Old Friends are Best How to Enjoy your Older Cat - Cat insurance
A question cat owners often ask is: Will my cat need different care as he gets older?
Cats seem to be living longer nowadays. It’s much more common than it used to be for a cat to reach 15 years of age, and it’s by no means unlikely that your cat could reach 18 or 19. If you took out cat health insurance for him when he was a kitten, then a good policy should continue to cover him as long as he needs it. But there are things you can watch out for, to make sure you don’t have to claim on your cat health insurance too often.
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· As a cat gets older he often becomes increasingly affectionate and will enjoy spending time with you. He won’t necessarily become less playful – most healthy cats still like playing even at 15 or 16. So don’t stop playing with him – he’ll love it, and he really needs the exercise, especially if he’s going outside less. Some cat stores sell special toys for the older cat. But he’ll probably get just as much enjoyment from a rolled-up ball of paper on the end of a piece of string!
· Feeding requirements for your older cat are different. For instance he needs less protein and phosphorus in his food. So from 8-10 years old use the food marked “Senior” on the pet food shelves. He may well protest at first as it’s less tasty, but don’t give in. Excessive protein and phosphorus are bad for him and could cause kidney damage.
· You’ll probably notice he has stiffer joints and can’t get around so easily. In particular he’s not so agile at jumping or climbing up to higher levels. If one of his favourite spots is higher up, you may like to help him by putting some steps or stages for him to climb up.
· Grooming – your older cat will probably be finding it harder to groom himself as time goes on, and there may well be some parts he can’t reach – e.g. his back. If this happens you’ll notice his coat getting matted and dirty. This will cause him a lot of distress, so do groom him regularly with a grooming brush – he’ll love it!
· You may find your cat’s claws start getting longer, especially if he doesn’t go out much. His claws must be clipped regularly, otherwise they will curl round into the pad and cause a painful infection. He may well object strongly to this procedure so you may need to find someone to help you, or get the vet to do it.
· Your older cat may drink more water than before – this is normal. But if there’s a sudden sharp increase in water intake, consult the vet.
If you look after your cat he can enjoy his life and give you lots of pleasure for many years. But there are still things that can go wrong, so make sure he has his regular check-ups. If you have the right kind of cat health insurance, it can still cover him for most conditions and, in some cases, for putting him to sleep at the end.
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