The longevity of cats varies according to each cat. If your older pet is overweight, the chances of living a long, healthy life is not going to be good, as overweight cats are susceptible to a lot of diseases, like diabetes and heart disease. Cats can live anywhere from 12 to 20 years. It has been recorded that one cat lived 35 years.
Elderly cats are similar to elderly people. They get hearing loss, arthritis, failing eyesight, gum and teeth problems, dehydration, weight gain, constipation, gray hair, cancer, hyperthyroidism, heart disease, lack of exercise, kidney failure, and many other similarities.
There are some things you can do to ensure that your aging cat has a long, healthy life.
1. Arthritis - If your older cat gets arthritis, and has trouble jumping up or walking, you can make them more comfortable by trying the following. Put a piece of memory foam in their bed. It softly protects your aging cats bones, as a memory mattress does with older people. Also, many veterinarians recommend Glucosamine for aging cats, as it helps the pain. Call your veterinarian to find out the proper dosage that is good for your older cat. When your aging cat uses the litter box, put a small step so they can get in and out of it better. Sometimes they stop using the litter box only because they do have a hard time getting in and out. This is a proven fact.
2. Exercise - Your aging cat probably sleeps all day, but they do need some exercise, because as in humans, use it or lose it. It is a good thing to take time to play with them. Find a toy that your cat really likes and spend some time playing with them everyday. If your cat does not respond, keep trying, it will make a difference in your cats attitude and health. Exercise also helps to keep your cats weight down.
3. Gums and teeth - 75% of cats have some kind of dental problems. There are many flavored types of toothpaste for cats that you can use to brush their teeth. You can be sure that if your older cat has bad breath, that they could need their teeth brushed or there could be teeth or gum problems.
4. Grooming - As cats age they tend to groom themselves less and less. Also, that can be a real problem with fur matting of long haired cats. Invest in a good grooming brush and softly brush their coat. It will not only make their coat nice, but it will relax your cat as well. They will love the extra attention, and also the company. When you do this, it shows your cat that you love them.
5. Diet - As your pet ages, they lose their sense of smell and taste, among others and the food that you have been giving them is now becoming tasteless. For older cats who eat dry food, try adding a little warm chicken broth occasionally to their food. If your cat has diabetes, giving them a high protein diet has been known to reverse diabetes in some cats.
It is a good idea to take your aging cat to the veterinarian once or twice a year to keep a check on their health.
