Perhaps you’ve had your cat since it was a kitten, but you can tell it’s starting to slow down. Or perhaps you’re one of the kind souls who chose to adopt a senior cat instead of a kitten. Just as when you get a young cat, a senior cat comes with its own set of considerations for ensuring its best quality of life.

In this blog post, we’ll learn about:

  • What makes a cat a “senior” cat
  • The health problems that can be expected in a senior cat
  • How best to manage a senior cat’s changing medical needs
  • What you can do at home to make your senior cat’s life more comfortable
  • What things to avoid in senior cat care
  • Whether adopting a senior cat is right for you

What’s a “senior” cat?

Biologically speaking, a senior cat is one that is over 10-11 years of age. However, if you do a quick online search, you’ll see there is some wiggle room as to what age defines a senior, or “geriatric,” cat.

If you adopted a cat, or care for a stray, you may not have the luxury of knowing your cat’s biological age. In that case, your veterinarian can review a variety of factors (e.g. eyes, teeth, bone structure) to make an educated guess as to your cat’s age.

You may also be able to gauge your cat’s age based on external cues. If you notice a change in your cat’s energy levels, food intake and preferences, bathroom habits, and grooming behaviors, it may be that your cat is transitioning to an older stage of its life.

How will my cat’s health change as it ages?

Just as in humans, the aging process of cats brings with it potential health problems. Some of these problems are the same ones we, their owners, can expect in our golden years. For example, problems seen in older cats can include:

  • Vision, memory, dental, and movement problems
  • Diseases of the major organs (kidney, heart, liver)
  • Gastrointestinal and weight loss/gain issues
  • Arthritis
  • Cancer
  • Increased risk of infection
  • Imbalances in the metabolic and endocrine systems

These deficits and diseases do not mean that your cat’s life is nearing its end. It may just mean that changes are required to its health care to ensure ongoing quality of life.

What changes will I need to make to my senior cat’s medical care?

As your cat’s caretaker, you’ll want to schedule regular wellness checks with your veterinarian to monitor and adapt to your cat’s changing life conditions. For a senior cat, this may mean annual or bi-annual visits to maintain your cat’s health.

Your veterinarian may also request that you schedule a longer visit with them, or complete a questionnaire about your cat’s health, in conjunction with the care plan. Domestic cats are living longer lives thanks to better nutrition, regular vet care, and increased owner engagement. As such, your vet will see these appointments as an opportunity to not only increase your cat’s life expectancy, but also the quality of its life as it ages.

What can I do at home to make my senior cat’s life more comfortable?

Accommodating a senior cat’s lifestyle may require some modifications to their home life. However, there are simple adaptations that will make your cat’s aging experience easier. For example:

  • Provide steps and ramps to your cat’s favorite places so they can easily access their comfort spots.
  • Modify litter boxes so your cats can easily access their litter and have adequate room to maneuver in the space. Consider adding additional litter boxes so they have readily accessible bathroom options.
  • Assist with your cat’s grooming efforts. This includes not only brushing their fur, but their teeth as well! Nails will also require regular trimming to keep your cat comfortable.
  • Make necessary nutritional changes to ensure they’re getting the right type of food for their changing bodies. This should include increased water sources, as dehydration and kidney problems are a very real concern for senior cats. Your cat’s sense of smell may also decline with age, so adding flavor enhancers to food can encourage them to continue regular food intake.
  • Adjust food and water bowls to recognize your cat’s changing needs. Your cat’s sensitivity, particularly in its whiskers, may increase with age. Consider wider food and water bowls that are less likely to graze whiskers during food and water consumption. Or, if your cat is suffering from a joint disorder, an elevated bowl may allow for better access to food.
  • Add nightlights to improve visibility in dark areas of your home.
  • Encourage playtime activities to maintain your cat’s mobility. This includes keeping favorite toys at the ready, and using play time to ensure regular physical activity each day.
  • Be consistent with food, sleep, and play routines.
  • Consider adding a heating pad or a thermal pet bed to your cat’s sleeping spaces.
  • Regularly tell your cat that it is a good cat and a pretty cat.

What shouldn’t I be doing?

Remember that in this time of your cat’s life, your cat’s tolerance to stressful and changing situations may decline significantly. For this reason, introducing a kitten to your household to pep up your senior cat may cause more problems than it solves. Carefully consider whether this addition to the household will aid your senior cat or cause it physical and emotional distress. Your veterinarian may be able to provide valuable insight on this topic.

And, speaking of your vet, don’t avoid discussing end-of-life care with them until an urgent situation arises. Though we all dread saying goodbye to our pets, discussing end-of-life options with your vet now can ease the burden when the time comes to making the decisions around end-of-life care.

Should I adopt a senior cat?

Senior cats can be wonderful additions to your home. And, unlike kittens, they may be a better fit for your lifestyle. Older cats will already be settled, so things like proper litter box use will be a given. Senior cats are less attention demanding than kittens so they will better suit those with busier work and social lives. And, since they’re older, they’ve already worked through the mischief inherent to kitten life and will be a calmer presence in your home (and safer for your furniture).

In conclusion…

Those lucky ones among us may have the great fortune of spending 20 years together with our feline companions. By becoming familiar with the considerations of caring for aging cats, you will set up your entire household for success, and plenty more cat cuddles for the years ahead.