As cats age, their needs change, and caring for a senior cat naturally requires extra attention and understanding. Older cats may face various health challenges, such as arthritis, reduced vision or hearing, dental problems, or kidney disease. However, with the right approach, you can help your senior cat live a comfortable, happy, and fulfilling life. Keep reading our guide to caring for your elderly feline friend and ensuring that they’re as comfortable as possible.

Regular Veterinary Visits

As your cat ages, it becomes more important to schedule regular veterinary check-ups. A senior cat may not show signs of illness right away, but routine visits allow your vet to catch potential issues early on. It’s recommended to take your cat to the vet at least once or twice a year. During these visits, your veterinarian will conduct a thorough examination, check for common age-related conditions, and provide vaccinations and preventative treatments as needed.

Provide a Comfortable Home

Senior cats may experience a decline in mobility, making it essential to create a comfortable and accessible living environment. Consider the following:

• Elevated Sleeping Areas: If your cat enjoys lounging in elevated spaces, such as a cat tree or window perch, make sure these areas are easy to access. As your cat’s joints may become stiff due to arthritis, placing ramps or soft stairs can help them reach their favorite spots with ease.
• Soft Bedding: Older cats may have sensitive joints and enjoy softer, cushioned bedding. Invest in a comfortable bed with memory foam or thick padding to provide relief from pressure points. Keep their bed in a warm, quiet, and low-traffic area to minimize stress.
• Litter Box Accessibility: Cats with arthritis or mobility issues may find it difficult to climb into a high-sided litter box. Choose a low-entry box with easy access and ensure its placed in a quiet and easily reachable location.

Optimize Their Diet

Senior cats often have different dietary needs than younger ones. Their metabolism slows down, and they may not digest food as efficiently. Additionally, aging cats can develop food sensitivities or health problems that require dietary adjustments. As maintaining your senior cat’s weight is crucial for their overall health, it’s vital to provide them high quality foods. These types of foods typically contain higher-quality protein, lower fat, and additional nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and joint support supplements like glucosamine. If your cat has specific health issues, such as kidney disease, your vet may recommend a prescription diet tailored to their condition. Also, to meet the dietary demands of your senior cat, we highly recommend sprinkling Dr. Bill’s Feline Fitness and Health on each of their meals. Additionally, given how older cats are prone to dehydration, make sure you always provide them with fresh water that’s accessible.

Cater to Their Mobility Issues

Arthritis is common in senior cats and can cause pain, stiffness, and difficulty moving around. To help ease the discomfort, consider the following:

• Joint Supplements: Talk to your vet about joint supplements, such as glucosamine and chondroitin, which can help improve joint health and reduce inflammation. We also highly recommend sprinkling Dr. Bill’s Feline Complete Joint Care on each of their meals.
• Gentle Playtime: Keep your senior cat mentally and physically engaged with gentle play. Opt for toys that don’t require a lot of movement, such as puzzle feeders or slow-moving interactive toys.
• Warmth: Cats with arthritis often benefit from warmth, so provide them with a heated bed or blanket to help soothe their joints.

Dr. Bill’s Pet Nutrition

Never underestimate the power of companionship. Senior cats still crave affection, attention, and interaction with their human family members. Spend time with your cat each day, whether it’s through gentle petting, quiet talking, or simply sitting nearby. Creating a calm and loving environment helps reduce anxiety and stress, making their golden years more enjoyable.

Another way of providing love and attention to your cat is by supplementing them with the optimized diet their senior body craves. Dr. Bill’s Feline Ultimate Fitness and Health helps ensure your cat is receiving everything they need to remain fit and healthy for as long as possible. Its unique formulation of 78 essential and specialty ingredients provide support for skin, hair coat, and eye health to mention just a few. Additionally, given the growing population of overweight senior cats, Ultimate Fitness & Health provides natural weight control as a huge health benefit. Allowing a cat to remain overweight can easily lead to diabetes, heart disease, stomach and intestinal problems, kidney failure, and joint issues such as painful arthritis.