Caring for an older cat

While you're having so much fun and getting so much love from your cat, time flies and it's easy to forget that she's getting older, especially because cats age gracefully and may not show any signs of reaching retirement age (if only that was true for humans!)

As your cat gets older, she'll need more looking after. Here are a few things that will help you make her twilight years as comfortable as possible.

Nine longer lives.

First, a bit of good news. Your cat, like most cats today, will live much longer than her ancestors. Thanks to better nutrition, vaccinations and improved veterinary care, quite a few cats live till they're 14 and a special few even make it into their 20s. However, your vet will tell you that once your cat is 11 or 12, she's officially in her old age. In fact, this is about when you'll probably be noticing a few things that are different about her - she's sleeping more (yes it is possible), eating less and generally wants more care and attention.

Make life easy for her.

So how can you help? Even if your cat's still healthy at a grand old age, she will start to slow down and become less athletic. During the winter months you may notice she's reluctant to go outside and if she does, it will only be for a short stint. That's because as cats get older, they feel the cold more easily. As well as finding out what she won't do, it's important to look at what she can and can't do. Is she having problems getting up to her favourite perch on the windowsill? Is she finding it a problem getting through the cat-flap? Is her bed comfortable?

Older and wiser cats often make more use of high perches to get out of the way of dogs or children. Unfortunately as she gets older, her joints make this difficult. You can help by setting up her own quiet space where she can relax or by placing a chair or a stool in front of her perch, so she can use it to get up there.

She'll also find it difficult to get comfy in a small bed and will need extra blankets, or a warmer spot away from any drafts. A beanbag next to a radiator is a wonderful gift for older cats, as they can stretch out (they may find curling into a tight ball difficult), and stay warm.

You should also check the cat flap to make sure it's not too hard to push open. If it is, it could force your cat into having little mishaps indoors because she's worried about getting back in if she goes out. A litter tray is a good idea - that way, she doesn't have to go out and you don't have to clean up her mishaps.

Finally, even the most fluffy of coats will start to thin out, meaning that she'll probably need a little help drying off if she gets caught in the rain. Even a light drizzle can be unpleasant as their coat may lose its waterproof layer. A thick warm towel and a soft brush will help keep your cat feel cared for and comfortable.

If you watch your cat carefully, note any problems due to her advancing years and do what you can to make her comfortable, there's no reason why you shouldn't carry on enjoying each other's company in her old age.