Cat Health Care for the Older Cat

We all worry about growing older, and the special health concerns that go along with that process. As it is true of we humans, so it is equally true of our cats. And as loving and responsible cat owners, we owe it to our faithful feline friend to ensure that their later years are as comfortable and healthy as possible.



You should of course be carrying out regular health checks throughout the lifetime of your cat. Pay particular attention to any lumps or bumps that suddenly appear.

A cat can live to around 20, in human years, but by the age of 7 he is already in his senior years. But many cats will remain quite active and vigorous until around 14 or 15 years of age. There is often quite a rapid decline in his physical abilities from this stage onwards, so the thoughtful cat owner should make the necessary modifications to his environment, so that he can continue to have access to his favorite spots in the house – you might consider the provision of ramps etc.

Your cat’s coat will inevitably get thinner with age – this means he may need extra warmth in his bed. He will not be as adept at self-grooming, so you should groom him more frequently as he ages. And do check that he is not losing clumps of hair. If you notice a change in the natural sheen of his coat, this could be a sign of a nutritional deficiency or disease, so a visit to the vetenarian might be in order.


You might find that he becomes more reluctant to leave the house – perhaps he feels more vulnerable as he ages, and knows he cannot use and enjoy the outdoor facilities as he once did. But you must encourage him to be as active as possible – perhaps spend a little more time sharing his playtime.


Cats tend to eat similar amounts of food up until cat middle-age. As his physical activity slows down, a cat will tend to put on weight. But with increasing age, the cat will tend to lose weight naturally. At this point you should consider modifying his diet – as his digestive process slows down, the cat should have food that is easier to digest.


There are a couple of further cat health care issues that the owner of an aging cat will need to look out for. are dental problems and vision problems. Dental problems can occur at any point in a cat’s life, but are more likely to occur with advancing age, so my advice is to have his teeth cleaned on a regular basis.


Many older cats also develop vision problems, especially cataracts. If you suspect your cat is suffering with his vision, take him to the vetenarian immediately.



These are some tips that I hope you find useful. We cannot eliminate health problems in our older cats, but we can do our best to make these difficult years as comfortable and painless as possible.


For a comprehensive look at all the cat health care issues, check out myCat Care and Training book.