Senior Cat Behaviors and Symptoms

November 5th, 2020

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With November featuring National Pet Awareness Month, National Senior Month, and Adopt a Senior Pet Month, there’s never been a better time to consider adopting one of those lonely senior cats crowding the animal shelters. While older cats may come with unique behaviors and symptoms, they will fill your home with love and enrich your life in so many ways.

 

What Are Senior Cat Behaviors and Symptoms?

With the aging process come many physical and behavioral changes. The immune system becomes less effective, especially in the presence of chronic diseases. Dehydration, which often results from diseases common to senior cats, further impairs blood circulation and immunity.

The aging feline brain often causes alterations in personality, so you may begin to notice increased wandering, excessive meowing, disorientation, and avoidance of social interaction. Older cats often experience vision changes, hearing loss, dental disease, and loss of appetite. They are also susceptible to obesity, kidney problems, arthritis, and high blood pressure.

Senior cats aren’t as effective in grooming themselves as younger cats, sometimes resulting in skin problems. Moreover, an older cat’s skin is thinner, less elastic, and more prone to infection.

 

How Can You Keep a Senior Cat Healthy?

Monitor Your Cat’s Health: Cats are experts at masking the signs of illness, and aging cats are no exception. It is quite common for a cat to have a serious health problem yet not show any symptoms until the condition advances. Most diseases are easier to treat and manage in their early stages, so it’s important for pet parents to keep an eye out for any changes or abnormalities.

Maintain Routine Vet Visits: Make sure you maintain the recommended routine wellness exams to allow your trusted team at All About Cats Veterinary Hospital to keep an eye on your fur-ever friend’s health. If you notice any concerning changes, make sure to contact us right away.

Help Your Cat with Grooming: Make sure to brush your feline friend’s hair daily to maintain the coat’s health and check on the nails weekly to see if they need trimming. Don’t forget to brush the teeth daily using a pet-specific toothbrush and toothpaste.

Maintain Proper Nutrition: Many cats become obese with age and need diet modification to avoid weight-related complications. Others lose weight as they get older due to medical conditions and require special diets to maintain their health.

 

Why Adopt a Senior Cat?

Young cats and kittens are attractive to potential pet parents because of how cute and playful they are. Sadly senior cats are often overlooked. If only people would pause for a moment and keep open minds, they’d realize that older cats can make excellent pets too. Mature felines are often calmer and are wonderful companions. So the next time you visit a shelter, considering giving a senior cat a forever home. You’ll be making an enormous difference to a beautiful creature, and you’ll both have richer and happier lives.

 

Trusted Senior Cat Care in Kirkland, WA

Contact All About Cats Veterinary Hospital in Kirkland, WA, to learn more about caring for your senior cat’s health. We are dedicated to ensuring our feline patients maintain healthy and active lives. You can always count on us for purr-fectly compassionate care!