As cats reach retirement age, their daily care needs begin to change. Senior cats hold a special place in our hearts, so we’ve put together some tips for providing the best care for senior cats. With a little extra support, your senior cat will not only be able to live, but thrive through their golden years.
Review your pet’s diet
Older cats have different dietary needs than their younger counterparts. As they age, they may begin to struggle with weight management, dry skin, or other more serious conditions that impact their dietary needs. During one of your biannual wellness checks, talk to your veterinarian about your cat’s diet and any changes needed to improve her overall health. This could involve switching to a prescription diet — like urinary or kidney care — or simply switching to a healthier, fresher option like Freshpet. One of the benefits of switching to fresh, whole ingredient foods is knowing your senior cat is getting virtual nutrients with every meal they eat!
Encourage them to drink more water
Water is important for all cats, but older cats are especially prone to constipation and kidney problems, both of which are affected by water intake. Fortunately, there are several easy ways to increase your senior cat’s daily water intake.
- Switch to fresh food: Fresh cat food has a naturally higher moisture content than the shelf stable alternative – 72% versus 10%, in fact!
- Use a water fountain: Cats prefer moving water, so adding a bowl with a fountain could increase the amount of water your cat drinks.
- Offer several water points: Install several water points around your home, ideally at ground level, so your senior cat always has easy access to fresh water.
Schedule regular wellness checks
Veterinarians, including Freshpet veterinarian Dr. Aziza, recommend increasing the frequency of your cat’s wellness appointments from once a year to every six months when she reaches the age of retirement. At these appointments, your veterinarian will likely recommend blood tests and physical exams, which will help screen for diseases that appear in a cat’s later years, such as kidney disease, periodontal disease, or cancer. The earlier diseases like these are detected, the more treatment options are available and the better the prognosis.
Maintain a light workout routine
Older cats naturally become less energetic, but that doesn’t mean they have to live completely sedentary lives. If you’re struggling to find ways to get your cat moving every day, keep an eye out for toys that she’s particularly interested in and save them for those special training times. If you’re not sure where to start, here are some great options:
- Throw a mouse or ball through a tunnel
- Encourage them to hunt and catch a feathered wand
- Fill a box with scraps of fabric and have them dig for treats inside.
Not only does routine exercise keep your senior cat’s spirits up, it will also help her maintain her ideal weight, maintain muscle tone, and increase blood circulation.
Keep their mind active
Tracking your senior cat’s mental activity is as important as their physical activity. There are two key times of the day when you can naturally occupy their minds: mealtime and playtime.
- Break: If you have a treat-motivated cat, consider getting a challenge board like this 5 in 1 from Trixie. Your cat will have to put his mind to work and figure out how to extract the treats from the five different types of compartments. The wavy carpet is another great option, as you can create spaces for your cat to hide, climb, explore and play – and mix up the setup in seconds!
For more ideas, check out our list of the best toys to occupy your pet indoors.
Modify your home as needed
Another part of caring for an older cat is making changes, if necessary. This could include litter boxes with ramped or low-step entrances, replacing vertical scratching posts with horizontal ones, or steps to help them get onto the bed or couch. If you’re unsure how to best accommodate your senior cat’s changing needs, check out our article on how to adapt your home for an aging pet or talk to your veterinarian. They can help you find solutions that will allow your cat to move around the house comfortably.
We hope this list gives you some insight into the best ways to care for your senior cat. Do you have any other tips you would like to share with other parents of senior pets? We’d love to see them in the comments!
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.