When your cat becomes older, it can be helpful to ask your vet for recommendations on the best type of food for your senior cat. From around 10 years of age, a cat’s nutritional needs change. Their metabolism slows down, and physical activity decreases. As a result, their energy requirements drop by about 20% compared to a younger cat.
It is not uncommon for older cats to gain weight, so it’s important to monitor their diet to avoid obesity, as this can lead to conditions like diabetes. After the age of 12, some cats may lose weight instead, and this should prompt a visit to your vet, as it could be a sign of kidney failure, hyperthyroidism, or dental issues.
Caring for Your Senior Cat
Exercise strengthens muscles, protects joints, promotes good circulation, stimulates the brain, and helps your cat maintain a healthy physique. If your cat has already started becoming lethargic, try offering food puzzles: for example, hide treats around your home to encourage them to move around and use their sense of smell to find each bite.
Be mindful that a complete lack of movement, motor difficulties, or restricted mobility are usually not just signs of aging but could indicate an underlying illness.
Daily grooming and brushing, inspecting their claws, eyes, and ears, and playing with them are also essential to ensure your cat stays healthy and happy as they age!
Making Their Environment Comfortable
As your cat gets older, they’ll need more comfort, especially warm places to rest. It may be a good idea to move their favourite bed or blanket to a cozy spot (but not overheated!) in your home, away from drafts.
At a certain age, they may struggle with grooming themselves and maintaining their coat as they once did. You can help by brushing them gently and possibly massaging them lightly if they enjoy it.
To improve their quality of life, you can take certain steps: choosing low-sided litter boxes and easily accessible food bowls will increase comfort, especially if they have difficulty moving around. You may also want to find ways to help them climb onto their favourite chair or sofa if it’s becoming too hard, such as installing a ramp.
What Should You Monitor in Your Senior Cat?
- Weight: Unnoticed weight loss may indicate an underlying illness (e.g. diabetes, hyperthyroidism, chronic kidney failure, heart disease, etc.), while weight gain and obesity can have repercussions on the liver, heart, and joints.
- Water Intake: Many metabolic disorders associated with aging come with increased drinking (diabetes, kidney, or liver failure). If in doubt, you can use a connected water dispenser (like Felaqua Connect) to measure how much they are drinking and inform your vet, who can run the necessary tests. These dispensers also encourage your cat to drink and provide clean, fresh water, helping prevent urinary problems or cystitis.
- Heart: Signs such as coughing, fatigue, or weight loss could indicate heart issues and a failing cardiac function.
- Appetite: A loss of appetite, or an unusually high increase in appetite, should raise a red flag. These are symptoms of many feline diseases, including diabetes.
- Joints: Although cats remain relatively flexible, their joints age with time. Your cat may suffer from arthritis, and it’s essential to consult a vet, as there are many solutions to relieve pain.
- Teeth: Bacteria in the mouth (from tartar) can lead to tooth loss and infections. These bacteria can also enter the bloodstream and cause severe kidney or heart issues.
- Coat: A dull, greasy, poorly maintained coat, or one with flakes or dandruff should raise concern. Your cat may no longer be able to groom themselves properly or might have a general illness affecting the quality of their fur.
If you have any doubts or if everything seems normal, it’s important to have your cat examined by their vet.
A regular health check-up (every 6 months) from the age of 8-10 years is highly beneficial for your cat’s health. Always consult your vet!