Thanks to advances in veterinary medicine over the last few decades, the average life expectancy of a cat has nearly doubled. It’s brilliant news; we get double the time with our beloved felines, which means double the purrs and double the love. The same is essentially true for dogs (although the size of breed has more of an impact), but here I'll use cats as the example as I've known more elderly cats.
Living longer sadly also means they can suffer from a larger range of age-related conditions. While some of these conditions can be managed and the effects of others offset, it’s important to keep an eye out for any changes in your ageing cat’s behaviour.
The first and most important thing you can do is take them for regular veterinary checks. Just as with your own doctor, be frank about your cat’s behaviour. They’re relying on you for important clues about your cat’s health.
- Are they eating more or less?
- Drinking more?
- o they urinate more often?
- Groom them regularly and pay particular attention to their coat condition.
- Are they stiff when they get up from a nap?
- Or do they seem to forget where they are and yowl?
As cats age they simply don’t process food as effectively as they used to. It can lead to gradual but consistent weight loss and leave them looking skinny. There are specific higher-calorie foods for senior cats, so ask your vet. If your older cat starts drinking more it can be a down to a range of conditions which again can be treated with special foods. These foods have added vitamins and minerals and can help correct specific nutritional balances. But an increasing thirst can be a symptom of other more major problems - so tell their vet.
Poor coat condition can be symptom of under-nourishment or because they’re losing interest in grooming. You can give them a boost with supplements such as Omega 3 & 6 or Evening Primrose. Adding these nutrients to their food can help to keep coats looking glossy and minimise the need to groom.
A wide range of supplements are also available to help repair, maintain and loosen stiff joints. They come in tablet, capsule and liquid form so no matter how fussy they are you should be able to find a delivery method that will help their ageing bones. My cat Macy begs (quite literally upright with front paws flopped down) for a Seraquin tablet as a morning treat!
Senility or loss of cognitive function is increasingly common in our ageing cat population. It usually shows up as confusion or a sudden departure from a lifetime’s routine (such as missing the litter tray). Again, supplements specifically designed to boost or support brain function in older cats can really help – Senilife, for example. Also just be patient with them, it is not their fault.
The best advice of all is to enjoy the developments in their personality as they age. Treasure your time with them and never forget their glory days when they could leap up a fence panel in a single bound!
Talking of ageing gracefully allows me to gratuitously post a picture of our cat Fudge. She made it to the grand old age of 22. A lovely girl, she was a little wobbly on her pins in the last few months but was still mobile - even if she did occasionally forget where she was! This is her on the day of her 21st birthday.
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