive
ignore changes and signs of possible trouble; older cats sicken fast
ignore any signs of infection such as blood in the litter tray, droplets of blood on the floor, and runny nose or eyes
be impatient if she makes a litter box "error"; she may need better or easier access, or multiple trays
Our cats can teach us a lot about aging gracefully. They aren't tortured by regrets and don't stay up nights fretting about the future. Blissfully unaware of the stereotypes of age, they feel free to cavort like kittens one moment and carry on like crotchety old fogies the next. Our cats live in the eternal now, seeing each day as a splendid new gift to be unwrapped, opened, pounced upon, savoured, relished.
You elderly cat will be an inspiration, if you let her. See to her special needs, pour on the pampering, keep an eye out for any signs of medical problems. Pay close attention. To the tiniest kitten, or to the most ancient and wise old cat, now is forever.
Signs and symptoms of aging
Your cat is probably showing the signs of age if he exhibits any of these symptoms or behaviours:
an increased need for sleep
a decreased ability to regulate body warmth
an increased thirst
weight loss
a 'cloudy' look to the eyes or pupils that have turned greyish or bluish
a decreased hearing ability
a decrease in muscle mass and skin elasticity
dry, thinning coat and flaky skin
yellow or worn-down teeth, which could make it difficult to chew kibble
stiffness in the joints, arthritis, or slower movements
an increased susceptibility to stress
a decreased tolerance for changes in routine
a tendency toward constipation, diarrhoea, and other digestive upsets
an increased need for attention and affection
night-time 'crying' or disorientation
This article was written by Wendy Christensen for the pets.com website, where it first appeared.
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