10/08/2022
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As cats age, we generally see changes in their behavior. The wild and crazy playful activities we associate with kittens give way to adult cats sleeping in the sun and prowling around the house. We commonly presume senior cats will take even longer naps in the sun or on our beds. It is important, however, to differentiate normal feline behaviors from abnormal ones, as some behavior changes in aging cats arise from pain and are definitely not normal. Cats are very good at hiding signs of pain, so cat owners need to be very observant to recognize when their cat needs extra help.
Some cats begin showing age-related physical signs as early as age seven, while others are still friskier than kittens at ten. A general rule of thumb is that a cat is classified as "senior" if she's over 11 years of age.
As the parent of an aging cat, you'll want to watch for changes in behavior that could signify an underlying problem. Here are five common age-related symptoms and conditions you might see in an older kitty:
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While slowing down a catโs age is normal, if you notice your cat is sleeping all the time or more deeply than normal it might indicate a more serious health problem. Conversely, cats that are more active at night and not sleeping as much, might be experiencing age-related changes.
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If your cat is getting confused by ordinary tasks or objects, she is used to navigating like finding her bed she may be reaching her golden years. This can also be a sign of larger cognitive issues, so you should consult your vet if you notice this type of behavior.
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Arthritis is common in older cats. While your cat might not limp or show other obvious signs of painful joints, you might notice she has more difficulty than she used to jumping into a litter box, climbing stairs, or jumping on furniture.
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In an older cat, weight loss can be a sign of any number of problems, from heart and kidney disease to diabetes. Some pets' food and energy needs can increase as they move from adult to senior cats, and they may lose weight faster than they can eat to catch up. On the opposite side of the spectrum, as cats age, their metabolism slows down so they don't need as many calories as they used to. If you notice your cat is starting to pack on the pounds, it might be time to transition to senior cat food that is better equipped to meet her biological needs.
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Is your cat having accidents when she never did before? Is she avoiding human interaction? These can be signs of a cat in kidney failure, a cat in pain, or a cat that is mentally confused โ health conditions that are more prevalent in senior-aged cats. Your veterinarian can help you get to the bottom of your cat's behavioral changes.
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A cat that has stopped self-grooming could be in pain because of arthritis or dental issues.
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๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐. ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐'๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐
๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐. ๐จ ๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐.
๐ช๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐บ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ช๐๐
You can also take some easy steps at home to improve your cat's quality of life in her senior years:
1. Choose a high-quality food made for senior cats: Youthful Vitality 7+ Cat Food, for instance, is specially formulated to support brain function, energy and vitality, healthy kidneys and bladder, healthy digestive system, and luxurious fur.
2. Give her a warm place to rest, especially if she suffers from arthritis. She'll appreciate you moving her bed from a drafty area.
3. Think easy access. Give her a litter box, water bowl, and food bowl on every floor of your house. If she seems to be having trouble climbing into the litter box, find one with lower sides or even try an old cookie sheet.
4. Help her groom. Many people rarely brush their cats because they are such good self-groomers. But as your cat ages, brushing your cat serves a dual purpose of acting as a bonding activity and keeping her coat healthy when she can no longer do it alone.
5. Continue to Exercise Her.
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Aging is a natural process, and the body โ whether human or feline โ goes through many complex physical changes as the years progress. But even though some of your cat's conditions might not be easily cured, they can likely be controlled.
๐๐ฒ๐น๐ฝ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ ๐ฒ๐ป๐ท๐ผ๐ ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ถ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฏ๐ ๐บ๐ฎ๐ธ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐๐ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ฝ๐น๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐น๐ผ๐๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฎ๐ ๐ต๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ.
