When is my cat elderly and what do I have to consider for a long and happy life?
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Are you seeing that your cat is getting older? Then you should note that your cat's needs are changing and it requires more care and support from you to give it a long, healthy and beautiful life. In this blog article, you'll get tips from Filu's Care Team on how to identify the needs of your elderly cat and address them in everyday life. The earlier you incorporate these tips into your routine, the more happy your four-legged friend will be.
When is my cat actually at an elderly age?
The comparison that every cat year is seven times that of a human does not entirely correspond to reality. Cats age faster in the first few years, become adults faster and therefore older faster. The life of a cat can be roughly divided into the following age groups:
- Puppy: birth up to 1 year
- Young cat: 1-6 years
- Mature cat: 7-10 years
- Senior cat: Over 10 years
There are lots of small changes you can make to make your cat feel healthy and happy even in her golden years. Starting with regular vet visits, through proper nutrition and adequate hydration to adjustments to her environment, can significantly improve your cat's quality of life and even help her live a longer life. You can find out exactly how to do this in the following eleven points.
1. Regular vet visits
Healthy adult cats should go to the vet for a routine checkup every six months. It is recommended that a laboratory test be carried out once a year to check the blood parameters and thus the organs of your cat. If your cat is over 10 years old or is already showing health problems, it is important to have more frequent checks carried out according to your veterinarian. These routine tests help to identify potential diseases at an early stage. As a result, there are higher chances of good regeneration and less invasive effort - which ultimately means lower costs for you.
2. Observe your cat at home for symptoms of illness or pain
Cats are experts at concealing pain and illness. As a result, it is often difficult for owners to recognize whether and when their four-legged friend is in the early stages of an illness. However, you can make this a bit easier if you calmly scan your cat once a week, for example when grooming. This allows you to notice any increases in circumference such as knots and bumps or other noticeable changes. If you feel something that you haven't felt before, you should have your cat examined by your vet. Also pay attention to changes in behavior (eating, drinking, grooming and exercise habits), which could also be the first signs of illness.
3. Pay attention to your cat's diet and healthy weight
As your cat gets older, can
change their dietary requirements. It is important to stay in close contact with your vet, who can advise you about your cat's specific needs, particularly if it is ill. If your cat tolerates adult cat food well, it's usually okay to feed them the same food as they get older. However, make sure you eat a nutrient-rich diet and check with your vet whether the food meets your cat's needs.
Weight loss is a common problem among older cats. It is often a first sign of illness and is often even associated with increased appetite (if your cat has hyperthyroidism or diabetes, for example). Your vet weighs your cat during routine tests and always has an overview and comparison with previous visits. If your cat loses weight, it's best to talk to him right away.
Older cats may also gain weight. This happens when they take in the same number of calories with less activity. This poses certain risks of illness for your four-legged friend (such as diabetes), can aggravate existing joint problems and impair your cat's quality of life.
4. Make sure your cat drinks enough water
Adequate hydration is extremely important for your cat. This ensures the proper functioning of the organs and thus that waste products and toxins are eliminated from the body.
Is your cat also very picky when it comes to water intake? Your vet will then know some tips on how to motivate your cat to drink. Water intake is extremely important, especially on hot days or when she is moving more than usual.
5. Reduce stress for your cat
Stress and anxiety are often more difficult for older cats to process than for younger animals. This can not only be stressful for the animal's psyche, but is often also linked to the cause of possible diseases (such as urinary and respiratory tract infections). You should therefore make sure to reduce possible causes of this as far as possible.
Food and water supply, rest and care facilities, as well as free use of the toilet are basic needs that can lead to stress if absent. Therefore, provide sufficient options for cat litter boxes, food and water bowls as well as scratching posts and cat beds in the house that are always easily accessible.
Just as you prefer a routine yourself, so does your cat. Therefore, try to establish a regular daily routine for your cat. If your cat has any changes, slowly get your four-legged friend used to them. Make sure your cat has a safe and quiet retreat in case she might feel overwhelmed (e.g. when you have guests over).
6. Adapt your cat's environment to the needs of old age
At an older age, joint problems such as arthritis can occur, which restrict your cat's mobility. This requires you to adapt the environment to your cat's needs.
Make sure that jumps that are too high are generally not necessary, as your cat may not be as agile as before. Supporting blocks, bars or ramps can be useful here. Elevated bowls can be used for back or neck pain. The cat litter box should be easily accessible. High edges and boxes with high entry can be difficult for older cats to reach. Avoid slippery surfaces as they can be uncomfortable or cause rapid movement. Use rugs or mats to cover hard surfaces and give your cat more support. As you get older, your cat is likely to rest more, so it is important that it can lie softly. For example, a thick, therapeutic bed for pets is suitable for this purpose. Their claws may also need to be cut more frequently as they find it difficult to use scratching posts. Horizontal scratching posts are also easier to use. If you have any questions about claw wear and claw cutting, contact your vet.
7. Help your cat with grooming
As you're probably aware, cats can spend hours perfecting their grooming routine. In old age, however, cats may have difficulty reaching certain areas of their body painlessly and easily due to limited mobility, overweight or health problems, which can result in matted fur, knots and sticking of the hair. Depending on the type and length of its coat, you may need to help your cat groom several times a week.
8. Brush your cat's teeth
Dental diseases are very common in older cats. This can lead to pain and inflammation, which in turn can result in inadequate dietary intake, infections, bone loss, or systemic problems.
We recommend brushing your cat's teeth daily with toothpaste suitable for pets. If your cat finds the feeling of a toothbrush in its mouth unpleasant and refuses, use a small piece of gauze that you gently rub over the teeth instead. As a result, bacteria and dental plaque can be reduced.
During regular preventive examinations, your vet also checks the teeth. He will tell you when your cat needs professional teeth cleaning to avoid possible sequelae.
9. Provide your cat with material that stimulates their senses
Older cats spend more time at home as they get older. A lot of variety should be offered here to continuously stimulate your cat's senses. For example, provide additional toys that appeal to your cat's natural instincts, such as hunting, scratching, and climbing. Many older cats enjoy watching the world outside, so you should set up a comfortable seat near the window. It has been proven that mental stimulation can counteract the effects of declining cognitive abilities of older pets.
10. Make sure that your cat can hear and see enough
As with humans, the senses of animals can also deteriorate as they age. Sometimes the ability to see or hear suffers as a result of the normal aging process and unfortunately there is little to counteract this. However, in some cases, this may also be due to a medical condition such as cataracts or an ear infection. Signs of this include racing against obstacles (such as furniture) or a lack of response to noises that otherwise always lured them out (such as opening a food package).
11. Think carefully before bringing another cat into your house
It is often mistakenly assumed that having a young kitten in the house can help cheer up and animate an older cat. However, young cats are often found to be very exhausting by older cats. Older cats need a lot of rest and their own space, which is then rarely found.
So if you're considering adding a new kitten to your house, we recommend that you only do so with a relatively fit cat in the house. In addition, you should ensure sufficient retreat options.
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