Life expectancy in cats has risen dramatically during the past few years. It is not uncommon for a cat to reach 18 to 20 years of age and they are middle-aged by their eighth birthday. Awareness of the needs of your older feline friend makes caring for her easier, enhances your experience and increases the quality of life she will enjoy.
Things You'll Need
- Veterinarian
- Fiber
- Diet supplements
- Heat
Instructions
Maintain a close relationship with your veterinarian. Be certain he is aware of the rapid advances in this expanding area of veterinary medical knowledge. Some veterinarians specialize in care of geriatric cats.
Visit your veterinarian at least once a year for recomended vaccinations and a complete physical examination including a urinalsis, fecal exam and blood workup.
Allow preventitve health maintainence proceedures to be preformed as recomended.
Recognize the importance of clean teeth and healthy gums. Preventitive dental health care has been a key contributor to the increase in quality and length of life in cats.
Be absolutly certain that she is parasite free - no fleas or worms allowed. Your veterinarian will know what is safe and effective for older cats.
Provide a diet formulated to meet the requirements of older cats. Nutritional requirements begin to change when your cat reaches about eight years of age.
Add extra fiber (one-half teaspoon of psylium fiber) to her diet each day, helping to prevent hair balls and improve overall digestive function.
Use suppliments such as chondroitin sulfate, antioxidents and glucosamine to help slow the aging process, the onset of joint disease and resulting inactivity.
Recognize that older cats love to be warm and comfy. Provide her with a heat source, like a heating pad set on low, throughout the year, not just when you think it's cold.
Realize cats, especially old cats, like their privacy. Provide them a place to take an uninterrupted catnap away from the kids and other pets.
Groom her daily to keep her coat shinny and prevent her from ingesting hair when she grooms herself. Older cats may not be as fastidious as when they are young.
Prevent her from becoming overweight by encouraging exercise and feeding a proper diet.
Keep her indoors for health and safty resons especially after she reaches 12 years of age.
Continue to play with and hold her each day. Cats love attention and your touch will let her know you that you still love and care for her.