Taking Care of Your Older Cat

When your cat reaches a certain age, there are various problems that could occur. This means that extra care really needs to be given to ensure that your cat lives as long and as healthy a life as possible.

The Problems That Could Occur

If you pay close attention to your cat, you will know when they start developing problems. However, in case you have no idea what to look for, older cats can have the following problems:

• Teeth problems
• Arthritis
• Lack of energy
• Lack of personal cleanliness
• Hormonal disorders

So, as you can see, there are a lot of things that could potentially go wrong. It is knowing how to deal with these problems that can really have a positive effect on your cat.

Things That You Can Do

Teeth problems generally occur because the bones become weaker in older cats, just like they do in humans. This can lead to problems eating, so canned, soft food may be the best option if you want to protect your cat’s teeth. This weakness in the bones can also lead to arthritis and that can be more of a problem than simply looking after the teeth!

Arthritis can be brought on by many things, but age is one of the main culprits. You will notice various changes in your cat if they do have arthritis, such as stiffness when they walk and bad temper problems.

They may not want to climb up the stairs or jump down from anything and they could be in noticeable pain. If you do notice any of the mentioned symptoms, you really should take the cat to the vet straight away to see whether there is any medication or anything that the vet can do for your cat.

As well as medication, there are things that you can do to make life easier for the cat. Things such as providing a small ramp that reaches up to places that the cat usually likes to jump up to.

This will help to protect their bones. Also, there are specially designed foods that are great for older cats as they are packed full of vitamins and nutrients.

Older cats need these extra essential vitamins and minerals to protect their bones and their energy levels, so it is always better to upgrade the food when the cat reaches a certain age.

Another thing that you will need to do is groom the cat more. It seems that some cats forget about their personal hygiene as they grow older.

Their fur could start to look a little knotty, so it will generally need a little brushing every day to help them to look their best. You could also give the teeth a little cleaning with a small toothbrush just to ensure that tartar does not build up and cause further problems for the cat.

There are many problems that can occur and regular vet checks are advised. You will notice the changes in your cat and once you do, you should act on them immediately. Together with the vet, you can make life a lot easier and happier for your older cat, you just have to know what to look out for.