What’s Wrong with My Senior Cat

Changes in Food and Eating Habits

Veterinarians usually recommend a good brand of dry cat food for younger to middle-aged cats because it is better for their teeth. But when cats get to be fourteen or older, they often fare better with canned cat food. Canned cat food is more easily digestible for older cats. As they get up in years, their teeth can also get bad, which may cause difficulty eating dry food. If your older cat is losing weight or seems unhappy with his current food situation, try switching to canned food and see if it makes a difference.

Insecurity and Screeching

When cats get older, their eyesight and hearing may get worse, which makes them more insecure. They may want to keep their owner in ear and eye range. If a person goes from one room to the next, a cat is likely to follow and may become upset if their owner is not in sight. This is normal behavior for all cats, but especially older pets.
Older cats may surprise their owners by making a series of loud, high-pitched meows. This is fairly common in older cats, and may be caused by diminished hearing. Nothing can be done about this problem but reassuring the cat that he is not alone.

Litter Box Trouble

Older cats may start getting kidney problems and wetting the rug. This is a very difficult situation to deal with. There are a couple of things an owner can do to make the situation better. One is to make sure the cat doesn’t have a urinary tract infection. When cats get older they are more prone to these infections, and one of the symptoms is frequent urination. Another thing to check is to see if the cat has diabetes, which can also cause problems. If the cat is otherwise healthy, make sure to keep the litterbox clean. Try switching to a good brand of unscented litter. Sometimes a cat’s sense of smell gets weaker and this can make him have trouble finding the box if it is heavily scented.

There are some excellent products such as Zero Odor that will help if your cat has frequent accidents.

An indoor cat may live over twenty years; a few make it to thirty. Regular veterinary appointments to check for such diseases as diabetes are recommended. With proper care, an indoor cat can live a long and healthy life.