Cats are especially long-lived animals that can accompany us, generally, between 12 and 18 years. If your cat is already 8 years old, it's time to start thinking more about caring for him, as he's beginning to consider himself an elderly feline.
For this reason, it will be essential to monitor your diet, he alth, physical activity and even some small details that will be key to detecting any disease in time.
Knowing how to take care of an old cat is complicated, for this reason in this article on our site we are going to offer you various tips and tricks so that you can give your best friend the best care in this sweet stage and delicate. Keep reading and find out in our complete care guide for elderly cats
Feeding the old cat
Visually, elderly cats retain a youthful and active appearance that does not make us think that they need excessive care, but that is not true. Your bones, muscles, and organs begin to work more slowly and suffer over time.
The industrial feed are more balanced than a homemade diet and provide our cat with the taurine necessary for the proper functioning of its organs. Dry feed also allows the cat's teeth to be rubbed and limits the formation of dental plaque.
Don't hesitate to ask your vet about a change in his diet to a gamma superior senior or light. This type of food is indicated for elderly cats since it makes them fatter less than other feeds (ideal for their progressive reduction in daily activity) and allows them to control their weight, which is essential at this stage. That not only helps maintain your figure, it also takes care of your he alth. Remember that obesity in cats results in a shorter life expectancy and a greater predisposition to different diseases.
It is also important that our cat always has fresh, clean water available, which we change regularly to encourage him to drink and keep him hydrated. If you notice that he does not drink much you can offer him wet food from time to time as it contains a high percentage of water. However, if you notice little water intake, it is advisable to go to the vet to rule out urinary tract problems.
Taking care of your mouth is essential
The lack of appetite could be due to the formation of dental plaque that causes painful gingivitis in our cat and prevents him from chewing his food. Tooth conditions are common in older cats and are often accompanied by bad breath.
Also discover on our site tips for removing tartar from cats. Of course, in serious cases your elderly cat may need an intervention from the veterinarian, this requires blood tests since it requires general anesthesia, an intervention incompatible with high levels of urea or creatinine.
If you notice that he doesn't eat feed, try stimulating him with wet food that, in addition to being tasty and easy to eat, contains a large amount of water, perfect for older cats.
Caring for the elderly cat at home
In addition to what was mentioned above, it is important that at this stage of life we pay more attention to our pet by offering it extra attention. To encourage our cat to be he althy and active even in this stage of old age, it is important that we avoid our pet's apathy by playing with it and capturing its attention on a regular basis. Toys, caresses or long massages are perfect options to keep you active and he althy.
Another specific care for elderly cats is attention to problems related to the senses such as blindness or deafness. As they get older they can begin to become disoriented within the same home and lose capacities that we must discover through observation. Do not stop paying attention to him so that he spends his stage with the best possible person, that is you.
Don't forget to brush regularly his hair to remove dead hair that he might ingest when cleaning. During this ritual we can take the opportunity to control the state of his skin, that of his hair and also share a good moment with him. It is also advisable to clean the eyes and ears regularly with a soft tissue soaked in water or sterile gauze.
With age, our cat is less active and its claws wear less and become more fragile: the solution is to trim its claws, it also allows us to check that our cat's paw pads are in good condition. To all this we add the pampering: give him attention and affection our cat is very good for him, he loves caresses and being pampered, and it even makes him happier as you get older!
Veterinary monitoring of the elderly cat
During old age, he alth problems become more frequent than in other stages of the cat's life. We must be informed and attentive to any physical change that we observe: hair loss, appearance of tumors, tortuosity when walking, etc. In the event of any symptoms, it is important to go to the veterinarian as soon as possible because, in this way, the treatment to be applied will be more effective. We should also notify our veterinarian of any behavioral changes such as lack of appetite, increased thirst, abnormal aggressiveness or if our cat appears depressed.
Depression or prostration can be signs of illness and should be taken seriously. Lack of appetite and increased thirst can be the signs of various disorders: kidney problems, liver problems, gastritis. These problems are more common as the cat ages, so regular blood tests are recommended from 8-10 years of age. Being able to make an early diagnosis is the key to successful treatment of the problems of the elderly cat.
Even if we don't observe any signs of illness in our cat, it is also highly recommended go to the vet approximately every 6 months to do an analysis and a general review. In this way, we will rule out anemia or allergies that may have gone unnoticed by us.
Rest and rest
Rest is a fundamental part of an elderly cat's life. From the age of 8 we will begin to observe how he needs more hours to rest and it is normal, we should not be alarmed. For that reason, buying a new fluffy bed or various cushions is a highly recommended idea. We will encourage you to rest in comfortable places that will not provoke resentment.
Whenever you are resting or resting, we will promote a calm environment without disturbing or disturbing you. In addition and as extra advice, if we see that it is difficult for him to climb the stairs, we should help him and take him in our arms. It is also advisable to place some pillows near the radiators so that our cat can curl up there. Anything we can do to make life easier for our elderly cat is good.
The importance of moderate exercise
Although obviously your cat is no longer as agile as it was years ago, it is important that you continue to keep him active to avoid becoming overweight and help keep his muscles active, activate blood circulation and strengthen your joints.
Although you will notice that he needs more and more hours of rest, it is highly recommended to play with him for about 15 minutes a day, an option excellent for keeping you active. The various intelligence or hunting games will stimulate him physically and mentally. In addition to physical exercise
Not exercising him can never lead to a serious problem of obesity, something that reduces his life expectancy. If this is your case, our site explains how to exercise an obese cat in an easy and simple way.
