Senior cats need special considerations to continue living their best life. Let's consider how nutrition, enrichment and the environment can help set your cat up for their senior years.
I love senior cats. They are often wiser and calmer than their younger counterparts. I've been lucky to have cats who have lived into their senior years. It can be more challenging to care for cats as medical conditions arise, but the extra attention they need is worth their sweet love you get in return.
Who is a Senior?
According to the American Association of Feline Practitioners, a cat reaches senior status at age 10, which is lower than other organizations such as the International Cat Care Association's age 11. So, around 10 to 11 is when you should start ensuring your cat is set up for the last stage of their life. Cats live on average to age 15.
Regular Veterinary Checkups
If you haven't been to the veterinary clinic recently, it's a good time for a checkup. Do not wait for your cat to show signs of illness or slowing down. Get laboratory work done so your veterinarian can fully evaluate your cat and have a baseline if your cat does become ill.
By age twelve, 90% of cats have osteoarthritis and their guardians may not be aware. What we see as normal slowing down might mean pain or discomfort for your cat. There's lots of options today for your veterinarian to help keep your cat feeling good into their senior years.
Before you get to the veterinary clinic, be prepared. Your cat is going to be scared and have an adrenalin rush making it challenging to evaluate for pain. Take videos of your cat walking around your home so your veterinarian can review their gate. Also take videos of your cat jumping up and down which can also help your veterinarian evaluate your cat's joint health.
Change in Behaviors
Any change in your cat's normal behaviors warrants a visit to your veterinarian. House soiling, aggression, excessive vocalization, appetite change, and grooming habits can all indicate that an underlying medical issue is developing. You want to be able to address this sooner rather than later.
Nutrition
I'm in the process of reading "Longevity for Cats" by Dr. Gary Richter, an integrative veterinarian. Nutrition is a key component to longevity. He recommends feeding your cat as much non-processed food as possible opting for fresher options whether that's home-made food or commercial minimally processed food. Understanding that this can be expensive, he recommends incorporating as much fresh food as you can afford and supplementing with good quality canned or kibble. He avoids certain ingredients such as meat meal and meat-by-products. He also recommends avoiding high carbohydrate diets as that can lead to "weight gain, inflammatory conditions such as arthritis, and ultimately a shortened life span."
Anyone who knows me knows I'm obsessed with feline nutrition and the feeding of cats. When my last crew were seniors, I knew a whole lot less. As cats age, it can be harder for their bodies to absorb nutrients. If you are not already feeding small frequent meals, now is a good time to start. I recommend at least 3 wet food meals each day supplementing with snacks for fun.
Are you reading the food label? If not, you might want to start. As obligate carnivores, cats need animal protein. You want to avoid foods that are high in carbohydrates and look for animal proteins. An easy way to read a label is to look at the first 5 ingredients listed on the label. That's going to be the majority of what's in the food. I stay away from fillers such as corn, wheat and rice. The goal of nutrition is to thrive, not survive. Yes, cats can survive eating a diet with carbohydrates included, but I want my cats to thrive so I limit that as much as I can.
Kidney disease is something to consider as cats age. In the past, lowering protein in the diet was recommended, but that can lead to muscle loss. Terri Grow, Feline Nutrition and Wellness Expert provides guidance. "Contrary to standard recommendations to lower protein for senior cats, we need to maintain a moderate level. Even with early stages of CKD as long as we can monitor how the cat is handling the protein, to protect from malnutrition and loss of lean body mass. Reducing phosphorus is critical. Fortunately more companies are coming out with meat-based low-phosphorus foods with moderate levels of protein. These foods range from canned, frozen and even meat-completer supplements for home-made."
Appetite & Increased Pickiness
The most important thing is that your cat is eating. Some seniors start to get picky with their food. Their bodies might be telling them they need different things. If you've been feeding your cat the same thing for some time, then you might try mixing it up some to see if that helps. Try another brand or two, or maybe other proteins.
Other ideas to encourage your cat to eat:
Soft foods may be preferred
Try gently warming food
Elevated dishes can will prevent your cat from having to bend their head to the ground and are more comfortable for seniors
Feed small but frequent meals so your senior has plenty of opportunities to eat.
Exercise
It's important to keep your cat active. Interactive play is a great way to provide some exercise and movement. I wouldn't expect a senior cat to be jumping around the same way a kitten does, but some seniors are quite agile. Provide appropriate exercise through play. Let your cat "catch" the toy during playtime which is great for your cat's confidence and emotional health. Find ways to engage your senior and get them moving. One of my favorite toys to recommend for seniors is the Cat Dancer which is a cat favorite.
Do NOT get a Kitten OR a dog, OR another cat without VERY CAREFUL CONSIDERATION to whether it's in your senior cat's best interest.
Selfishly, as our cat ages, we may not want to think about our home without a cat and get a young cat while our senior is still alive. This is often a very bad idea. The young cat wants a playmate and the senior cat wants to be left alone. This is bad for both cats.
Let your senior live out their life in peace and as the center of your world. They deserve that. Sometimes, there is an exception. If you work away from home and are busy, it might be a kind thing to do to get a companion for your senior cat. I would carefully consider who might be the best option for your cat. Maybe it's a cat sitter who visits during the day while you're working. Maybe it's another older cat. Maybe it's a pair of young cats who might be entertaining, but have each other to play rough with. If you do get another animal, you might opt to foster first to try it out before making a lifelong commitment and find out that it's not a good match for your senior cat.
Olfactory Enrichment
For cats who are less mobile, providing other types of enrichment can help. Olfactory enrichment including catnip, silvervine, and valerian root is great for all cats, but particularly cats with less mobility so they can enjoy different scents. MeowyJanes has a great herbal scent enrichment pack so you can try 13 different kinds to see what your cat enjoys.
Steps
Cats can lose mobility as they age. Aside from asking your veterinarian if there are ways to help older joints, you can make it easier for your cat to reach their favorite spots. Add steps. Whether you make this yourself or you purchase pet steps, keep in mind you want something sturdy and wide that your cat can easily walk up and down. There should be short distances between each step so your cat doesn't have to jump if that's too challenging. Padding and carpeting can help keep your cat from slipping.
Window Spots
Providing access to windows is a great way to provide easy enrichment. Being able to sit in the sun and view wildlife or your neighbor's activities is great for all cats, but particularly for seniors. Get an easy to climb cat tree or provide pet steps up to a warm comfortable spot in front of the window.
Litter boxes
The litter box should be easily accessible. That means your cat should have a litter box in each area that your cat hangs out. If your cat has a sudden urge to go, they shouldn't have to climb stairs or venture to the opposite side of your home. Make it easy. Provide multiple options, depending on the size of your home, on each floor with a low entry. There are senior boxes you can purchase or just look for a box with a low side that your cat can easily step into without jumping.
And keep the litter box clean. In my experience, as cats age, they become more particular about the cleanliness of their box. If your cat is urinating just outside of the box, there could be a problem with the size, litter or cleanliness. Always have your cat checked by your veterinarian for house soiling as it may be an indication of an underlying medical issue.
Defecation Outside the Box
Defecation outside the box is often caused by discomfort. When a cat feels discomfort in the litter box, they start to look for other places go eliminate. Figuring out the source of pain is key. Osteoarthritis and constipation are two common reasons for cats to defecate in other areas of the home. Check out the feline fecal chart to see if constipation is an issue. Even mild constipation can cause some cats to move to other areas. Constipation might be easily addressed by increasing moisture in the diet, or adding a small amount of fiber such as psyllium husk or ground flaxseed. Work with your veterinarian to find a solution for the discomfort.
Night light
Although cats can see well when it's dark, that may change as they age. Adding a night light around key resources such as the litter box, food and resting spots helps your cat find what they need easily when the lights are out.
Heated Bed
Cats love heat. A heated bed can help those achy joints feel better. Heated beds are great for any cat, but seniors really appreciate the extra warmth. You can get a heated pad to put under their favorite bed or purchase a heated bed just for cats. Just make sure your cat can easily move away from the heat if they need to. Many products specifically for cats are just gently heated. K&H is a popular brand, and this K&H Heated Mat is the one I purchased for my cats and they love it.
Grooming
Your cat may need extra help grooming. You may need to brush your cat more to ensure there are no mats and to remove loose hair. Trimming their nails is necessary too as long nails can bend and start to poke into the paw pad which is painful. Keep track of your cat's grooming habits and provide support as needed.
Medication Help
If your senior is prescribed medication, don't panic. There are lots of ways to get your cat to voluntary participate instead of using force. You can hide small pills in soft treats or you can put pills in a capsule. A capsule can be put onto a textured surface such as a washcloth and pour a soft treat on top. These are just a few ideas available. There are a lot of options. Check out Medication videos on cat behavior consultant, Caroline Crevier-Chabot's website, Cat Training & Handling Videos.
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About the author: Jennifer Van de Kieft, CAFTP, FFCP, PNCC is located in Brooklyn, NY. She is certified in feline behavior and pet nutrition. She owns Cat Advocate, a feline behavior consulting company. She provides cat guardians with the strategies, tools and knowledge needed to address their cat's behavior issues. Jennifer provides virtual consultations throughout the United States.
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