by Sheetal Ahlawat

Created on: February 12, 2009   Last Updated: February 18, 2009

Once your cat reaches the age of ten years, he is considered to be senior or geriatric, although you may not notice any obvious physical changes or problems for several years. As your beloved cat enters his senior years, there is a great deal you can do to help him enjoy this special time in his life.

Making some simple changes to your routine and adapting your home in small ways can make a huge difference to your older cat's comfort and quality of life.

1. Feeding the older cat: Pet food manufacturers have developed a range of high-fat senior foods designed to help keep older cats in good condition. Many of these are rich in antioxidants and the amino acid L-carnitine, which have been shown to be beneficial to older cats by boosting the immune system, so you may like to consider feeding one of these diets.

Consider investing in a set of food and water bowls on stands so that your older cat doesn't have to bend so far to eat and drink. Ensure that they are at the right height for him, though, as reaching up could cause him pain.

If your cat has teeth missing or other dental problems that make it difficult for him to eat dry food, pour on a little hot water to soften it and make it palatable gravy.

2. Exercise: Your older cat may seem reluctant to go outside as much as he did in his youth, but encouraging him to explore the garden on a warm day will help to keep him mobile and alert.

Try to engage your cat in some gentle play session, perhaps by dragging a twig or some leaves on the ground to interest him. Avoid energetic games where he has to jump up to try to catch something you are waving in the air, as this can be painful for the old joints.

3. Sleeping: As with older people, a senior cat will tend to sleep more and be less active than once he was. The aging process can result in lack of muscle tone and a thinner coat, providing him with less body warmth. For this reason it is important to keep an older cat warm, by moving his bed closer to the heater or fire.Many cats are allowed to sleep on their owner's bed at night, but if yours is not, you should remember that the temperature can fall quite dramatically once the heating is switched off at night. Giving him extra blankets, a fleece or even a covered hot water bottle will help provide extra warmth and comfort throughout the night.

4. Health issues: Taking advantage of new developments in geriatric cat medicine and being proactive about your older cat's health will help you to keep him in tip-top condition.

Older cats can be prone to many health problems, like arthritis, loss of hearing and vision, diabetes, kidney disease, urinary tract disease, liver failure, senile dementia etc. Many veterinary surgeries run clinics for geriatric cats where they are weighed, blood tested and examined to try to identify and treat the problems early.

The aging process is not a disease, and your cat will still enjoy being played with, cuddled and provided with a variety of toys. So if you take care of your old-age cat, feed him well and keep him mobile, he can continue to be happy and well for many years to come.

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