When someone has a pet, their animal can truly become another member of the family. Just as most people will take care of an elderly human member of the family, many put just as much care into their elderly pets. When a cat starts getting on in years, it is important for their owners to know the proper way to care for older cats.
When a cat gets older, their digestive system will not be what it once was. It is a good idea to buy them life stage foods that are formulated to suit their sensitive bodies. It also becomes difficult for them to chew, so it will be necessary to switch a cat that normally eats dry food to wet foods. Owners should also remember that, with older cats, it is not a good idea to leave food out after mealtime because it could go stale and upset their stomachs.
Many people get cats as pets because they are so low maintenance when it comes to grooming. However, as cats get older, they cannot always groom themselves as they once did. Many owners choose to trim the fur under their cat's tail so that it does not collect waste when the cat is no longer agile enough to clean that area thoroughly. It may become necessary to bathe the cat and, in that case, only cat shampoo should be used and the cat must dry completely before being allowed outdoors.
Cats often become attached to their cat beds and, even as they get bigger, can fit into the beds they fit into as kittens. As a cat gets older, they may have discomfort when they try to squeeze up into that same little ball, so it may be necessary to get them a bigger cat bed. Older cats also have less of a tolerance for cold, so it may be a good idea to put a covered hot water bottle in the bed with them to avoid sickness.
As they get older, outdoor cats are less likely to wander far from home but that does not mean that precautions do not need to be taken when they go outside. If a cat has had difficulty with sight or hearing, it is the responsibility of their owner to make sure they know where the cat is before they use any equipment such as a lawn mower. They are also more susceptible to dehydration and heat stroke so it is very important to be sure that the cat comes in and drinks regularly and does not get locked out.
After serving as a loyal pet for many years, cats deserve to be treated with love and care when they get older. Care for older cats is not much different than caring for a younger cat. Owners simply need to be more aware of their cat's activities as far as eating and going outside, and try to make them as comfortable as possible.
When a cat gets older, their digestive system will not be what it once was. It is a good idea to buy them life stage foods that are formulated to suit their sensitive bodies. It also becomes difficult for them to chew, so it will be necessary to switch a cat that normally eats dry food to wet foods. Owners should also remember that, with older cats, it is not a good idea to leave food out after mealtime because it could go stale and upset their stomachs.
Many people get cats as pets because they are so low maintenance when it comes to grooming. However, as cats get older, they cannot always groom themselves as they once did. Many owners choose to trim the fur under their cat's tail so that it does not collect waste when the cat is no longer agile enough to clean that area thoroughly. It may become necessary to bathe the cat and, in that case, only cat shampoo should be used and the cat must dry completely before being allowed outdoors.
Cats often become attached to their cat beds and, even as they get bigger, can fit into the beds they fit into as kittens. As a cat gets older, they may have discomfort when they try to squeeze up into that same little ball, so it may be necessary to get them a bigger cat bed. Older cats also have less of a tolerance for cold, so it may be a good idea to put a covered hot water bottle in the bed with them to avoid sickness.
As they get older, outdoor cats are less likely to wander far from home but that does not mean that precautions do not need to be taken when they go outside. If a cat has had difficulty with sight or hearing, it is the responsibility of their owner to make sure they know where the cat is before they use any equipment such as a lawn mower. They are also more susceptible to dehydration and heat stroke so it is very important to be sure that the cat comes in and drinks regularly and does not get locked out.
After serving as a loyal pet for many years, cats deserve to be treated with love and care when they get older. Care for older cats is not much different than caring for a younger cat. Owners simply need to be more aware of their cat's activities as far as eating and going outside, and try to make them as comfortable as possible.
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