Old age for cats comes approximately when we reach 8 years of age. It is at this stage when the care of a cat becomes more special, with different needs than those of young kitties.
If your cat already begins to show signs that it is getting older, it is time to make its old age as pleasant as possible. As happens in humans, ailments can make them lose quality of life, and all care is little for your kitty, as it is another member of your family.
Food for older cats
Just as there is a specific type of food for puppies and kittens, older cats have different nutritional needs. In old age, cats are less active, and therefore they have to be given a diet based on the energy expenditure that their physical condition implies.
The recipes for older cats are low in fat and calories, to better control weight. It also contains a greater amount of taurine, a special amino acid to give your kitty more energy.
Veterinary reviews
While a cat at any age should receive veterinary check-ups periodically, when it reaches adulthood the time between visits to the vet should be shortened further.
It does not matter if your cat looks good, don’t hesitate to ask for an appointment every so often with your veterinarian to check that everything is going well. Kidney problems may appear in adult cats that are not visible until the disease is advanced. It is very important to detect this and other problems before it is too late.
Control at home
Pay attention at home if your cat is behaving strangely. The problems of osteoarthritis in cats and other ailments can easily be seen only by observing how your pet moves.
Is your kitty still going to its sandbox as always? Has it changed its eating patterns? Does your kitty groom itself daily? Is there an alarming lack of activity? If you see something that is strange to you, quickly take your kitty to the vet to get a check up.
Adapted exercise
Although older cats no longer have a level of activity as high as young, it does not mean that they have to become completely sedentary. Keep a play routine with your pet so that it stays active according to its possibilities, encouraging and accompanying your kitty at this stage, as it is when cats need more affection from their families.
