Senior Cat Care: How to Care for an Older Cat

The 2021 AAHA/AAFP Feline Life Stage Guidelines list the senior stage as 10 years and older.

Cats can live to 20 years, and Blue Cross lists the senior stage as 11 to 14 years and the geriatric stage as 15 years and older. The Cornell Feline Health Center says cats are individuals and, like people, they experience advancing years in their own unique ways. You can expect age-related changes in your cat's body and behavior. Cornell says many cats begin to encounter them between seven and ten years of age, and most do by the time they are 12.

How Old Is a Senior Cat in Human Years

Cornell says the idea that every cat year equals seven human years is not entirely accurate. Its figures are that a ten-year-old cat is similar in age to a 53-year-old person, a 12-year-old cat to a 61-year-old person, and a 15-year-old cat to a person of 73.

International Cat Care points out that cats adapt to these changes gradually, so it is easy to miss the signs of aging unless you are looking for them.

Signs of Aging in Cats

International Cat Care says older cats hunt less, spend less time outside, sleep for longer periods, and are generally less active. They may also be fussier with food or eat less, play less, groom themselves less, and be more vocal. Some become more dependent on their person, because older cats tend to become more insecure.

Trouble Jumping and Climbing

VCA Animal Hospitals describes what pain in a cat can look like. A cat may decline to jump, avoiding the windowsill or the back of the sofa. It may still reach a favorite spot, but in several small jumps. Cornell adds that most arthritic cats do not become overtly lame, but they may have difficulty reaching litter boxes and food and water dishes, particularly if they have to jump or climb stairs to get to them.

Grooming and Claws

Cornell says older cats groom themselves less effectively than younger cats, sometimes resulting in hair matting, skin odor, and inflammation, and that the claws of aging cats are often overgrown, thick, and brittle.

Eyes, Ears, and Hearing

Cornell says hearing loss is common in cats of advanced age. A slight haziness of the lens and a lacy look to the iris are common age-related changes, and neither seems to decrease a cat's vision to any appreciable extent. Several diseases, especially those associated with high blood pressure, can seriously and irreversibly impair a cat's ability to see.

Confusion and Night Wandering

Cornell lists symptoms that may be seen in elderly cats: wandering, excessive meowing, apparent disorientation, and avoidance of social interaction.

Is It Old Age or an Illness

Cornell's advice is direct: "Never assume that changes you see in your older cat are simply due to old age, and are therefore untreatable." It also says any alteration in your cat's behavior or physical condition should alert you to contact your veterinarian.

International Cat Care says to make an appointment with your vet if your senior cat shows any of these:

• Loss of appetite or weight loss
• Drinking more often or drinking a larger amount per day
• Stiffness, limping, or difficulty jumping
• Lethargy or tiredness
• Lumps or bumps anywhere on the body
• Balance problems
• Toilet accidents, or difficulty passing urine or feces
• Disorientation or distress
• Uncharacteristic behavior, such as hiding, aggression, and excessive vocalizing
• Changes in grooming behavior

Cornell also warns that cats are experts at hiding illness, and elderly cats are no exception. A serious problem can be present without any sign until it is quite advanced.

Food and Water for Senior Cats

The dietary needs of a senior cat can change as it ages. Most cats benefit from a higher protein and fat level as they age.

International Cat Care lists these physical changes in older cats: reduced ability to smell and taste food, and reduced ability to digest fat and protein. Cornell says many cats get heavier or even obese as they age, and other cats become too thin. If your cat is overweight, Cornell says to ask your veterinarian to help you modify the diet. If your cat is losing weight, Cornell says a variety of medical problems such as kidney failure can be the cause, and that special diets may be helpful in managing these problems.

If Your Cat Eats Less

International Cat Care suggests offering food little and often, around four to six meals per day as a starting point, in a quiet area so your cat is not distracted by noise and activity. It also suggests a wide, shallow bowl or one with a rim, food at room temperature, and soft food for cats with dental problems, since some prefer soft food to chunks or biscuits. If your cat is arthritic, raising the bowl onto a box can make eating more comfortable because the cat does not have to bend down.

Water

International Cat Care says senior cats are at greater risk of dehydration, especially those with conditions such as chronic kidney disease. It suggests several water bowls around the home, away from where food is eaten, and trying different kinds of bowl (a ceramic bowl, a glass, or a drinking fountain) to find your cat's preference. A raised bowl may also be easier to drink from.

Changes at Home When You Care for an Elderly Cat

International Cat Care suggests these changes around the house.

• A litter tray with lower sides that is easier to get in and out of is ideal, and Cornell says a cat with joint pain may need a box with low sides or a cut-out.
• Laminate, tile, and wood floors can be slippery for older cats, so place mats and runners around the home.
• Shallow steps or a gently sloping ramp can help an older cat reach a favorite lookout or bed.
• If your cat finds stairs difficult and spends more time on one level, put food and water bowls, beds, litter trays, scratching posts, and toys on that level.
• Horizontal scratching posts are easier for older cats than tall vertical posts, which can strain arthritic joints.
• Narrow windowsills should have padded objects underneath, because some cats struggle with their balance as they age. A thermal blanket that is easy to wash can help keep a cat warm.

Cornell says reducing stress is very important because older cats are usually less adaptable to change. It advises avoiding a new pet whenever possible, and says moving to a new home can be equally stressful.

Exercise and Play for Senior Cats

Regular exercise can still mean play. International Cat Care says older cats like to play, too, and suggests larger kick toys, which can encourage a cat to kick with its back legs. It calls that a great exercise for cats with stiff hindlegs. For a cardboard box, International Cat Care says to lie it on its side or cut an opening in it, since older cats may struggle to jump in and out.

An older cat that likes to be outside can still enjoy safe cat enclosures. International Cat Care says some older cats become reluctant to go outside because of other cats, and advises making sure the garden is secure so other cats cannot enter.

Grooming and Hygiene for Older Cats

Cornell recommends daily brushing or combing, which removes loose hairs before they are swallowed and form hairballs. Nails should be checked weekly and trimmed if necessary, since older cats may use scratching posts less often. International Cat Care adds that you should speak to your vet first, because overgrown claws can sometimes point to a medical problem such as arthritis or hyperthyroidism. It recommends a soft brush and fine comb, and says to tease out any matted fur rather than cut it away with scissors, because it is easy to damage the skin that way.

International Cat Care also says you may need to regularly clean your cat's ears of discharge, along with the eyes and the back end, using moist cotton pads.

Teeth and Mouth

Cornell calls dental disease extremely common in older cats and says it can hinder eating and cause significant pain. It says brushing your cat's teeth with a pet-specific toothpaste or powder is the single most effective way to prevent it, and that most cats allow it if you introduce it gradually over several weeks to months. International Cat Care lists bad breath, drooling, a chattering jaw, reduced appetite, and pawing at the mouth as possible signs of dental disease. Our guide to why a cat smells bad starts with bad breath from tooth and gum problems.

Common Health Problems in Older Cats

Dental disease, kidney failure, and arthritis are all relatively common for older cats, and Cornell adds hyperthyroidism, high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, inflammatory bowel disease, and cancer to the list of conditions that become more prevalent as cats age. It says kidney failure symptoms are extremely varied. Cornell also says age by itself is not a disease, and that many conditions that affect older cats can often be controlled even when they cannot be corrected.

Pain

VCA says cats are much less likely than dogs to show outward signs of pain, especially chronic pain, and that arthritic pain is common in older cats. Ask your vet about managing their pain and discomfort. Resistance to being handled or picked up, withdrawal from family activity, unexpected aggression, an unkempt coat, stiffness, and limping are on VCA's list of signs. VCA warns: "Never give your cat an over-the-counter NSAID, as some can be very dangerous."

FAQs

How often should a senior cat see the vet?

International Cat Care says your vet can advise how often your cat would benefit from health checks, based on your cat's age and general health. Cornell says your veterinarian may suggest evaluating a healthy senior cat more frequently than a younger cat, and that at least once a year certain tests, including blood tests, fecal examination, and urine analysis, may be suggested. Cornell also says you may wish to perform a basic physical exam at home every week, and to ask your veterinarian to show you how.

Is adopting an older cat a good idea?

Cornell says older cats in shelters are often more calm, are more likely to be litter trained, and can provide wonderful companionship, and that senior cats are often overlooked by people considering adoption.

Can a senior cat stay in a cattery when I travel?

International Cat Care says that if a cat has always gone into a cattery, there is no reason to change the routine, but older cats do not cope particularly well with changes to their routine, so a cat may come to prefer a sitter at home. Cornell says a familiar object, such as a blanket or toy, may keep an older cat from becoming too distraught in a strange place, and that having the cat cared for at home by a neighbor, friend, or relative is a better alternative.

Sources

• AAFP and AAHA, 2021 AAHA/AAFP Feline Life Stage Guidelines
• Cornell Feline Health Center, The Special Needs of the Senior Cat
• International Cat Care, Special considerations for senior cats
• VCA Animal Hospitals, Pain Management for Cats
• Blue Cross, How long do cats live? (archived copy: Wayback Machine)