Psychological Changes
Your aging friend may display memory lapses and disorientation as well as symptoms of physical ailments (see Health Changes in Ageing Cats, post#3).
I like to treat my older cat with the same consideration I would like when I myself no longer can take care of my daily hygiene or keep up a smiling disposition when my hip hurts. My recipe, in other words: treat your cat as you would treat an ailing human friend or family member!
Stimulate With Play:
Mostly I like to remember my cat several times during the day with a petting, a quick stroke of the fur, some grooming, and even my all to inadequate attempts at play. I believe stimulation makes for a more alert and interested cat being, and although senior will not run with a ball of yarn the way a kitten does, I move a long feather (nothing hard to harm her weak teeth) back and forth, or play “hide-and-seek”, a sort of peeka-bo game our family have developed. I cannot see the value of only a “sleep and eat” existence. My frequent appearances also strengthens our bond and there is always the change my ageing friend has had another memory lapse and forgot that I exist and love and need her.
Routine And Habits:
Routine is good and your older pussycat deserves to get it the way it has grown accustomed to, including feeding times, placement of furniture and the general petting and shared quality time it received as a kitten. Even though your cat may not let on, it still wants to be appreciated, have the same importance in your life (actually to be the center of your life), and to receive so much attention kitty has no choice but to walk away from you after a while with the tail in the air (a sign of a happy and proud cat, I believe).
The Changes:
So if your senior “bed wets”, take precautions with a plastic under the sleeping spot if that is on your own bed. In case the vision has deteriorated, employ night lights to guide your feline through its nocturnal wanderings.
Your aging cat’s routines may change as it ages, and that’s OK, as long as Senior changes them and you don’t! Kitty may no longer jump up into your lap when you are watching TV together, finding herself more comfortable being able to stretch out on the couch next to you. (Besides, your legs may be too bony!). Your cat may also change out its favorite chair, again for height and comfort reasons.
I have noticed that my older cats vocalize more – that is a polite way of saying there is louder meowing, at night especially, or when I haven’t remembered to go and look in on them. It may be a projection but it seems my furry friend had a sudden loneliness attach, a “senior moment”, and forgot that she is part of our family and we are always there for her.
Water And Food:
Food needs to be altered to suit the lack of activity, so buy especially composed products for older cats that every brand name produces nowadays. (For a list of ingredients, see my post “Cat Food Ingredients”). Usually specialty cat food contains lower protein (to help the kidneys) and lowered fat. I also buy hairball treats to help on that front.
Lets not forget water – it is so important. Lots of water means clean and fresh, with easy access. If your cat still is frisky enough to jump up on things, try placing a cup on the table in addition to the regular water bowl on the floor in the feeding area. Cats do not drink out of the toilet as some dogs do, but I have caught my pussy lapping water from my own drinking glass if I leave it unattended.
When Is A Cat Considered Fat?
There is a lot of talk about cats getting fat as they age, but personally I haven’t seen this as a common (as in “to be expected”) occurrence. If you can feel the cat’s ribs it is not fat in my opinion. If seniors belly slouches and hangs a little, remember a 10 year old cat equals a 56 year old human, a 15 year old cat compares with a 75 year old person, and nothing is as taught as it was in our teens. And often a cat will loose weight as they age (hyper thyroid is not uncommon) and muscles (=mass) do deteriorate with age.
A Few Words About Kitty Litter:
Brand and type is up to you, keeping it clean is more important as your cat ages. Grooming is not as easy for your cat now, and kitty litter that is left “stewing” for a few weeks does carry possible disease. Also, be mindful that the very deep tub your young kitten had no problem jumping in and out of, or the plastic flap-door you may have, may now present obstacles for your senior. Putting a larger piece of plastic or even a bathmat under the kitty litter is an easy way to deal with cleanup if your cat suffers from incontinence or simply prefers to pee besides the box
I have tried a number of the self-cleaning or water-washing litter boxes, great and easy for me, but mostly my cats would not get near them. Maybe I just happened to own a bunch of “scarycats”, or maybe I should have trained kitty from the very beginning. Anyway, they tend to be quite costly and I actually want to know if what I clean out looks healthy so as to be aware of any changes in digestion early on.
Stress:
Remember to shield your senior cat from outside tension. This include such considerations as not bringing it to family Thanksgiving dinner at Your house, let senior have a closed room with food, water and litter box all for herself where no toddlers wander in to pull the tail or loud laughter and quick movements by strangers frighten it.
Stress also comes from changes in temperature, and as your cat grows older it will like the sleeping place to be nice and warm.
Is it stressful for you to have an outside dinner on a mosquito infested evening? I’ll jump to the conclusion that yes, you agree it is. So make sure you control fleas and other parasites by using some convenient flea control product such as monthly drops or flea collar, and your cat won’t have to spend endless hours and energy cleaning itself.
I personally do not bathe my older cat as they tell me that is stressful for them too, and being wet and cold does not feel good. Give senior cat some assistance and do a daily comb through to help with the hygiene chore, have some special time together, and cunningly also check for fleas and skin condition at the same time, the ears, cut her claws etc.
Ultimately there is no greater stress than to be physically ill and in pain, and we cannot always help out there. But prevention goes a long way, and it is never too early to start with regular vet visits and immunization shots.
In Conclusion:
See the vet regularly, show your senior cat that it is still loved and needed, and provide “light entertainment” to your senior cats capacity to enjoy it. This is not only about making the golden years as good as they can be – indeed I also have the need to look into those beautiful eyes and hear that purr of contentment when all things in the world are just right.
In my upcoming post here at How to Live with Older Cats I will share some more anecdotes about the interaction between all of us in our cat family.
I hear the sounds of food so I must go now, but please let me hear from you at email: 1catnap@gmail.com
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