Looking After Your Senior Cat
This article is written by Pet Circle veterinarian,
According to Guinness World Records, the world's oldest cat ever was Creme Puff, from Texas, USA who lived to 38 years and 3 days old. That's roughly equivalent to 168 human years! Do you know how old your feline friend really is?
Most people are aware that cats age more rapidly than their humans, but did you know that from the tender age of seven your cat is considered to be a senior citizen? This might seem a little shocking, but don't despair - with proper love and care your precious puss could live well into their teens and beyond, just like Creme Puff.
From nutrition to grooming, we've put together a complete guide to senior cat care.
Contents
What are the best senior cat diets?
Common Illnesses: What To Look For
Shop All Premium Senior Cat Food
Senior Cat Diet and Nutrition
As our cats age, they require different nutrition to help keep them happy and healthy. There are a number of specifically formulated foods for senior cats to help meet the needs of your aging cat. These 'senior' cat diets contain ingredients to help alleviate the symptoms of aging and keep your feline friend fighting fit! But what are these ingredients, and how do they benefit senior cats?
Senior Cat Food - What Makes it Beneficial for Seniors?
- Addition of Omega Fatty Acids - Almost all senior pets will develop some degree of arthritis as they age. Omega fatty acids help to support joint health and function to keep your cat healthy and active.
- Addition of Carnitine -Carnitine helps to promote the metabolism of fat to energy which supports lean muscle mass and an ideal body weight. This is perfect for senior cats, who are often less active and prone to weight gain.
- Controlled Sodium Levels - Diets that are too high in sodium can cause complications with kidney and heart disease, both of which are not uncommon in senior cats. Senior diets with controlled sodium levels help to maintain their heart and kidney health.
- Controlled Phosphorus Levels - Diets with high levels of phosphorus can put undue stress on your senior cat's kidneys. Kidney disease is one of the most common complication of aging in cats, so senior diets tend to be formulated with controlled phosphorus levels which helps support the kidneys.
- Addition of Vitamin C and E - Vitamins C and E have an antioxidant effect which helps to support your senior cat's aging immune system.
- High Quality Ingredients - Premium diets that are formulated specifically for senior cats are made with high quality ingredients to ensure that they are easy to digest.
Best Diets for Senior Cats
When it comes to senior cat food, there are a few premium brands which really shine through as the best in the market. Our top 4 senior cat food diets are:
Shop All Premium Senior Cat Food
Tip: Many elderly cats will require a prescription cat foods for dental, kidney, or urinary care. Always ask your vet if you are interested in a therapeutic or prescription diet.
Joint Care for Cats
Just like humans, cats can start to suffer from arthritis and joint pain as they age. However they don't typically show their pain with an easy-to-spot limp. Cats are notoriously stoic and can hide their pain extremely well, which means that your cat may be suffering without showing obvious syptoms.
Signs of arthritic pain in cats include:
- Less interested in playing or other enjoyable activities
- Reluctance to jump onto furniture
- Less grooming, particularly over painful areas like the hips
- Matted fur over the hips (due to reduced grooming)
- Vocalising when picked up
- Increased frequency of accidents outside the litter tray
To help support your senior cat's joints and manage arthritis, providing them with a soft, warm place to sleep is crucial. See our cat bed buying guide for more information.
Your vet may also recommend a joint care supplement containing green lipped mussel, omega oils, chondroitin, or glucosamine. For more information on joint support for cats, take a read through our guide Arthritis Care for Cats.
Top recommended joint supplements for cats
As arthritis often goes unnoticed in senior cats, our Vet Squad frequently recommend the following joint supplements for both aging cats as well as those with diagnosed arthritis.
Common Illnesses in Senior Cats and What To Look For
As your cat ages, their risk of developing certain diseases increases. Common illnesses in senior cats include kidney failure, urinary disease, hyperthyroidism, and dental disease. It is important to know the signs to watch for that may be an early indicator of these diseases.
Symptoms of concern in elderly cats:
- Drinking more water than usual (polydipsia) or urinating a greater volume (polyuria) - may indicate kidney failure, hyperthyroidism, diabetes, or urinary disease.
- Reduced appetite - may indicate dental disease, kidney failure, or general illnesses such as infections.
- Increased appetite - can indicate hyperthyroidism or diabetes.
- Weight loss - can indicate any of the common illnesses.
- Vomiting - can indicate gastrointestinal disease, as well as kidney disease or hyperthyroidism.
It is vital that all senior cats have regular check-ups at their regular veterinarian, ideally every 6 months. This helps your vet to identify any age-related health problems early to nip them in the bud.
By keeping your senior cat's health and wellbeing needs in mind you can help to ensure that they live a long and happy life with you. Who knows, maybe they will even be the next guinness world record holder!
Further Reading
Want to read more? Check out our other articles:
Premium Pet Food: Is It Worth It?
What is the Best Grain Free Cat Food?