Two of the easiest ways to encourage her to drink more include giving her wet food (in place of or in addition to dry food) and buying her a pet water fountain-many cats enjoy drinking from a moving source more than from standing water. Dehydration can have many adverse effects on older cats, from improper kidney function to constipation. Just as important, however, is making sure she drinks a lot of water. Your vet may tell you to adjust your senior cat’s diet to improve kidney function, promote dental health, and get the right amount of calories. While this type of insurance may not cover regular check-ups or pre-existing conditions, it can become valuable if your senior cat ever develops a serious medical condition that requires surgery, frequent medication, or emergency trips to the clinic. It may be prudent to look into purchasing pet insurance at this stage of your kitty’s life.
Keep tabs on any physical or behavioral changes you notice and be ready to report these to your vet. This is because the onset of diabetes, kidney disease, liver disease, or urinary tract infections can appear more rapidly. You’ll want to increase vet visits to twice a year with a senior cat (much to her dismay). If your cat is healthy, you’re probably used to taking her into the vet once a year. You may also want to provide multiple litter box locations, especially if your home is more than one story. Giving a senior cat options to more easily meet her basic needs can be as simple as buying raised food and water dishes, investing in a ramp for your Litter-Robot, and placing small pet steps next to the couch, the counter, or any other spots your kitty likes to frequent. She may be experiencing arthritis or simply have less energy. Give Her Easy AccessĪccess to food, water, the litter box, and comfortable places to rest may literally become an uphill battle as your cat grows older. In reality, many cats live to 15 years of age and beyond-so even if she’s technically a senior cat, she really may just be mid-life! With this comforting thought in mind, let’s examine a few of the ways you can accommodate your aging kitty. You may have heard your vet use the designation as early as age 8.
It’s a murky line on when exactly a cat should be considered senior. Did you know today is National Respect Your Cat Day? (Personally, we believe that should be 24/7.) In honor of this furry important holiday, we’re focusing on our feline friends who deserve the most respect of all: senior cats!
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