Are you helping your cat age gracefully?

Cats glide through life with ease and grace but as they grow older things start to slow down.

Although they age much better than dogs, it can still be a hard process for cats. One that requires extra care and attention from cat owners. As they age, cats tend to become less active and sociable. They may sleep more and their appetite may decrease. You may notice a change in overall mood. But what is important to recognize is whether these are signs of decreased energy or underlying health issues.

Arthritis is a common problem as cats age. Cats are extremely subtle when it comes to pain so you may not exactly see a limp. However, you may start to notice less jumping and climbing. Cats will generally take it slower. So watch out for how they move upstairs, whether they become hesitant to jump up or reaching out before jumping down, and whether their leaps become small steps. There is a lot that you can do to help your furry feline through the process. We have put together a list of what you can do to help your cat age gracefully.

Regular vet visits

It is ideal to take your cat for check-ups every six months. As cats age, they become more prone to illnesses and diseases. By having regular check-ups, you may be able to catch something early on which will increases the chances of your cat recovering. Be fully informed of your cat’s progression and what you need to be adapting to keep your cat at optimum health.

Keep warm

With age becomes more sensitive to the cold. Keep your pets in a warm environment to allow them to feel comfortable. Ensure that their bed is in a nice spot with the cold breezes passing through.

Ease of Access

Climbing and jumping will become harder for cats as they age. So it is important that cats have easy access to their water, food and litter boxes. Your cat may be struggling to climb the stairs so it is important to help them avoid doing things that may be strenuous. Having multiple litter boxes around the house will allow the cat to get to easily go when they need to, avoiding any mess. Cats may also have trouble jumping in and out of litter boxes so you want to use boxes that are easy to get into. This would be either a shallow box or a cat flap cut into the box to allow the cat to go through.

Helping Hand

If you have noticed that your cat may not be going to his favourite sitting spots anymore, it may be that they are struggling to get up to them. Help your cat to their favourite spots so that they do not have to jump up. This will keep them very happy as they get to spend time in their chill space, without going through any pain to get there.

Gently groom

Growing old can mean cats need some extra help with their grooming upkeep, to avoid any fur matting.

Keep to a routine

Older cats feel a lot more comfortable with predictability in their life. Be sure to stick to the same routine so that your cat is certain of what the day will entail. Repetition makes things seem easier as they age.

Provide the basics and love

The most important thing to remember when caring for an ageing cat is to provide it with all the basic needs and love. Things become more difficult as we age so going the extra mile to ensure your cat has everything they need will go a long way.

You will be amazed at what your cat can still achieve at its ripe age, with proper care and pain management. By giving your pet that extra attention and care, you will make the aging process easier and less painful. Be sure to visit a pet if you are noticing any changes.