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As humans, when we get into our golden years, some of us like to be looked after by others, and some of us need to be looked after by others. The same goes for our cats. As they get old, they have special needs that need to be met by their owners.
How do cat years compare to human years? According to Veterinarian David Probert, “A figure that is commonly used is seven cat years for each calendar year, but this rule is not completely accurate.
Feline development through puberty to young adulthood is accomplished over a period of about 18 to 24 months, rather than 21 years as in humans. Therefore, the cat’s first calendar year is more like five to seven cat years (up to an equivalent age of 21 to 23 years in humans). After that, add about four cat years for each calendar year of cat life. This would make an eight year old cat is like a 46 year old person. A 10 year old cat would be 74, and a 20 year old cat would be 94 in human years.”
What are older cat’s special needs? Because they exercise less and sleep more, their metabolism rate slows down. This means their food intake needs to be cut to prevent extra weight gain. It is very important for an older cat to have a yearly health check-up at the vet. This will diagnose any problems early, and therefore treat them early.
How can we make our older cat as happy as possible? Some don’t take too well to change, so introduce change slowly. Give the cat a warm, draught-free comfortable bed, put in a quiet spot. Keep them in indoors more, especially in the colder months. Make sure fresh drinking water is always available, and reduces the protein level in their diet. As cats age, some have less control of their bodily functions, so an indoor litter box may be needed. Older cats don’t care for their coats so well, and may need regular grooming. Their claws, being less active,
may need regular clipping with special cat claw clippers, to keep them short.
Keep close watch on an older cat outside, as it is easy for them to venture and get lost, because of reduced vision and a slower brain. Put a nametag on to a cat collar for them, with your telephone number on the tag.The collar should be tight enough to just get two fingers under it. Too loose and the collar may get caught in the mouth, or a front leg may get through.
Like a human, a cat’s life could end slowly sometimes we have to help them on their way. We need to take into consideration a cat’s welfare, any pain, the cat’s future and how the owners are coping. Before you make this decision, get your cat checked out by your vet. He can advise you on the best options.
So as your cat ages, make its golden years as happy as possible.
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