If your cat is approaching the golden years, there are
signs to let you know once they are reaching the homestretch of those nine
lives. Although we love our cats dearly, sadly they are like humans who don’t
live forever. Here are a few things to be aware of if your cat is getting
older:
Getting up isn’t always so easy
As your precious kitty reaches their twilight years, it may
prove difficult for them to get up as quickly as they once did. Allow them
extra time to move about or help out by giving them a loving lift.
Gradual loss of appetite
This sign may be easier to spot if you have a kitty that
always leaves their food bowl dry. The older your cat gets the lesser amount of
food they will need to take in, so be on the lookout for a drop in weight as
well.
Here, kitty kitty?
If your cat is truly getting older, that selective deafness
they may have been practicing at times could take a turn to impaired hearing.
As your cat ages so will all of their senses. This completely normal transition
into a new stage of life may be a telltale sign for you as an owner.
Your social butterfly may start to retreat
Your cat may once have been the life of the party, but if
they retreat to a safe place to hide every time visitors are present definitely
take this as a sign. Cats that are older prefer peace and quiet as opposed to
the lively lifestyle they may have once enjoyed.
Catching extra catnaps
Older cats require more sleep than younger cats do. As your
cat approaches their senior years you may find them sleeping even more than
normal.
They need you more than they used to
Cats are loyal to their loving owners, that’s for sure. As
your cat gets up there in age you may find them becoming a bit clingy with a
desire to be close to you almost whenever you’re around.
Not so high, please
With a slow decline in the senses also comes a steady
decline in cat-like reflexes. The same cat that you may have once repeatedly
told to “get down” may now have a hard time getting up. If kitty sleeps with you
on your high bed at night, try investing in a cat ramp/step ladder to make
getting on/off the bed easier for your aging feline companion.
