When your cat reaches the age of ten or older, the years can start to take their toll. You may start to notice age related weight gain or loss, or that its sense of sight, smell and hearing are no longer what they were. You may also notice your poor old moggie sleeping more than they used to. They become less active and their personalities can change. Although there is nothing like regular visits to the vet to keep potential health problems at bay, there are also other measures you can take to ensure a peaceful and healthy old age .
1) ‘Move house’
An older cat doesn’t have the same energy as younger cats. It can become difficult for them to climb to the tops of trees, mount steps or to make jumps to get to higher places. To help avoid unnecessary pains and make its movements easier, leave plenty of cat baskets in easily accessible areas. If your cat has arthritis, provide them with a memory foam basket, that they’ll soon get very attached to!
2) Keep them from the cold!
If possible, place the cat baskets in warm, dry areas, away from draughts that are likely to be unpleasant.
3) Don’t let them distance themselves
If your cat is distancing himself from you more and more, don’t hesitate to approach him. Talk to him, cuddle him, praise him and play with him or get him to exercise, without overdoing it.
4) Feeding
Older cats need more ‘moist’ meals in order to facilitate digestion. Buy cat biscuits adapted to older cats and moisten them before feeding them to him. Mashing or blending his food a little is also a good option. Don’t hesitate to switch to feeding him smaller amounts but more frequently throughout the day, rather than one large meal. This will cause fewer digestion problems.
5) Looking after his fur
With age, some cats start to find it difficult to look after their own fur, and their coat isn’t the same as it used to be (becoming dry and sparse, and with less skin elasticity). It is thus necessary to brush your cat more often.