Aging
Retirement: Health for your Aging Cat
Age is just a number, right? A Human who is 60 years old may act like a young adult,
while another human the same age may at like he or she is on a deathbed. Cats are the
same way! Your pet may act like a kitten for many years or may be gray and achy quite
young. Specific breed, environment, and genetics play a role, but in general, a well-cared
for house cat usually lives to be at least 15 years old. Some cats live to be well over 30.
There are things you can do, however, to provide your cat with the chance for the longest
life possible. For example, have your cat spayed or neutered. Statistics show that fixed
cats live longer, because this causes the cat to stay closer to home and be exposed to few
dangerous situations and disease. Good nutrition is also important. Make sure that you
are buying cat food that is appropriate for your cat's age.
As you cat ages, certain medical conditions may cause you to make special
considerations for your cat. Examples include reduced tolerance to extreme temperatures,
decreased sensory perception, susceptibility to infection, arthritis and joint stiffness,
digestion problems, liver and kidney problems, weaker bones, cancer, muscle weakness,
slow reaction, memory loss, high blood pressure, and irritability. As you can see, aging
cats have many of the same problems as aging humans!
Along with a good diet, promote healthy amounts to exercise in your cat. You can do this
by allowing your cat to go outside and by playing with your cat every day. Toys and
environmental pieces, like scratching posts, are great for encouraging your cat to
exercise. Remember, cats may spend a lot of the day sleeping, which is fine. If you are
overly concerned, talk to your vet about your cat's sleeping habits.
Preventative health care is, of course, important. Make sure that your cat has regular
checkups with the vet to make sure everything is in check. You should also brush your
cat's teeth daily and have your cat groomed regularly to prevent skin diseases. As cats
age, most grow to love grooming. Monitor your cat for diet chances, changing sleep
habits, and unsafe water consumption. The key to graceful aging in a cat is and owner
who is well involved in his or her life. Make sure that you provide advanced care for your
cat as he or she grows, and your pet should be a part of your life for a very long time.
Cat Care Handbook
Treats While Training Your Cat
The Cat Care And Health Insurance Know Hows
Cat Care Handbook
Training Your Cat Is It Even Possible
... causing them to move off of the counter. It will also train the cat to not jump onto the area anymore. By doing this, you are letting the cat know that this certain area is not their territory. They will quickly back off of the area, not moving onto it anymore. One of the ways which is becoming more popular ...
Kitty Kibble Dietary Needs For Your Cat
... nutrients he needs. Because cats will continue eating until their nutritional needs are met, he will be forced to consume more cat food, which means more preservatives and filler. This could put your kitten at risk for obesity or medical conditions. Use proper feeding as preventative care; keep your kitten ...
Best Cat Breed For Your Family
... keep the hair untangled and clean. Grooming visits to trim the cat's hair from the back end helps fervent nasty litter box mishaps, but can be costly. Shorthaired cats require hair brushing too, to minimize their shedding. Another thing to consider is a hairless cat, which are great if you are allergic ...
... cat from actively seeking fights with other male cats in the neighborhood. Vasectomies are not done with male cats. Rather, the simple neutering procedure will remove the male reproductive organs, which are easily accessible in most tomcats. In some cases, more extensive surgery has to be done, because ...
... crystals. There are also organic options made of wood by-products that you can treat more or less like clay litter. Clay litter is the cheapest option, and the most commonly used, but is also the most problematic. It doesn't hold smells in well, for one thing, and you must change all the litter when you ...
Cat Care Handbook is part of the Find Any Info education and information network.