Recently my two old male Ragdoll cats are showing their age.  They are brothers, about 15 years old now, the two kittens I kept from my last litter years ago.  Call them seniors, geriatrics, or just old, but as elderly cats they have special needs now.

What changes as a cat ages, and what are those needs?

• Food and diet changes
• Exercise (or lack of)
• Physical ability to get around
• Medical care
• Systemic diseases
• Grooming

DIET

Most importantly, in my own personal experience with many cats, is to keep them eating and drinking enough.  Older cats become dehydrated more easily, and this often leads to gastrointestinal complications of constipation, and/or vomiting.

FOOD should be a diet made for older cats.  Almost every food manufacturer has some formulation for senior cats.  As a cat ages, nutritional needs change, and the protein content can be lower than that made for kittens, for example.

Also consider the type of food – dry food may be harder for a elderly cat to chew, because tooth decay and dental disease is more prevalent in older pets.  Kidney disease is very prevalent in senior cats, and your veterinarian can discuss prescription diets for kidney and other disease that might affect your feline family member.

Canned food provides some moisture, and I have found my cats like it even better when I add a couple tablespoons of water and stir to make the pate turn into a sauce.  Since older cats may lose their sense of smell, a few seconds in the microwave can make that gruel more appetizing to them.

I also starting adding ¼ tsp of MiraLax (polyethylene glycol 3350 powder) – yes the human over the counter laxative – to their food,  per my veterinarian, because it helps with the hard dry stools older cats so often have. Even the regular use of cat laxative pastes can help.

EXERCISE

Even though a cat maybe elderly, exercise helps keeps joints moving and tones muscles.  Of course cats like to curl up in the sunshine for hours per day, but, just like a person with arthritis, this can lead to even more stiffness and restricted movement.  And as with people, a bit of exercise helps circulation and provides mental stimulation.

Play with a ball, kitty fishing pole, or just a string to satisfy the hunting instinct of your cat.  Even older cats enjoy the one on one time with an owner paying attention to them, and the interaction of play.

PHYSICAL ABILITY

Your older cat may have osteoarthritis in joints and the spine, making it more difficult to jump or go up steps.   Discuss medication with your veterinarian to help with any pain (remembering that your cat may not show any, but it still can be there) and reduce inflammation.  Provide steps up onto the window sill, or a box to get onto first and then up onto the bed.  And if you see Puss sitting there looking longingly up, a quick lift up is always appreciated.

Litter boxes with high sides may be too much for an elderly cat to get into – so remove any lidded top, and find a box with at least one low side they can step into  the box more easily.  If your cat has shown any inappropriate elimination in places other than the litter box, this could be the issue.

And since older cats may get cold more easily, a comfy bed with a soft blanket might be welcome, or a box turned on it’s side may make them feel protected.  I recently bought a cat cave for one of my cats, who, once he learned to crawl into it, LOVES it.

MEDICAL CARE

Older cats should have twice yearly check ups as they age, and of course a vet visit if they are not feeling well. This gives your veterinarian a chance to discuss any health issues that either you notice or that he/she finds upon an exam.  Just having a look at teeth, a listen to the heart and lungs or abdominal palpation might catch a problem early when there is a better chance of resolving it.

Signs of illness may include:

• Sudden changes in behavior
• Changes in eating habits
• Vocalization
• Sudden stiffness, inability to jump or move normally
• Head tilts and /or circling
• Vomiting, or diarrhea
• Lack of urination or bowel movements, or severe constipation

SYSTEMIC DISEASE

Many of the body systems start to fail as years pass, and as organs age and get tired and wear out, they don’t work so well.  Kidney disease is very prominent in older cats, as is thyroid disease, liver, heart and lung problems, as well as cancer.

Dental disease, besides making it painful to eat, can allow bad bacteria in the mouth to travel to the heart and kidneys, causing damage that might otherwise not be there.

While many systemic diseases like kidney or cardiac problems can be treated, there is usually not a cure. Medication can help your cat feel better and cope with life much longer than without any treatment.  Special diets can often help reduce the stress put on body organs with lower protein or minerals; these foods are made of higher quality ingredients, more easily digestible in a pet with failing organs, that can help the body still function and cope to lead a near normal life.

GROOMING

You may notice an elderly cat starting to look quite scruffy – they will often stop grooming themselves if they don’t feel well.

Arthritis may make it more difficult for Boots to turn around and lick hind quarters, and so cats with long hair can benefit from a bit of grooming to shorten hair around the anal area which will help keep it from getting messy.

A gentle hand with a brush or comb can help remove the dead hair and prevent matting.  Just remember skin is thinner and more friable in a senior cat, and it can tear more easily, so great care is required with scissors or grooming shears.  If you need help professionally from a groomer or vet, they can help get mats off, or shave the backside and belly as needed.

BEHAVIOR

Elderly cats can also demonstrate some behavior issues.   While cats often are nocturnal as kittens, they usually adjust their schedule to their human companions.  As a cat ages, he will often walk around and howl, sometimes at night, and I have seen cats with dementia – who will often sit in and stare at the corner.

Along with getting old, deafness may occur or vision fades.  Cats will feel vibrations, so footsteps will alert them to your presence.  When I ran a boarding kennel, we would knock on the door or walls of the condo to let a blind or deaf cat know we were there.  Reaching to pick up a blind cat who is unaware of your presence can lead to unnecessary stress.

And at the end…

Over the years, I’ve had cats who end up with lung cancer, colon cancer, breast cancer, kidney disease, blood clots, and those whose bodies just wore out at 19 or 20 years.  In the end, it’s never easy to say goodbye, but I often told my pet owner clients that, when the time comes, your pet will tell you.  You just need to listen.