Supporting Your Cat To Age Gracefully

How to Help Your Cat Age Gracefully:

Essential Tips for Senior Feline Care

Signs of aging can be very subtle, and often overlooked in cats. As they get older, their needs change and they become at risk of a variety of health conditions, many of which are best managed BEFORE symptoms start to develop. Here are simple tips that you can use to help make your cat's golden years truly sparkle.

Evolving Nutritional Needs

As your cat ages, their dietary requirements change. Here’s a simple guide to ensure your senior feline stays healthy and happy.

Key Nutritional Considerations for Senior Cats:

1. Calorie Counting:
   
   
   • Older cats are less active, and often have less muscle, so naturally their metabolic rate is a bit lower than it used to be. Managing their calorie intake prevents weight-related health issues.
2. Protein Quality and Quantity:
   
   
   • Protein is critical to maintaining muscle mass and supports an aging frame. Cats need over 50% of their calories from protein. However, restricting protein can be very important for older cats with failing kidneys. Annual blood and urine screening helps you to know if your cat is on this path.
3. Essential Nutrients:
   
   
   • Taurine for heart and eye health.
   • Omega-3 Fatty Acids to reduce inflammation and support joints.
   • Vitamins and minerals like calcium and vitamin D are needed for stronger bones.

So how do you feed a senior cat?

1. Cheat’s Option
   
   Choose a premium commercial feline diet, and rotate between brands. With questionable regulation of pet food ingredients and standards, rotating between brands can help you cover your bases. Adding cat-safe whole foods for extra nutritional value is excellent, including baked lean meats such as chicken breast and tuna. For cats with a big appetite, adding grating zucchini can help them to feel fulfilled - without the calories.
2. Going all-in
   
   Moving away from a commercial diet to a home-cooked diet is time-consuming and fraught with the dangers of malnutrition. Be wary of social media recipes, for sure. Team up with a vet who is passionate about nutrition to get the best advice on how your cat can benefit from whole foods, safely.

Monitoring Mobility and Weight

Maintaining a healthy weight is vital for your cat’s health. Excess weight increases the risk of arthritis, diabetes, and certain cancers, causing pain and long-term health issues.

In fact, a lifetime study in dogs demonstrated that carrying only a small amount of extra weight (equivalent to one dress size in people) reduced the lifespan of dogs by a whopping 15%.

Here’s what you can do at home:

1. Portion Control: Regularly weigh your cat and measure food portions. Avoid using food measurements such as ‘a handful’ or ‘scoop’.
2. Rotate between quality foods: Choose and rotate between premium commercial pet brands formulated for senior feline health.
3. Active Play: Spend 10–15 minutes daily with interactive toys like feather wands or laser pointers. Encourage climbing and scratching to keep joints moving.
4. Monitor Weight: Use baby scales to track weight changes, rewarding your cat with a healthy treat after each session.
5. Limit Treats: Keep treats to under 10% of their daily calories, using healthy, low-calorie options.

Prevention is Key!

Cats age faster than humans, and just one year can bring significant health changes. That’s why at VetLand, we emphasise biannual check-ups to keep your cat healthy and catch issues early.

For cats aged 7+, we offer complimentary blood screenings alongside their vaccinations to detect hidden conditions like kidney disease and diabetes.

Take the next step—schedule their vaccinations and complimentary blood screening today. Book your visit now!