How to Take Care of Your Older Cat?

Eyes:
The eyes may display the most visible age-related changes. If you looked into your older cat's eyes and you notice a lacy, or moth-eaten, appearance in the iris where the formerly solid, dark swatch of green, blue or gold once appeared. Cats with nuclear sclerosis may develop a bluish cast in the eyes. Iris atrophy and nuclear sclerosis are common age-related traits that may not decrease your cat's vision to any appreciable extent, though several diseases - especially those relate to high blood pressure can seriously impair a cat's ability to see.

Ears:
Hearing loss commonly occurs in elderly cats for a variety of reason, including chronic inflammation due to infection. As a result of hearing loss, your cat may vocalize more loudly and may not respond when you call him. Sudden moves, noises or touches may startle him.

Teeth:
Here is what happens as your cat's body ages.

Paying attention to your older cat's dental health in his younger years will pay huge dividends down the road. Dental disease, which can hamper or prevent eating and cause pain, is extremely common in senior cats. In older cats, some teeth may be missing or look worn and yellow.

Nose:
In healthy senior cats, it's possible a reduced sense of smell may partially cause loss of appetite, though a refusal to eat is more likely associated with dental problems or other diseases.

Skin and Fur:
A decline in the metabolic rate can cause your cat's skin to become dry and less elastic. An aging cat's skin thins and blood flow decreases, leaving the skin more prone to infection. The skin may appear flaky, and the fur may become thinner and a little dull or rough. As often occurs in ageing dogs, your cat's muzzle may turn gray. Older cats groom less efficiently than younger cats, which sometimes results in hair matting, skin odor, and dermatitis.

Muscles, Bones, and Joints:
Older cats lose muscle tone and can appear unsteady or wobbly on their feet. The loss of muscle mass may result in a thinner appearance or the opposite may happen, as your cat's metabolism slows and your pet puts on weight. Older cats often display stiffness in their joints as tissues lose moisture and cartilage gradually deteriorates. Degenerative joint disease, or arthritis, is common. Bones become brittle. Senior cats may have trouble getting up, lying down, or stepping into their litter box. To your aging cat, climbing stairs may now seem like climbing Mount Everest and his favorite perch on your couch even harder to reach. Aging cats may not enjoy being picked up or cuddled if they experience pain. Finally, grooming may become more challenging as stiffness impedes a cat's ability to bend or stretch.

Nails:
The nails, or claws, of an aging cat can become thicker, brittle, and overgrown. A senior cat is less able to retract her claws. Be sure to clip her nails (or have them trimmed) to prevent the nails from sticking to textured materials such as carpet or growing into her paws.

Your Older Cat Page