Cat Care For The Kitty Up In Years

How time flies! If you kitty is over 10 years old he is considered old! You may be aware of this fact but what you may not know is how to care for your aging kitty. What are the best ways to keep your older cat healthy and happy as well as active during their latter years? Some questions might arise such as, should I change the food I have been using? You might wonder how to keep your cat healthy through exercise? What about medical cat care?

When a cat ages, its body goes through much the same types of changes that we see in humans. Cat care becomes very important at this time. For example, there is a natural decrease in muscle mass, along with a coinciding increase of body fat. If you are not careful and take early action these changes can lead to an overweight kitty! Because the energy needs of the typical cat begins to slow around the ages of 7 to 9, changes in food intake and exercise must be made to prevent the cat from become unhealthy.

Nutrition in cat food is a critical aspect of cat health and cat care. Strolling down the cat isle at the pet store will present a vast array of cat foods for every kind of situation. The elderly cat is not left out. It is very important that you choose a food designed for your cats age. Food for older cats will contain less calories and protein and more of the vitamins and minerals an older cat needs. A quick call to your vet can help you decide if you are not sure which one to pick. Good quality food can help your cat fend off cat disease & cat sickness. If you kitty is having trouble with hairballs check out new formulas of food specifically for cat hairball issues.

If you have any questions as to whether or not your cat has officially entered old age, watch for some of these outward signs: moving slowly, sleeping more, loss of agility, not being able to jump as well. You can help your cat cope with some of these old age symptoms, for example, by providing a ramp or pet step, this will help to eliminate the need to jump so high. Keep the house a little quieter to help the ageing cat sleep more peacefully.

Because the absorption rate of calcium changes in older cats, arthritis can quickly become a problem. A general rule of cat care is that arthritis becomes an issue for cats at about the age of 12, even earlier if the cat happens to be obese. If your veterinarian diagnosis your cat with the painful illness of arthritis, there are some steps that can be taken to minimize its effect on the cat. For example, this can often be treated with a combination of weight loss and medication. Sometimes it’s just a fact of growing old and the only thing we can do is make things a little easier for our old friend.

As our pets get older cat care becomes even more important. At some point a cat may even loose eye sight and or hearing ability. We must be sure that as much attention as possible is given to help make life as easy and safe as possible. Assistance in matters of hygiene and cat flea control is crucial since an older cat often can not effectively clean himself.

The teeth of you cat can present cat care challenges as he gets older. As with all of us, the older we get the more dental problems we have. Be sure you are doing all you can to keep your cat's teeth healthy. See our cat care article on cat teeth. One good way to help a cat keep healthy teeth is by feeding him hard cat food most of the time.

How old is your kitty compared to human years?

1 year = 20 years
2 years = 24 years
3 years = 28 years
4 years = 32 years
5 years = 36 years
6 years = 44 years
7 years = 48 years
8 years = 52 years
9 years = 56 years