Aging Gracefully

We love our pets, and we hope that they live for a long time. So when our dogs and cats enter their golden years, they require different care than when they were younger. This week I’m focusing on senior cats and their needs.

According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), most cats are considered senior citizens when they turn 12 years old. As a senior cat, he or she may sleep more and take longer to get out of bed in the morning. Your cat may also lose hearing ability and have thinner fur.

As your cat gets up in years, you may want to increase your visits to the veterinarian to twice a year. Some symptoms to watch for and point out to your vet include: inability to urinate, frequent urination, vomiting, shortness of breath, coughing, drooling or bad breath, changes in weight or appetite, lethargy and stiffness or limping.

Ask your vet if you should change your cat's diet. Cat foods for seniors are usually lower in fat and higher in protein. Also, feeding your cat smaller meals more often is better for your older cat’s digestion than one or two large meals a day.

Senior cats have more difficulty regulating body temperature and should be kept indoors during winter months. Make sure your cat’s bed is not in a drafty area. You might want to consider buying an orthopedic bed for your cat. If your senior cat can no longer jump up on the windowsill, purchase some pet stairs so that he or she can more easily reach it.

Pet of the Week

Black Diamond a 12-year-old domestic long hair cat who is aging gracefully. She may seem a little shy at first, but she’s not afraid of people and will soon be cozying up to you. She enjoys being petted and is also content to curl up on a chair and take a catnap.

Black Diamond is spayed, house-trained and current on all of her vaccinations. For more information about Black Diamond and other cats available for adoption, visit the 13th Street Cats website.