Caring For Older Cats, Ages 11 and Up

As cat owners, we are often blessed to have our cats for over ten, fifteen, and sometimes even twenty years! Cats can be our best furry friends and members of our families for decades. But as your kitty grows older, you may notice some behavioral changes. Older cats might sleep more, play less, get needier or more distant than before, or change their eating habits. This is completely natural! When it comes to caring for older cats, it’s important to note all their behavioral changes and have an open line of communication with the vet to ensure your kitty is as healthy as possible. 

Tips For Caring for Older Cats

Once your cat reaches about 10 or 11 years of age they’re considered a senior cat, and at 15 years old, they are geriatric. Here are a few tips on how to make life a little easier for you senior or geriatric cat:

• Provide easy access to necessities. This means food, water, and their litter box. If your home is multi-level, you may consider putting access to these on every floor to make your cat’s life easier. Older cats may have arthritis or other health problems that make moving up and down floors very often too difficult.
• Keep their living space at a good temperature. Cats like warm spots. If they don’t have access to natural sunspots in their living space, consider other methods of warming their favorite spots, like a small space heater.
• Provide a night light! Some older kitties begin to lose their eyesight a bit and have a hard time seeing in low light. Keep a nightlight in areas they access frequently after dark.
• Help your cat out. We all need a little help sometimes, even cats. Give them a boost to their favorite windowsill or carry them downstairs if they’re having a hard time. Keeping their spirits up will help their health in a magnitude of ways.
• Schedule regular vet appointments. As with humans, maintaining good health as cats get older can be more difficult than when they were young. Preventative care or treating issues as quickly as possible will help your cat stay happy and healthy as they age. 

Let the Cat Clinic at Cherry Hill Treat Your Older Cat

At the Cat Clinic at Cherry Hill, we are cat experts who know how to care for senior and geriatric cats. We treat many medical issues in older cats like arthritis, diabetes, chronic illness, and more. Aging doesn’t have to be painful for your feline friend. Give them the support and love they need by giving us a call at 856-662-2662.