Tips on caring for your senior cats
With good care, our feline companions can live long and well into their golden years! One should feel honoured and count their blessings if they get to be a part of this “transitioning to senior” stage and assist them with the changes that come along. Although no doubt, there is bound to be challenges when caring for your elderly cat, the benefits of doing so eventually outweighs the difficulties.
However, many meowmies do not understand what their senior cats need. In order to increase their longevity, it is important to recognize these changes and give them the TLC they require accordingly!
Grooming needs
As our cats age, their self-grooming capabilities can deteriorate, making them less effective groomers compared to when they were when younger. This can cause increasing discomfort for them, as it would mean the increased chance of tangles and matts in their fur, and possibly skin odour and inflammation.
Meowmies can help by brushing their senior kitties’ coats daily. It is important that the brushing is done in a gentle manner as their skin is thinner and less elastic as compared to before, meaning it is more prone to infections. With frequent brushing, you can also reduce hairball formation which is a common issue for senior cats.
A good alternative solution to hairballs would be Francodex hairball control paste. Simply apply an appropriate amount on your cat’s food or paw and watch as she licks them clean in no time. The hairball paste will work its magic and help facilitate the elimination of hairball in cats gradually.
Older cats can have difficulty retracting their claws and result in their claws getting stuck in furniture and cloth. Their nails also tend to split and break easily as they are more brittle and weaker in their golden years.
Meowmies can assist with the nail trimming whenever necessary, especially if your senior cat is not using her scratching posts as often as she used to (due to weaker nails). This way you can help keep her nails short and healthy.
Diet needs
Dental diseases and joint pain are both commonly seen conditions in elderly cats. Both can cause pain and discomfort which affects your cat’s appetite. Senior cats that suffer from osteoarthritis experience tremendous pain when bending their necks to eat.
To reduce this strain on their neck, it is good to invest in elevated bowls. There are bowls in the market that are made specially to improve digestion and relieve neck strain like, Plouffe bowls range. These tilted and elevated bowls are available in both double and single bowls.
Some senior cats may require higher water intake as they sometimes forget to drink water and in long term, can result in kidney issues. Meowmies can work on increasing their water intake to ensure they are well hydrated using the two methods below.
Introduce pet water fountain (if you haven’t) and increasing the number of water sources in the house. This way it encourages good water drinking habits! For cats prone to chin acne, you can check out ceramic and stainless-steel water fountains.
Or feeding food with high water content like Akane – a guaranteed effective way to increase your cat’s water intake!
Senior cats can grow to be fussier and experience a reduction in appetite as they age and it is purrfectly normal. The kitty noms they used to go crazy over are now left out in the cold and simply disregarded. This can be partly due to their lessened sense of smell due to their age.
To rekindle their love and passion for their food, meowmies can try heating their food slightly to room temperature. By doing so, it amplifies the aroma and increases the palatability of their daily staple. For easy execution, check out the Plouffe Smart Thermal bowl!
Another alternative is to introduce the addition of salmon oil to your cat’s food. Salmon oil helps enhance your cat’s appetite and brings out the shine in your cat’s lackluster coat too!
Frequent vet visits
It is important to not skip your elderly cat’s biannual checks as cats are good at hiding pain and their health conditions can take a turn for the worst in a matter of days or less! Furthermore, several underlying conditions are not visible physically to the naked eye and require the professional examination of vets to determine. Early detection of such illnesses can make a difference and save your cat’s life even.
Lastly, devote quality time to your cat and let her feel so loved!