#MiddleburyCT #SeniorCat
DEAR PAW’S CORNER: We recently adopted a 12-year-old orange tomcat. Abel is neutered and well behaved, but he has some health issues that we didn’t bargain for. He’s overweight (we’re working on it) and recently needed a tooth pulled. He gets ear and eye infections frequently. I’m not about to give him up, but I wanted others to know that a senior cat often has more medical needs than younger cats. The trade-off is that he’s a sweet, gentle cat, well adapted to humans, and seems less inclined to escape from the house than a younger cat might. – Kelly B., Salt Lake City
DEAR KELLY: Thank you for sharing your experience! Abel sounds like a wonderful cat.
Senior cats, age 11 to 14, do need extra monitoring. They often have health issues specific to older cats, and can be more susceptible to infections, bad teeth, etc. Pretty much all the same issues humans face as we grow old!
As you’ve noted, Abel’s diet is really important. Not just to lose weight and keep it off, but to make sure he’s getting the right nutrition for a senior cat. A cat food formulated for older cats is helpful, but owners should work with the veterinarian to determine the amount and type of food to give their cat each day.
Lots of protein is a must, as this article by VCA points out: vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/feeding-mature-senior-and-geriatric-cats. Dehydration is another factor for older cats. Empty and refill your cat’s water bowl each morning and monitor how much the amount decreases throughout the day to determine how much he drinks.
Finally, monitor your cat’s litter box habits. Write them down and take them to the next vet checkup to make sure there are no hidden health problems cropping up.
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