Kazz
31-08-2007, 04:03 PM
Here's what I;ve come up with this afternoon any and all ides/suggetsions/HELP welcome:-D In fact Help desperately need I think :roll:
Pensioner Puss
How to recognise old age –
Cats rarely like people and dogs go grey. How do you know your cat is getting older, apart from counting the candles on their birthday cake.
It just depends on your cat. One of the oldest recorded cats was a female tabby Moggy from Devon called Ma who died in 1957 aged 34 years 5 months…
It is not unusual to hear of cats reaching their late teens and beyond.
Try to be aware of the signs of aging in your cat and try to make the golden years as comfortable as you can. It will certainly slow down, becoming much less active than before as its body undergoes many changes. It may be less concerned about going out and its surroundings and more interested in and dependent on you its owner.
There is a good chance they will sleep more, eat smaller amounts more often, and drink a little more, become less tolerant of noise and change. Become restless and sometimes be unable to get to its litter tray or outside in time.
But the benefits of an older cat outweigh the “negatives” by now you know your cat inside out, and he/she you each recognizing each others moods and routines. So listen to yourself if you think something is not right with your feline chum then act on it. No one knows you cat better than you do.
Vets.
Regular yearly visits to the vet for boosters should still happen although some cats have built up an incredible resistance to illness by old age, others have lowered tolerance.
Older cats usually dislike change and new routines so a visit to the vets can be stressful. So it may be worth asking the vet for a home visit, instead of taking your cat to the surgery.
Make sure your vet checks your cat’s teeth, among other things tartar will build up on a cats teeth though the years and if ignored, will lead to gum disease and your cat may be reluctant to eat due to this as it may be painful to do so.
Professional cleaning of your cats teeth will involve using an anesthetic, which always carries a slight risk, but particularly so for an older cat. But anyone who has suffered toothache will know how painful teeth trouble can be. If your cat begins to drool, this could be a symptom of decay or tartar on the teeth and a visit to the vets should be top of your list.
Older cats also suffer from constipation, arthritis, kidney disease and diabetes.
So please remember you know you cat best so any change at all should be considered and acted upon if you feel it is needed.
The Menu
An ideal food for older cats is spaghetti Bolognaise.
Because an older cat has quite different dietary requirements to a youngster.
Older cats should be fed less protein than younger cats, but it should be higher quality protein. Carbohydrates should be increased, so add pasta, rice, potato or bread to your cat’s food. You may be surprised how many cats enjoy Spaghetti Bolognaise. But nowadays the mainstream cat food manufacturers – make superb packet/canned food for senior citizens. So don’t worry too much and just change to the “senior” make of your chosen cat food.
Constipation is not uncommon in older cats, as they become less active. Veterinary advice should be sought and the vet may advise adding a little bran to food, or try feeding food to which a little water, stock or soup has been added to make a thick broth/gravy.
Older cats seem to either loose weight or gain weight. Either way mention it to your vet, as both can be a sign of something else.
Eating for older cats can become difficult if they have stiff joints, so maybe try raising their food bowl from the ground a few inches.
More Toilet Breaks
Increase litter trays for an older cat as getting about quickly may not be as easy as it once was. And older cats that have always been clean may become distressed if they have accidents.
You may also consider introducing a litter tray to a cat that has always gone outside in the winter months. Just think if you were 100 would you want to go to an outside WC?
Personal Appearance
A little help with personal grooming may be appreciated as time rolls on. Even if you have always left your cat to groom himself, consider starting to groom him as there may be lots of parts of his body he cannot any longer reach. And regular grooming will make your cat feel better, as well as reducing the risk of furballs forming, which your
Cat’s aging muscles may be unable to expel.
Sometimes claws and dewclaws need trimming also if you are unsure get your vet to check and trim for you.
Hearing Aids
You will never see a cat with a hearing aid but remember as we all get older our hearing and eyesight deteriorate. You put down your cats hesitation in jumping for instance to arthritis as they get older but it may be their eyesight is deteriorating, the yearly checkup at the vets and your normal interaction should be able to pick up on this.
Reduction in these two senses may prevent cat from being OTT but will not stop them still enjoying life. Animals adapt better than people do. But older cats even those who have been particularly active in their youth may choose to spend more time indoors.
Forty Winks.
As has already been said older cats sleep more. And dislike their routine being upset. So an extra blanket and or a bed by a heat source will be much appreciated. So to change an older saying “Let sleeping cats lie”
And remember older cats have difficulty jumping so a well thought out positioned step up to the sofa or your bed will be a nice thought.
Con't next post it is too long otherwise.:roll:
Pensioner Puss
How to recognise old age –
Cats rarely like people and dogs go grey. How do you know your cat is getting older, apart from counting the candles on their birthday cake.
It just depends on your cat. One of the oldest recorded cats was a female tabby Moggy from Devon called Ma who died in 1957 aged 34 years 5 months…
It is not unusual to hear of cats reaching their late teens and beyond.
Try to be aware of the signs of aging in your cat and try to make the golden years as comfortable as you can. It will certainly slow down, becoming much less active than before as its body undergoes many changes. It may be less concerned about going out and its surroundings and more interested in and dependent on you its owner.
There is a good chance they will sleep more, eat smaller amounts more often, and drink a little more, become less tolerant of noise and change. Become restless and sometimes be unable to get to its litter tray or outside in time.
But the benefits of an older cat outweigh the “negatives” by now you know your cat inside out, and he/she you each recognizing each others moods and routines. So listen to yourself if you think something is not right with your feline chum then act on it. No one knows you cat better than you do.
Vets.
Regular yearly visits to the vet for boosters should still happen although some cats have built up an incredible resistance to illness by old age, others have lowered tolerance.
Older cats usually dislike change and new routines so a visit to the vets can be stressful. So it may be worth asking the vet for a home visit, instead of taking your cat to the surgery.
Make sure your vet checks your cat’s teeth, among other things tartar will build up on a cats teeth though the years and if ignored, will lead to gum disease and your cat may be reluctant to eat due to this as it may be painful to do so.
Professional cleaning of your cats teeth will involve using an anesthetic, which always carries a slight risk, but particularly so for an older cat. But anyone who has suffered toothache will know how painful teeth trouble can be. If your cat begins to drool, this could be a symptom of decay or tartar on the teeth and a visit to the vets should be top of your list.
Older cats also suffer from constipation, arthritis, kidney disease and diabetes.
So please remember you know you cat best so any change at all should be considered and acted upon if you feel it is needed.
The Menu
An ideal food for older cats is spaghetti Bolognaise.
Because an older cat has quite different dietary requirements to a youngster.
Older cats should be fed less protein than younger cats, but it should be higher quality protein. Carbohydrates should be increased, so add pasta, rice, potato or bread to your cat’s food. You may be surprised how many cats enjoy Spaghetti Bolognaise. But nowadays the mainstream cat food manufacturers – make superb packet/canned food for senior citizens. So don’t worry too much and just change to the “senior” make of your chosen cat food.
Constipation is not uncommon in older cats, as they become less active. Veterinary advice should be sought and the vet may advise adding a little bran to food, or try feeding food to which a little water, stock or soup has been added to make a thick broth/gravy.
Older cats seem to either loose weight or gain weight. Either way mention it to your vet, as both can be a sign of something else.
Eating for older cats can become difficult if they have stiff joints, so maybe try raising their food bowl from the ground a few inches.
More Toilet Breaks
Increase litter trays for an older cat as getting about quickly may not be as easy as it once was. And older cats that have always been clean may become distressed if they have accidents.
You may also consider introducing a litter tray to a cat that has always gone outside in the winter months. Just think if you were 100 would you want to go to an outside WC?
Personal Appearance
A little help with personal grooming may be appreciated as time rolls on. Even if you have always left your cat to groom himself, consider starting to groom him as there may be lots of parts of his body he cannot any longer reach. And regular grooming will make your cat feel better, as well as reducing the risk of furballs forming, which your
Cat’s aging muscles may be unable to expel.
Sometimes claws and dewclaws need trimming also if you are unsure get your vet to check and trim for you.
Hearing Aids
You will never see a cat with a hearing aid but remember as we all get older our hearing and eyesight deteriorate. You put down your cats hesitation in jumping for instance to arthritis as they get older but it may be their eyesight is deteriorating, the yearly checkup at the vets and your normal interaction should be able to pick up on this.
Reduction in these two senses may prevent cat from being OTT but will not stop them still enjoying life. Animals adapt better than people do. But older cats even those who have been particularly active in their youth may choose to spend more time indoors.
Forty Winks.
As has already been said older cats sleep more. And dislike their routine being upset. So an extra blanket and or a bed by a heat source will be much appreciated. So to change an older saying “Let sleeping cats lie”
And remember older cats have difficulty jumping so a well thought out positioned step up to the sofa or your bed will be a nice thought.
Con't next post it is too long otherwise.:roll: