How to Live With Senior Cats

Change your cat's diet to a canned food designed for older cats starting around seven years. Your cat will not have to chew the soft food as much as dry food. The soft food also smells more pungent than dry food, which is important for an older cat whose sense of smell has decreased. Foods nutritionally balanced for older cats have increased protein and antioxidant content, such as vitamin E and beta-carotene, that reduce the signs of aging in your cat, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).

Feed your cat three to four times a day in small portions to ease digestion. Keep the schedule of feedings consistent every day to reduce stress on your senior cat.

Brush the cat daily to remove matted or excess fur and help prevent skin inflammation. Older cats cannot groom as well younger cats and brushing keeps a cat clean, while distributing natural skin oils through its coat. For a geriatric cat that grooms infrequently, wipe the cat with a damp washcloth to clean its fur of dirt and debris. You can also use a gentle pet wipe. These pre-moistened cloth wipes, sold in pet stores, contain conditioners like aloe and vitamin E, which clean and condition the coat and skin.

Provide your cat with a comfortable place to sleep. A senior cat sleeps more and cannot regulate its body temperature well. Give your cat a soft bed along with comfortable blankets. Keep the bed out of any drafty or overly warm areas to prevent chills or heatstroke.

Use a litter box with low sides or cut down the sides on the existing litter box so the cat can enter and leave the box easily. An older cat develops arthritis and joint problems that restrict mobility, causing some inappropriate elimination problems when it cannot enter the litter box without pain. Place the box in a quiet area of your home where the cat can have access without having to walk up or down stairs. Provide a box on each level of your home.

Place a nightlight near your cat's litter box, and near its food and water dishes, to illuminate these areas for cats with poor eyesight. Remove any obstacles to these areas so your cat has easy access.

Give your senior cat a set of specialty pet stairs if it likes to sit on a couch or bed but can no longer jump due to mobility issues.

Clip your older cat's nails to prevent them from growing too long and becoming embedded in its paws. Senior cats do not groom their nails as well as younger cats and require assistance to keep them trim. Use a human nail clipper or specialty pet nail clipper and clip off only the tips of the nails, not below the pink area.

Engage your cat in light play sessions for a few minutes each day to keep it active. While an older cat may suffer from decreased mobility, keeping it somewhat active will help prevent these conditions from worsening. Use cat toys on a string to encourage your cat to play with you.