Preparing for a senior cat
Caring for a senior cat comes with a unique set of responsibilities - often owners will need to implement changes around the house in order to help their felines age comfortably.
PetMD.com reports that similarly to humans, cats tend to experience diminishing vision or even vision loss as they age. During your cat’s next pet health exam, owners should make sure to have their veterinarian check its eyes to determine if the animal suffers from any vision problems. If it seems, over time, that the cat's eyesight is getting worse, owners need to make sure that all pet supplies in the home, such as food and water bowls and the litter box, remain clean and in their normal spots, so that the feline will be able to locate them easily.
According to VCA Animal Hospitals, cats are prone to osteoarthritis, which will likely cause a decrease in their activity levels. While at the vet's office, owners should make sure their cats are screened for this condition through both a physical examination and possibly radiographs (x-rays). Many time cats who are “slowing down” or are unable to jump onto higher surfaces or exhibit weakness are actually suffering from arthritis. If your older cat is experiencing problems with arthritis, ensure that their food and water bowls, as well as their bed are all located in a lower areas that are easy for your cat to reach. Because cats tend to be less active as they age, VCA also suggests that owners reduce the amount of cat food their feline consumes. Otherwise an older cat is likely to develop problems with becoming overweight or obese which can make the signs of arthritis even worse. Dental disease is common in aging cats, so switching to a canned wet food may be
easier for it to eat.
