Senior cat care tips

Over the summer I had the privilege of cat sitting for my friend while she travelled. The cat in question is beautiful Agnes. Agnes is 16 years old, she is still very mobile albeit a little stiff; and she is deaf, though this doesn’t stop her from vocalising loud and clear!

Whilst I was looking after her it got me thinking about how our care for our companions changes throughout their lifetimes. I did some reading and found some great information on the Cats Protection website. Here are some senior cat care tips I found useful and interesting:

Feed smaller meals more often to not upset their digestive system.

Warm their food slightly to make it more appetising.

Try switching to softer pâté or jelly foods to alleviate dental discomfort.

Try incorporating a few ml of oil (olive, coconut, mineral etc.) in a dish for cats suffering with constipation.

If your cat has joint or back pain you can use raised food and water bowls to eliminate the need to bend their neck down.

Offer water in various easy to reach locations and try a running water fountain to encourage drinking enough water.

Gently brush your cat regularly, especially hard to reach areas they may lack the flexibility to get to.

Keep their claws trimmed to avoid them getting stuck in uncomfortable positions or hurting their paws.

Consider providing a few extra warm and cosy hiding/sleeping places in easy to access areas of your home.

Provide steps or ramps to higher surfaces so your cat can still enjoy climbing up high or looking out the window.

Place cushions under risky high perches such as windowsills if your cat is a little wobbly or likely to fall.

Ensure you have a low sided litter box they can easily gain access to.

Provide an indoor litter box even if your cat uses the great outdoors, they may be less inclined to venture into the elements as they age.

Adapt your scratching stations to your cat’s mobility, you may need to ditch the rough poles and opt for a softer carpet on the floor.

Experiment with different toys to find what interests and engages your companion, they may outgrow slightly more intense toys they once loved.

Finally find a routine that suits you and your individual cat and try to stick to it. Cats love predictability especially in their later years.

Here are some photos of the inspiration behind this post 🙂