Caring for Senior Cats
Providing for the Needs of Older Cats to Improve the Quality of Life
Apr 14, 2009
With recent advances in medicine, pet cats are living longer lives than ever before. However, as a cat ages, changes occur within the body that require basic changes in cat care.
According to Dr. Margie Scherk, DVM, DAVBP, the average cat today lives to be 14-16 years of age. A cat is considered senior between the ages of 9 and 12 years of age and geriatric after 12 years.
Changing Nutritional Needs in Senior Cats
As cats age, their nutritional needs change as well. While middle-aged cats tend to lean toward being overweight or obese, senior cats differ in that they may not be able to digest fats and proteins as well, leading to weight loss if the increasing demand for fat and protein in the diet is not met.
For older cats, weight and body condition need to be tracked regularly. Changes in weight or body condition can alert a cat owner to the fact that nutritional needs for the cat are not being met and indicate that a change in diet is in order.
Many senior cats need diets with increased levels of fats and/or proteins in order to maintain their weight and body condition at an acceptable level.
Cats which do not have a normal appetite due to age-related health problems may need veterinary intervention in the form of medications to stimulate the appetite (mirtazapine or cyproheptadine) or even feeding tubes to provide adequate nutrition for the senior cat.
Changes in Hydration Status in Senior Cats
As a cat ages, the kidneys often are not able to reclaim moisture content as normal healthy kidneys do. Consequently, senior cats often suffer from dehydration.
Constipation may be one of the first symptoms seen by a cat owner when a senior cat begins to become dehydrated. Observation of senior cats for hard, pellet-like feces is recommended to assist in determining whether a senior cat may be starting to suffer from a lack of proper hydration.
Many things can be done to encourage a cat to take in more water.
- Water fountains are readily available in pet stores for cats and dogs and, for many senior cats, constantly moving water can encourage the cat to drink more water.
- Leaving water faucets drip or run slowly may encourage some cats to take in more water.
- Canned cat food has a much higher moisture content than dry. Therefore, feeding canned cat food can increase a cat's moisture intake.
- Adding water or flavored juices (clam juice, tuna juice, chicken broth, etc) to food may assist in increasing moisture intake for senior cats. Avoid bouillon cubes and powder as these are very high in salt.
Controlling Pain in Senior Cats
Senior cats quite often experience some degree of pain due to various health problems, such as:
- arthritis
- bad teeth or other oral health problems
- urinary disease
Multi-modal therapy is recommended to reduce pain for senior cats and may include:
- NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory) medications such as Metacam
- non-NSAID pain relievers such as buprenorphine or tramadol
- alternative medicine modalities such as acupuncture
- physical therapy / rehabilitation
Mobility Issues in Senior Cats
Senior cats may experience a decline in general mobility due to health issues such as arthritis. Solutions which may help overcome this decline in mobility include:
- keeping nails clipped short to keep nails from snagging.
- providing soft, padded bedding for senior cats to sleep on.
- providing ramps or steps to assist senior cats in accessing favorite resting areas.
- providing litter boxes with low sides to make access to the litter box easier for senior cats.
- providing litter boxes in easily accessible areas of the home so that senior cats do not have to climb stairs to use litter boxes.
- placing food dishes and water bowls on the floor instead of on a counter-top.
Of course, regular veterinary visits to manage and/or treat health ailments common to senior cats is mandatory.
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