The Senior Cat
Your cat is growing old (gracefully, we hope!) or perhaps you are thinking about
adopting an older cat. But how old is ‘old’?
A cat is considered ‘senior’ once it reaches the age of seven or so. These senior years
bring their own considerations – and plenty of rewards.
The Senior Cat at Home
The senior cat is generally quite self-contained and fits into the household well. They
may relinquish the joys of hunting will love to sleep, sunbathe and eat and they love a
cuddle. Your senior cat will be housetrained and, if he is from an animal shelter,
should also have been neutered and vaccinated.
If you are adopting a senior cat bear in mind that it will more cautious and less
boisterous than a kitten.
Make sure your house is escape-proof. He will need to carefully explore his new
home and will appreciate quiet time with you. Small treats will encourage his
confidence and develop the bond between the two of you.
Provide a safe sleeping/resting spot and a warm blanket, perhaps in a cat bed. Senior
cats do not like draughts. Some older cats call out at night because they need
reassurance. Move the cat bed into your room if you like or let him sleep on the bed
if neither of you mind.
Introduce other family pets to the senior cat gradually and do so under supervision.
Try to maintain the cat’s previous routine. For example, use the same litter material
that it has been used to.
The less supple older cat may need help with grooming. Daily grooming ensures
bonding time set aside exclusively for both you and your cat. At all costs avoid
‘matting’ – whereby the fur becomes matted. Sometimes these ‘mats’ are so severe
that the cat has to have them removed while under general anaesthetic.
Very old cats may neglect their grooming but because they are proud and naturally
fastidious, they will love you to keep them clean and comfortable.
The Senior Cat and Exercise
Although he will be less active than his younger brethren all cats need exercise to
prevent boredom, obesity and behavioural problems. Some breeds need more play
time than others. For example, Bengal and Abyssinians tend to be much more active
than British Shorthairs.
Some owners choose to keep their older cats indoors away from traffic and other
hazards. This is sensible as the senior cat may be less able to cope with certain
outdoor hazards. Provide him with a scratching post so that he can exercise his claws;
some toys and a pot of grass for him to chew on.
Even the older cat can enjoy games so it is worth buying quality cat toys to encourage
activity and bonding. If the toy includes catnip you will most likely delight your cat.
You can also buy catnip spray to add to the toys you may already have.
Put the toys away after play. This will prevent your cat from becoming bored with
them.
Feeding Time
It’s vital to feed your cat the right food – and the right amount. Cats can be fussy
eaters or they can overeat. Feline obesity is a common cause of health problems,
especially in an older, less active cat.
An adult cat needs ½ a tin of cat food or 1 cup of dried food per day. Your older cat’s
digestive system may be less efficient than it once was so several smaller meals a day
are preferable to two main meals.
The senior cat still needs plenty of protein. A high quality commercial cat food
formulated for the older cat will ensure that your cat's diet is rich in all essential
nutrients while taking into account the less efficient digestive system and decreased
need for fat. These foods may also have less phosphorous in them, making them
suitable for a cat with kidney problems.
Do not feed your cat on just one type of food. A diet of nothing but fish, for example,
can cause serious skin disorders and gastro-intestinal malfunctions.
Serve food at room temperature in a clean bowl. This helps the cat, whose sense of
smell may be weakened, to smell its food. And always provide fresh water.
Travels with Your Senior Cat
Always place your cat in a secure container when travelling to the vet or a relative’s
house. Even if your cat is happy to snuggle down on the back seat or back window
shelf this is unsafe. Sudden braking could result in serious injury to the cat, or a
scared cat could damage fellow passengers.
Invest in a good harness with securely attached ID tags. Include your name, address,
phone number, as well as contact information for your vet. A microchip is a smart
choice.
If you do not need to take your cat with you board your cat in a reputable cattery or
engage a reliable cat-sitter. (Ask around for recommendations of both).
Disease Prevention
Keep your senior cat’s vaccinations up to date and treat him with good quality flea
treatment. The most common flea found on cats and dogs is the cat flea
(Ctenocephalides felis). Ask a qualified professional if you are in any doubt on how
to effectively prevent or treat your cat for fleas.
The Ill Senior Cat
Ensure your cat’s dental health is maintained by a vet. You may need to brush your
cat’s teeth between visits! Most cats manage without teeth but do mash up his food to
make it easier to eat. You can add gravy dry food to soften it.
A marked decrease in appetite needs investigation by a vet. Also if your cat displays
weight loss even though he is eating more he should be seen by your vet. This may
indicate an overactive thyroid gland. Other symptoms of this fairly common disease
in the senior cat are nervousness, irritability, vomiting, lethargy and weakness and
diarrhoea. In hyperthyroidism the thyroid gland becomes enlarged and produces too
much thyroid hormone. The condition is often provoked by a benign tumour on one or
both lobes of the thyroid gland. However, these tumours have only a 2-5% chance of
malignancy. The condition is treated with tablets which the cat will remain on for life.
Feline diabetes can affect cats of any age but is most common in older, obese cats,
and males in particular. Look out for vomiting, dehydration, weakness and loss of
appetite, increased thirst, frequent urination, weight loss, breathing abnormalities and
an unkempt coat. The vet will test for blood sugar levels and sugar levels in the urine.
If your cat’s eyes weep a lot he may have an allergy or sinus infection. This, along
with excessive drinking and urination, lethargy, and a dull coat, can indicate the onset
of kidney failure. Again, take your cat to the vet. Kidney failure is common in older
cats and can be fatal.
Your cat may need sun protection to prevent skin cancer. Special cat-friendly sun
block creams are available for this. White eared or white cats are more prone to skin
cancer.
An older cat may no longer wear down its claws as quickly as it once did and more
frequent trimming may be required. Overgrown claws will cause discomfort and
problems with walking.
With good care (and good genes, in some cases) cats can live into their twenties.
Some have lived into their thirties.
DISCLAIMER: While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the
information contained here it is for educational purposes only. The writer of this
article and flynnthedog can not diagnose any physical, mental or behavioural
condition in animals nor prescribe treatment. We urge you to consult your vet if
you have any concerns about your pet.