Cats are considered senior when they reach 11 years old (60 human years) and start, like us, to experience the natural processes of ageing.  Cats are naturally stoical and may hide the signs.

Look out for changes in:

Mobility – your cat may no longer jump up on the worktop, may avoid the stairs or groom less. Think of providing shallow steps or ramps and cover slippery floors. Dietary supplements, massage, K laser therapy and medication can return Kitty to enjoying his previous lifestyle.

Appetite – her sense of taste and smell reduces as she ages. Warming moist food will help to release the aroma and she may prefer strong flavours such as fish. Painful dental disease is common and may only be found by probing or radiography.

Behaviour – including alterations in sleep patterns, aimless wandering, increased vocalisation and loss of litter training. If there is no medical reason such as an overactive thyroid, you can help by providing routine and predictability. Regular gentle play, a Senior diet containing antioxidants and fatty acids, and calming pheromones  will help. 

Small changes in bodyweight, thirst or appetite may be the early signs of chronic kidney disease, hyperthyroidism or diabetes, which is why regular health checks and blood screens are so helpful for keeping our older cats fit for life. As a Gold Cat-Friendly clinic, we want to help you help them enjoy these golden years.