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- Coverage of health conditions common to senior cats
- Solutions to age-related problem behaviors
- Dietary tips to ensure that your senior cat gets proper nutrition
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When Is Your Cat a Senior?
Individual cats, like individual people, age according to their own inner clocks. Genetics, life history, environment, and a measure of luck all play parts in determining how the body and mind
respond to the passage of time. Most pet cats live into their early teens, and some live well into their 20s. Some remain vital and active almost to the end of their lives, while others slow down a bit as they age.
In general, however, by about seven or eight years of age, your cat is like a person in her 50s and is beginning or approaching her senior phase of life. This phase may last another seven or eight years, or even longer, with proper care and good luck.
The Signs of Aging
Even a perfectly healthy cat is likely to show some signs of aging when she is 7–10 years old. Both your cat’s physical and behavioral characteristics are likely to change with time, but if a change in your cat comes on suddenly, is severe, or worries you, ask your veterinarian about possible medical causes and treatments. The following are some of the changes typically observed in older cats.
Physical Changes
Aging cats are like aging people in many ways. Your older cat may move more slowly or seem stiff, especially when she first wakes up. She may have trouble
going up or down stairs and may not be able to perform athletic feats that used to be second nature to her. Her reaction time may also be slower and her eyesight and hearing less acute. Her eyes may take on a cloudy appearance, and her coat may become dry and dull and even show some signs of gray.
Internal changes also occur with age. For instance, your cat’s body will eventually become less efficient at regulating its own temperature, making her feel chilly when everyone else is comfortable or even too warm. (You’re likely to notice your cat looking for warmer spots in the house in which to relax.) Many older cats also take on a bony feel due to the loss of subcutaneous fat (fat located under the skin), and that loss of natural padding makes them seek softer places on which to lie down. Some other physical changes you may notice in your cat include:
- A gain or loss of weight
- An increased likelihood of disease and infection due to a less efficient immune system
- Dental problems such as broken teeth and gum disease
- Digestive problems (vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, or gas)
- Eating and/or drinking more or less often than usual
- Hearing loss (partial or total)
- Loss of muscle tone and strength
- More frequent urination and/or less frequent defecation (a senior cat may also begin eliminating outside her litter box)
Behavioral Changes
As your cat grows older, her relationship with other members of your family may undergo some changes. The number and types of changes, however, are unpredictable and will depend on a complicated set of factors, including your cat’s individual personality and health.
Some older cats become reclusive, preferring to spend time by themselves and avoiding interaction part or most of the time. If this is the case with your cat, keep an eye on her. She may be perfectly healthy, but if this urge for privacy comes on suddenly, have your vet examine her. Seeking solitude can be a sign of illness.
Other cats become more mellow with age and more social than ever before. Your aging cat may want to spend a lot of time with people and other pets, especially if she has had a long-term relationship with one or more of them. Pets who have lived together for years often show obvious affection for one another as they grow old together. Your cat may also show more affection for one or more of her human family members. Other behavioral changes you may notice in your senior cat include:
- Disoriented behavior (this may warrant veterinary attention)
- Increased or decreased vocalization
- Lower tolerance for new pets, people, or situations
- Reduced activity level
- Sleeping more often
Adopting a Senior Cat
Many older adult cats who are excellent pets often become available for adoption through shelters and rescue organizations around the country. Unfortunately, they’re often passed over in favor of kittens and younger adults.
However, there are certain benefits to adopting an older cat: she will have already matured past her energetic (and occasionally troublesome) kittenhood, and both her appearance and personality will be fully formed and easy to discern prior to adoption. Also, though many people choose younger cats so that they can have them for a longer time, an older adult cat in reasonably good health may be with you for more than a decade.
Some senior cats adapt to a new home right away, while others may have difficulty adjusting and will hide under the bed or otherwise isolate themselves for a day or two. The following tips will help you introduce an older cat, should you choose to adopt one, into your home.
- Give your new pet
some time to explore and get comfortable. An older cat may be
afraid of her new surroundings and become confused about where she is, so don’t overwhelm her when she first arrives. Show her where the litter box, scratching post, and food and water dishes are, then let her settle in at her own pace.
- Talk to your new pet in a soothing voice, and offer her something to eat. If she seems interested, play with her for a while so that she begins to bond with you.
- If you know the previous owners, or if you learned about your cat’s past when you adopted her, you can make settling in easier for her. If you can, find out what she likes or doesn’t like, as well as any aspects of her history that you should know about. For example, did she leave a loving family or a longtime companion animal behind before coming to live with you? Was she mistreated or abandoned?
- If you know her name, use it often because it will give her a sense of comfort. If you don’t, give her a chance to get used to her new one.
- Be patient with your new pet, and give her plenty of love, praise, and encouragement while she makes the adjustment to living with you.
| Text & Photos Copyright © 2007 TFH Publications, Inc. | Acknowledgments & Disclaimer |
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