What You Need to Know About Feeding and Caring For Your Older Cat

How old is your cat? For the first seven or so years, he goes from kitten hood through puberty to adult cat, but you may not realise that there are two age ranges in the older life stages of your cat. From ages 7 to 11 years old he is considered to be mature and over the age of 11, he is considered to be a senior citizen! This means that assuming your cat lives to a reasonable age, many of his years are spent in old age.

Cats as a species have been around for thousands of years and they are still one of America's most popular pets. It's true to say that nowadays cats live longer, barring accidents, because of advances in veterinary care, the fact that they are now fed better and their owners now know more about how to take care of them. It's not surprising that all of this has helped to increase their lifespan.

However studies have shown that older cats, from the age of 11, can struggle with weight issues. They can become obese due to their reduced activity. They are more likely to adopt a sedentary lifestyle in their later years and sleep more during the day. They no longer need to go out hunting for food and their eyesight and sense of smell may be reduced. Their digestive system is no longer efficient and as their metabolic rate slows down, body fat tends to stay in place.

Dr. Arnold Plotnick has developed a Senior Wellness Program especially for the needs of older cats at his Manhattan Cat Specialist clinic in New York City. He says that one of the most important goals when you feed your older cat is to maintain his ideal weight and to keep that weight stable.

Many cat food manufacturers have caught on to the fact that older cats have special nutritional needs. For example, Purina Pro Plan has improved and re-launched its entire range of food for older cats.

Feeding Your Older Cat

On the other hand, some older cats can suffer from weight loss! You may find that as your cat's sense of smell and taste start to diminish food is less interesting to them. Also as their digestive system slows down they find it much more difficult to digest and efficiently metabolise the food which they do eat. This can result in the cat eliminating food which it needs to stay on top form. In turn, this leads to a lack of energy which causes a drop in the amount of muscle and body fat on the animal. If this is not treated, your cat will lose condition and be more prone to disease.

One more cause for concern as your cat gets older is that there is a gradual decline in his ability to recover from illness or disease. He is likely to be prone to being affected by stresses in his immediate environment and become less able to fight off illnesses as when he was younger.

After ensuring a proper diet, the most important thing you can for your cat is to see that his weight remains stable. If he is sleeping lot more during the day, then feed him less. Pay attention to the amount he eats, his mood, which will be shown by his grooming habits and his general behaviour, and his toilet habits. If you notice anything that is a cause for concern then contact your veterinarian. It is probably best to let your cat see the veterinarian twice a year in any case. Follow these guidelines, and your cat will live longer and continue to give you years of company and enjoyment.

Pat has been writing articles for blogs and article directories for several years now and specializes in diet, health and fitness, finance, home decor, cooking and pet care. His most recent site is about bottled water brands, including tap vs (versus) bottled water, and bottled water ratings.