#2 Walked Into The Shelter And Asked Which Cat Had Been There The Longest... Came Home With A Deaf, Toothless Senior Lovebug. Reddit, Meet Cali!
#3 We Adopted An 11-Year Old Cat From A Chicago Shelter. He And My 13-Yo Daughter Fell In Love. This Is Them After She Got Back From A Week At Camp
Cat behaviorist Ingrid explained that older cats need easy access to food, water, and their litter; they also need soft, warm bedding.
“This means ensuring that you have resources placed in all of the areas where your senior citizen spends time. The last thing you want to do is have a litter box in the basement of a three-story home knowing your cat spends most of their time on the top floor in the bedroom,” the expert said, pointing out that not keeping litter boxes close by might lead to some icky ‘surprises’ on the carpet.
“Would you want to walk down two flights of stairs to go to the bathroom when you are 90? No! You would not!” Ingrid pointed out that we should set our senior cats up for success, instead of making life difficult for them.
#5 2 Years Ago Today I Walked Into A Petsmart And Met A Cat Named Sonny Who No One Would Adopt Because He Was 13 Years Old, Covered In Fleas, Underweight, And Had A Mouth Full Of Rotten Teeth That Had To Be Removed. He Came Home With Me That Night And It Was The Best Decision I’ve Ever Made
#6 My Grampie And His 20-Year-Old Cat/Sidekick Elvis. As My Grampie Says, “We’re Just Two Old Men Hanging Out”. This Picture Makes Me Happy And Sad All At Once
Senior cats need to use ‘the facilities’ more often and have larger volumes of waste to get rid of, so it might be a good idea to have multiple litter boxes for them to use. You should also strive to keep the boxes immaculately clean: this way, they’ll avoid stepping in urine clumps while navigating the box.
“It can be challenging for senior cats to navigate cat litter if they are arthritic. How many 85-year-old humans walk the beach for fun? Walking on sand is tough! Many cats start developing signs of arthritis between the ages of 10-12 years, so preventative joint care is key and this helps keep them being able to use their litter box!” cat behaviorist Ingrid said.
According to Ingrid, there are lots of ways to help out your senior cats. For example, arthritis is often under-diagnosed and under-treated in cats, so scratch ramps are a way to help cats keep limber.
Meanwhile, environmental enrichment and optimizing a healthy mind can lessen cognitive dysfunction and senility in older cats. What’s more, foraging toys and food puzzles can be a good way to keep your cat’s brain healthy.
“Foraging for food keeps cats fit and engaged, it is close to letting a mouse loose in the house as you can get!” the cat behaviorist said. You can find more info about challenging your cat with food puzzles right here.
“Last but not least, offer warmth! A heated bed, easy access to sunny spots, etc. Seniors often have kidney disease. The kidneys help regulate body temperature, so these seniors tend to be cold. Offer warmth!” Ingrid stressed.
#10 My Grandpa Passed Away On Thanksgiving And No One Would Take His 18 Year Old Cat... So We Did. Welcome Home, Lovey!
#11 When Your Cat Is Pushing 20 Years Old, But Can Still Pull Off That Innocent Baby Look
#12 Tiger Is 31 Years Old, And Is Still A Prime Example Of The Ever Loving Box And Cat Relationship
Vet visits become more and more frequent when your cat gets older because new illnesses or hereditary issues will be popping up as the animal’s body wears down. However, even if your catto seems fine, it’s still important to go for regular check-ups at the vet around every 6 months. Better safe than sorry!
According to Cat Friendly, cats can be very subtle and sneaky when it comes to hiding their illnesses. So you have to keep a keen eye out for any unusual changes in their behavior, appetite, and mood.
Even if you think they might be small enough to ignore or not bother your vet with. The biggest indication that something’s wrong is when your cat’s weight changes drastically. The same applies to practically any pet and human being, too.
#14 This Guy Has Been By My Side For Twenty Years Today. He Helped Me Through Some Rough Times
#15 An Elderly Cat Who Can No Longer Bird Watch Receives A Fish Tank Full Of Fake Fish To Watch From The Comfort Of His Bed
Meanwhile, Cats Protection explains that elderly cats need extra care and attention from their owners to ensure that they spend their twilight years comfortably. So older cats really do need more warmth and extra soft bedding.
What’s more, they might have difficulty getting to high places in their senior years, so consider providing stools, ramps, or ladders leading up to their favorite napping spots. Or you can keep picking your cat up and placing it where it wants to go. We’re sure your cat won’t mind that.
Older cats can also have difficulty looking after their coats. So to keep them gleaming and neat, spend some more time grooming them. It’s a win-win situation: your cat’s coat will look nicer, you’ll spend more quality time together bonding, and you’ll reduce your stress levels while you’re stroking your cat. No matter their age, cats deserve care from their owners to keep the happy days coming.
#16 15-Year-Old Blind Cat Snuggling Daughter's Toy Because It Smells Like Her
#17 A Few Weeks Ago I Adopted A 12 Year Old Cat. She Buries Her Face In My Hand When She Wants More Love
#18 This Happens Every Time I Go To My Barbers. He's An Old Kitty Now, And He Can't Miaow Anymore, It Comes Out As "Aaaggh!" I Always Let A Load Of Customers Go Ahead Of Me So I Don't Disturb Him. Time Spent With Cats Is Never Wasted
#19 I Brought Home A Stray Cat When I Was 17 Years Old. I'm 36 Now. Every Time I Go To My Parents House, I Check To Make Sure He Is Still There And Give Him Some Extra Love Before I Leave. Meet Scooter
