Old cats: features of care

Old age in cats begins at about ten years old. Of course, for each cat the age of onsetold age is individual, much depends on the state of her health. But the approach of old age can be noticed by external signs. In old age, the cat becomes less mobile, sleeps longer. Her eyes and hearing deteriorate (she begins to react worse to movement and external stimuli, does not immediately respond if you call her by name).

How easy is the cat to bear the old age? It depends on how her youth passed. If the cat was well-fed, had an active lifestyle, little was ill, then the period of old age would be relatively easy for her. But even in perfectly healthy cats, there are age-related changes in the body, so absolutely all old cats need special care and attention.

You need to start with a change in the diet. Old cats usually eat less than young, so the amount of food should be slightly reduced to avoid obesity. Reduce the amount of fatty foods in the diet. If you feed the cat with feed, you can buy a special food designed for older animals. But if she is used to natural food, the food must be crushed thoroughly: old cats often suffer from dental problems. The cat should always have access to fresh drinking water.

Older cats also need additional vitamins. If your pet refuses to accept thempure form, try adding vitamins to food or water. But it is not worth it to give free vitamins, it is better to consult a veterinarian: hypervitaminosis can be as dangerous as beriberi.

Old cats are usually inactive: they prefer to lie in calm and warm corners. Of course, one can not expect an old cat to be active. But you must make sure that she moves a little: hypodynamia threatens with muscle problems and obesity. Therefore, the cat must be played daily.

Old cats are more susceptible to diseases,and often they suffer from several diseases in the complex. Typical ailments are urinary incontinence, diarrhea, constipation. Sometimes their cause is the aging process, but they can also be associated with diabetes or kidney disease. therefore It is necessary to show the cat to the veterinarian, he will determine the cause and will prescribe the appropriate treatment.

It is worthwhile to show the cat to the veterinarian in the event that it has a smell from the mouth, and indeed with any suspicious symptoms. And even if the cat is healthy, every 3-4 months you need to take her to a veterinarian for a preventive examination.

Old cats pour themselves less than before, so their hair rolls faster. therefore The cat needs to be combed every day, even if it is short-haired. If the coat is not very long, you can simplymassage the cat with a special mitten in the direction from the head to the tail. Combing or massaging a cat, be sure to touch it for tumors: old cats are more susceptible to oncological diseases than young ones.

In the elderly, cats are more cold, so the litter of your cat is worth shiftingcloser to the battery. If the summer is in the yard, and the cat is still cold, you can put her a heating pad. You can put on a cat a special cuff, if it does not hamper her too much.

Old cats can become uncommunicative and irritable, start mewing at night to draw yourAttention. They may feel insecure in the presence of younger and more aggressive cats, begin to be jealous if you get a new kitty home. Take this tolerantly: they behave this way not because they want to annoy you.

Even if your elderly cat feels well and behaves as before, she still needs increased care and attention. Try to spend more time with her, iron your cat, talk to her in a gentle voice. If she did something wrong, do not scold her hard. For example, old cats often go to the toilet past the tray, not out of harm, but simply because they do not have time to reach. Do not punish them for this.

Caring for an old cat can be difficult, but in fact she has been a friend and even a family member for many years. So be patient and give your cat a sincere concern - we are sure she deserved it.