There is nothing more satisfying for us than he althy and long-lived pets that offer us their affection and company for as long as possible, for this reason, the old age of our furry friends, far from being a problem it is a stage full of positive and endearing moments, where our pet needs us more than ever and that gives us the opportunity to give him much more attention and affection.
However, just as it happens with human beings, aging is a process that normally alters the physiology of the organism, a process during which both animals and people begin to have different requirements.
To meet the nutritional needs of long-lived felines, nutritional supplements are sometimes needed and in this AnimalWised article we talk about vitamins for older cats.
The aging process in cats
The longevity of our cat, as well as its quality of life, is determined by the care our pet receives on a daily basis, and whether it is adequate and we are able to cover all its physical, mental and and social, our cat can live more than 12 years, in fact some reach an age of 21 years or more.
While it is true that cats can age in a he althy way, it is no less true that the aging process involves important changes in their body, let's see what they are:
Metabolism and activity decrease, the cat becomes lazier and tends to be overweight
Your immune system begins to weaken and you are at increased risk of infectious diseases
Your fluid intake decreases and you run a higher risk of dehydration
His behavior may change, the cat needs more love and company from the owner
Increases the risk of bone and degenerative diseases
During our cat's old age we must pay more attention to his he althand immediately go to the vet when we perceive that our pet is not well
Through different care we can minimize the risks associated with longevity and one of the best tools we can use for this purpose is food.
Vitamin supplements for older cats
During our cat's old age it is important to control eating habits to prevent an increase in body weight, for this we must give frequent meals a daybut in a reduced amount.
Dry feed is also recommended as it is much more useful to prevent the formation of plaque on the teeth, however, when faced with problems of lack of appetite we should opt for wet food.
Once our cat eats properly and in accordance with its life stage, we can consider the use of nutritional supplements based on vitamins, since vitamins for older cats will provide our pet with the following advantages:
- Increased vitality and energy
- Immune system capacity booster
- Prevention of bone and degenerative diseases (vitamins participate in multiple chemical reactions essential for adequate bone metabolism)
- Appetite regulation
It is important to emphasize that before considering the use of vitamin supplements we must ensure that the dietary guidelines are adequate, since nutritional supplements cannot be used to replace a good diet, but to complement it.
How to give vitamins to older cats?
Under no circumstances can you give your cat nutritional supplements that have been approved for human use, since our pet's micronutrient requirements are very different from ours.
Vitamins must be specific for cats and today we can easily find them in specialized stores and in many presentations, so that we can choose the format that is most comfortable for our cat.
Nevertheless, before giving your cat nutritional supplements it is essential that you seek advice from the veterinarian, he will carry out a basic examination and will recommend the vitamin supplement that best suits the specific needs of your cat during its old age.
Other tips for long-lived cats
If you want to enjoy watching your cat grow old in a he althy way and preserve its quality of life, we recommend that you pay special attention to the following tips:
