Content
- A regular physical activity
- give you peace of mind
- Monitor your health status
- take care of your mouth
- An age-appropriate diet
- take care and pamper
The cat we knew as a kitten has aged, and now it is our responsibility to take care of it so that our aging cat continues to enjoy a good quality of life despite the passage of time.
must know that a cat is considered elderly from 8 years old, but don't worry, it still has many years to live, it can live to be 18 or even 20. If you take good care of your cat, you greatly increase the chances that it will age in good health.
In this article by PeritoAnimal we will explain useful tips and tricks so that you know how to care for an old cat, keep reading.
A regular physical activity
If your cat is more than 8 years old it is very important that it remains active, although it is normal that with age it likes to sleep more and more.
Play with your cat 15 minutes daily is an excellent option to keep you active, to stimulate you physically and mentally. Exercise activates your cat's blood circulation, strengthens its joints and preserves its muscles.
Not exercising can never result in a serious obesity problem, something that shortens your life expectancy. If this is your case, PeritoAnimal shows you some exercises for obese cats.
give you peace of mind
Although it is very important to exercise it a little, the truth is that tranquility is also very important. We must let the cat rest when it's sleeping and not bother you.
If you find it hard to climb the stairs, you should help him and pick him up, put some pillows near the heat radiators so that you can take a nap there. Anything we can do to make the old cat's life simpler and easier is good.
Monitor your health status
When our cat ages we must be more careful with its health and control it with visits to the cat. veterinarian every 6 months. Between appointments, we are the ones who have to observe you, feel how you are and understand if you have any problems.
You should advise your veterinarian of any behavior change such as a lack of appetite, increased health, abnormal aggression or if your cat seems depressed.
Depression or prostration can be signs of illness and we should take this into account. Lack of appetite and excessive thirst can be signs of various disorders: kidney problems, liver problems, gastritis. These problems are more frequent when the cat gets older, so it is recommended to have blood tests regularly from 8-10 years old. get to make one early diagnosis is the key to successful treatment of elderly cat problems.
take care of your mouth
THE lack of appetite it may be due to the formation of dental plaque that causes painful gingivitis in the cat and prevents it from chewing its kibble. Tooth diseases are common in old cats and are usually accompanied by bad breath.
Discover also in PeritoAnimal tips to remove tartar in cats. However, in severe cases your elderly cat may need a veterinarian intervention, and blood tests will be needed for this as it requires general anesthesia, which is incompatible with high levels of urea or creatinine.
An age-appropriate diet
At industrial feeds are more balanced that a homemade diet and give our cat the taurine necessary for the proper functioning of its organs. Dry rations allow you to rub your teeth and limit the formation of dental plaque.
Choosing a suitable food range for older cats is very important to keep their health balanced. For an elderly cat who may suffer from kidney failure, we should avoid bovine rations and prefer chicken.
It is also important that our cat always have fresh water at your disposal and we should change it regularly so that he drinks it and stays hydrated. If you find that you do not drink, you can occasionally give him moist food as it contains a high percentage of water.
take care and pamper
We must brush regularly the hair to remove dead hair that you may ingest when cleaning. During this ritual we can take the opportunity to control the condition of his skin, his fur and also share a good moment with him. It is also advised clean eyes and earss regularly, with a soft paper daubed in water or sterile gauze.
With age, the elderly cat is less active and its nails wear out less and become more fragile. The solution is to cut the nails, taking the opportunity to prove that our cat's pillows are in good condition.
To all this we have to add the pampering and affection: give attention and affection to our cat is very good for him. Cats love cuddling and being pampered, and that makes their aging happier!
