Cats are spectacular creatures that, no matter how many years go by, seem to have drunk from the fountain of eternal youth. But, although they always look young and shiny, like all the creatures in the world, they also age.
Although we may not realize it, aging in cats is a process that occurs more rapidly than in other animals, in fact, a cat is considered older when it reaches age 7 yearsAs with humans, once a cat reaches this stage their he alth begins to decline and they begin to show signs of aging.
As human companions of our pets, it is important to know when this phase begins to take the appropriate measures and provide the most suitable lifestyle. We invite you to read this new article on our site where you will know what the symptoms of aging in cats are
1. White hair
Don't expect your cat to go from black to white, but know that cats go gray too This is a sign that her skin is aging, and while her fur won't necessarily change completely, you will be able to see your cat's gray in the mouth area and near her eyebrows and nose. Gray hairs will also start to appear on the legs and back and this will spread out a bit more.
two. Loss of senses
Hearing loss does not occur in all cats but it is very common. So if you call your feline several times and he does not answer as quickly, it is because his ear is not as young as before. There are different levels of severity, while in some cases it is sometimes not so noticeable, in other cases, the cat will end up completely deaf.
If you notice any important changes it will be necessary Go to the vet to rule out the presence of any other he alth problem. The same goes for loss of vision and smell. The degeneration of the senses in your pet will bring about an attention deficit, and he/she could begin to present some clumsiness in his movements and show changes in his mood, so he could be somewhat irritable
3. Changes in eating habits, being overweight or thin
When your cat is getting older you will see that he will eat more slowly than before and even eat less. He will no longer be as much of a food eater as he was before, when he was younger. That's because his digestive system will work slower, and this could lead to constipation problems. The speed will slow down and digestion will become more difficult, so your cat could start losing weight. You will have to change the portions of his diet and restructure his food life. On the other hand, since the physical activity of older cats decreases, many of them will have a tendency to put on weight.
Physical changes are very relative. The situation could be complicated when we do not attend to these signs, since it is possible that they are also manifestations of diabetes. If, for example, your cat eats a lot and is looking for water all day and still continues to lose weight, you should take it to the vet because it is possible that it has this disease.
4. Slow movement
Is your cat not as jumpy and active as it used to be? That's because he's getting old. As cats get older they become lazier, preferring to sleep all day before chasing after a mouse that has escaped from their home. It will also cost him more to move and perform those contortionist movements that he used to do and that captured all your attention.
You will continue playing but with less feline intensity and you will get bored faster. He will walk stiffer and with less fluidity, this may indicate that he has a joint or muscle problem, especially in the area of the hips and hind legs, these being typical signs of age.
5. Problems in the teeth
A Older cats' teeth weaken with age. They could be more sensitive, and if they have a tendency to tartar, it could accelerate problems of gingivitis, stomatitis (general inflammation of the gums and their supports).
Even like humans, some cats may lose teeth, making eating difficult. To help your cat and that this does not represent too much discomfort, you should replace its usual food with a more natural one and consider performing oral hygiene.
Remember that older cats need more care than an adult cat as well as a special interest in their diet and he alth status. For that reason, do not hesitate to visit our complete guide to caring for elderly cats.
