Senior Cat Comfort Recommendations

Dr. Josie Thompson from California and Susan West, DC, who is certified by the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association, discuss arthritis in cats in a video.  >>Click Here

The Cat Practice specializes in senior and geriatric feline care. The average life expectancy of housecats continues to rise as better healthcare and homecare options are available.

We want to keep your senior cat healthy and comfortable for as long as possible, so we have put together this list of recommendations which will help you allow your cat to age comfortably.

Physical examinations every 6 months. As cats get older, things can change a lot faster. Cats often hide illness and subtle changes can go unnoticed by owners who see them everyday. By examining them every 6 months, we can effectively monitor weight fluctuations (one of the first signs of changes in cats), and evaluate overall health more precisely than if we only see them once a year.

Screening labwork checked annually. By checking baseline blood chemistry values such as liver values, kidney values, and glucose, a complete blood count, electrolytes, thyroid values, and a urine sample, you can be rest assured there are no evident signs of systemic changes in your senior cat. Many common diseases in cats are not clinically evident until the cat can no longer hide it or compensate. By screening blood values and urine yearly, we can see if there is anything we should be addressing sooner rather than later to keep your cat comfortable and slow any disease processes that may be present down, often adding many years to your time together.

More water available. Most of the common aging changes that happen in cats require increased fluid intake - especially in cases of kidney disease and diabetes. Increased water intake decreases the work load on the kidneys and helps prevent dehydration and constipation that senior cats are prone to developing. Therefore, the key is getting as much moisture into them as possible. Cats are more likely to take a drink of water if there are extra dishes placed strategically around the home, including every level of the house. Adding water to canned food can help get more moisture into their bodies as well. Some cats prefer to drink running water, and in these cases, a cat water fountain would make drinking more attractive and convenient to the cat.

More litter boxes in easily accessible areas. Senior cats will commonly develop arthritic changes to some degree, making it difficult or painful to climb or descend stairs. Making litter boxes easily accessible on the main level of the house, or where the cat spends most of his/her time, will make it easier for your cat to reach the box comfortably, and decrease the chances of your cat eliminating in inappropriate areas of the house. Also, since they will need to drink more water for various reasons, they will have to urinate more often which is why it's important to make sure litterboxes have adequate amounts of litter and are scooped at least daily. Some cats also benefit from litterboxes with lower sides which make it easier to get in and out of.

Monitoring eliminations. As mentioned above, older cats tend toward chronic dehydration which can lead to constipation. Also, arthritis can contribute to constipation since it is uncomfortable for the cat to assume the posture to defecate, leading to stool sitting in the colon for longer periods and drying out, making it difficult and often painful to pass. Normal stools should be long, connected, and easily compressible. Watch for small balls of hard stool as this is indicative of constipation. Many senior cats need supplements of stool softeners to keep their stools at a normal consistency which makes defecating easier and more comfortable for your cat. Talk to your veterinarian or technician about an over the counter tasteless powder that can be easily mixed into canned food.

Arthritis management. It is very common for older cats to develop some degree of arthritis. Things to watch for include: stiffness after waking, walking stiffly or differently, hesitating to jump up or down onto or off of something, sleeping in different positions, seeking warmth, sitting with a different posture, and/or resisting or reacting to petting or grooming over areas such as the hips. There are many things we can do to help keep arthritic cats more comfortable, including supplements to support cartilage and joints and/or transdermal easy-application pain medication. Placing ramps up to chairs or beds can decrease the amount of jumping required by the cat, and offering heated beds can help ease the discomfort of painful joints.

Help with grooming. Arthritis can make bending and positioning to groom difficult and painful for older cats. Hard to reach places such as the rump and rear can quickly become matted or dirty. This constant discomfort can make normally happy cats cranky and unsettled, and also increase the risk of other problems such as skin issues or urinary tract infections. You may notice dandruff or flaking on your cat's coat if he/she isn't grooming well since this dead skin is usually groomed away by cats. Build up of dense undercoat, even in shorthaired cats can be very uncomfortable due to pulling on the skin every time the cat moves. Regularly comb or brush your cat to remove the thick undercoat and dead top coat. Be mindful of potentially painful, arthritic areas such as the hips. Avoid trimming or cutting out mats since it is very easy to accidentally snip the cat's skin, causing painful lacerations. Leave careful mat removing to the professionals. Electric trimmers work well for trimming the long hair on the back of the legs which can collect stool and debris.

Nightlights. It is common for senior cats to lose their sense of eyesight (and hearing) as they age, just like people. This makes it particularly difficult for cats to navigate at night to find food, water, and litterboxes. Place nightlights throughout the house to provide extra light to assist your cats night vision. Nightlights are especially helpful around litterbox areas, and areas providing food and water.

We hope these tips will help keep your senior cat more comfortable in his/her golden years. If you have any questions, or would like to discuss any of these topics (or others) in more detail, please don't hesitate to call us at 248-540-3390, or email us at meowmail@thecatpracticepc.com.

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