I’m lucky that all my girls are under 3, but I did foster an older Siamese cat for a while and it wasn’t easy. I knew Suki was 14, but I had always had my heart set on a siamese cat so it didn’t matter. When you’ve had a cat from a kitten, it may be hard to notice them getting older. Outside, pet cats may show the same things- playing with toys around the home, taking naps sprawled on a favorite spot inside the home, snuggle up with you on the sofa. But inside, it might be a whole different thing. Health care for cats as they get older changes and there’s a lot of things to consider. 

When caring your an aging cat, there are some things that a concerned pet owner should know about. When a cat approaches somewhere between the ages of eight or twelve years, this is the equivalent of a human being approaching middle age. This will be the time that your pet cat may be needing a bit of extra attention. No matter what age you get your cat, it’s always a good idea to look at the best healthiest food options. If they’ve been ill, perhaps look into vitamin pastes.

Most veterinarians generally estimate that cats start their geriatric years when they reach twelve years. This will be the time that caring for your pet cat would have to change to accommodate the needs that aging brings, but of course, with things like dental care, it’s a good idea to start long before this. Dental treats, toys and even actually brushing your cat’s teeth can drastically improve their chances of not getting a dental disease later in life. 

A major part of caring for older pet cats involves feeding them. As cats get older, their digestive systems do not function as efficiently as before. Aging cats may need to eat smaller and easily digestible meals in a day rather than just two square meals. Try also to make sure that you give your cat a variety of food to eat to ensure that it gets a well-balanced diet. Automated pet feeders are a great way to keep food fresh and covered so that they can eat little and often. 

There are also a number of cat food now available as food for the different life stages of your pet cat. There are cat food ranges that are specially formulated for older cats as well as for the less active ones. The best advice in feeding your aging pet cat would be to ask your vet about the nutritional needs of your cat, and if in doubt, go to your nearest pet store and pick the age-appropriate food. There are even cat food brands that have ranges depending on the breed and medical condition of your cat. 

When cats age, they also start to lead a less active lifestyle. Whereas cats enjoy playing around and hunting during their younger years, older cats seem to prefer spending more time quietly around the home. This would be a benefit for some pet owners since they no longer have to worry about their once playful cat overturning and breaking things around the house, but this sedentary lifestyle would not be good for the cat.

Even though your pet cat would you may still need to keep them active since the exercise would help keep them healthy. Try to have them active as often as possible to keep them active. Rotating toys, introducing new toys, and actively encouraging your cat to play for at least 1 hour a day is recommended.

Of course, you should already be up to date on yearly vaccinations, but if you take in, foster, or adopt an older cat, be sure to keep up with their vaccinations. Older cats have a less efficient immune system and may need vaccinations to keep them protected from diseases.

Georgie

Georgie – twenty something content creator based in Yorkshire, writing about all things pretty in life