Tag Archives: senior cats

Grooming an Older Cat

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Older cats may groom themselves less than younger cats for a variety of reasons. Perhaps pain makes it difficult to reach certain areas. Perhaps an illness is impacting skin and coat, making it harder to keep up with grooming. As your cat ages, you may need to take a more active part in grooming! Helping your older cat with grooming is a good way to monitor changes in health. Look for changes in your pet’s skin as they age. Some pets develop dry skin and dandruff as they age; others tend to get oily skin that leaves the coat feeling … Continue reading →

Aggression in Older Cats

Your sweet, friendly, loving cat may change personality as she moves into her senior years. As cats age, they can become aggressive toward people or other animals in the household. What causes aggression in older cats? Often, the problem has a medical basis. An older cat with arthritis may object to being touched when her joints are especially achy. A cat with vision or hearing loss may be easily startled by a human or pet’s approach. Stress is another major cause of aggression in older cats. Moving or remodeling can be stressful for a cat of any age, but especially … Continue reading →

Caring For A Senior Cat

In general, a cat who is ten years old or older can be considered a late middle aged or senior cat. As your cat ages, you can expect many of the general changes we see in humans: slowing down, sleeping more, difficulty going up and down stairs, reduced hearing, cloudy eyes, and muscle atrophy. A senior cat needs regular veterinary examinations just as much as a cat at any other age! Annual exams are a good chance for your kitty to get a thorough once-over. Certain symptoms should be seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible: Change in appetite … Continue reading →

Help Your Senior Pet Live Longer

Pets don’t live forever. They don’t even live as long as humans do! If you want your pets to live a long, healthy, happy life, there are a lot of things you can do! Regular exercise will help your senior pet stay in the best shape possible. Exercise helps the heart and lungs stay healthy. It also helps prevent obesity, which can be a strain on your pet’s body. Even moderate exercise (like a couple of strolls around the neighborhood) is enough for your older pup. Exercise also helps prevent boredom, which can lead to destructive behavior. Dogs especially love … Continue reading →

Ten Reasons to Choose a Senior Pet

Thinking about adopting a pet? You may overlook an older dog or cat in favor of a young, energetic pet. However, there are many benefits to adopting a four-legged senior! Think about why the pet lost their home. Too many older dogs and cats lose their happy homes because of the death of an owner, a relationship ending, or a change in owner lifestyle. Just because a pet is at a shelter doesn’t make him a behavior problem or a bad pet. My dog Moose was surrendered by his owner because he was “too stubborn”. To me, that says the … Continue reading →

Senior Care Checklist for Dogs and Cats

As a general rule of thumb, you can consider your pet a senior if he or she is seven years old or older. However, the size of your pet can also be a factor in relative age. A larger dog (weighing more than 90 pounds) may physically be a senior by the age of five! Larger pets have more wear on their bodies. You may notice subtle changes in your pet’s behavior that could be signs of aging or could be related to manageable health conditions. Keeping track of subtle changes in your pet’s behavior can help your vet make … Continue reading →