What age is a senior cat

Senior Cat Age: At What Age Is My Cat a Senior?

Thanks to modern medicine and excellent care by their pet parents, cats are living longer and better lives now than any other time in recorded history. As any cat lover can tell you, senior cats are wonderful companions. Even though they are past the kitten crazies, older cats still enjoy playing, and they often make excellent cuddle partners.

Its important to recognize that senior cats have different needs than their younger counterparts. If you know at what age your cat is considered a senior and how that impacts her health, you can better care for her during her golden years.

At What Age Is My Cat a Senior?

In most cases, a veterinarian will deem a cat to be a senior when she is 7-10 years of age. By the time your cat is 10 years or older, a common term you might hear your vet use to describe your cat is geriatric.

This term also is used in human medicine to distinguish people who are of advanced age and require special care. If your vet classifies your cat as geriatric, this simply means that to promote good quality of life and longevity, you need to give your cats health special consideration.

What Are the Signs of Aging in Cats?

Detecting the signs of aging in cats can be tricky because felines tend to hide discomfort and disease. They do this because, in the wild, cats are considered both predator and prey, and if they show any signs of weakness or sickness, they are more likely to be preyed upon. Therefore, cats have evolved to hide any sign of pain, weakness or sickness.

That doesnt mean you cant detect the signs of aging in your cat. You just need to watch for more subtle clues. Signs of aging or underlying disease can include the following:

* Weight loss or gain

* Decreased energy and sleeping more

* Loss of interest in jumping or playing (might indicate hidden joint pain)

* Change in appetite

* Decreased vision or hearing

* Changes in haircoatincreased matting, oil, dandruff or hair loss

* Change in vocalization

* Changes in behavior

* Increased anxiety or aggression

* Increased water consumption

* Increased urination

* Cat litter box problems, including urinating or defecating outside the litter box

Discover more signs of aging in cats.

How Do I Care for My Senior Cat?

Appropriate nutrition, exercise, mental stimulation, pain control and veterinary care are the top recommendations for senior cat care.

Nutrition

Proper nutrition means not only feeding the right foods but also feeding the appropriate amounts. If your cat is overweight, then she is at increased risk for type 2 diabetes and arthritis pain. However, cats cannot be put on a drastically reduced calorie diet because such a major change could stress them and affect their liver health. If your cat is overweight, work with your veterinarian to determine a healthy weight for your cat, and then create a safe and effective weight loss plan.

Senior cats also may not be able to digest food as easily as their younger counterparts, so feeding a complete and balanced senior diet, like Blue Buffalo Healthy Aging Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe for mature cats, is vital for their overall wellbeing.

Physical and Mental Exercise

Obesity and arthritis are common concerns for older cats, which is why keeping your cat fit is an important part of keeping her healthy. Senior cats enjoy playing with toys, such as feathered wands, and most cant resist catnip-enhanced cat toys.

You also can toss kibble for your cat to hunt. Or take her daily food allotment, split it up into four or five portions, and put them around the house, preferably elevated so your cat must jump. All of these options can help sharpen your cats mind and trim her body.

Pain Control

Because cats hide pain, many pet parents are unaware that their senior kitty is suffering silently from arthritis pain. Arthritis is very common in older cats. A 2011 study showed that 61 percent of cats older than 6 years old had osteoarthritis in at least one joint.

If you have noticed your older cat slowing down, jumping or playing less, or hiding more, then arthritic pain could be the culprit. Talk with your veterinarian about pain management options for older kitties. There are many remedies available nowadays, from acupuncture to pain medication.

On top of working with your veterinarian, there are many things you can do at home to help an arthritic kitty. These include:

* Providing your cat with a heated bed to comfort aching joints

* Giving your cat a litter box with lower sides to make getting in and out of it easier

* Placing ramps or stairs around your home so your cat can get up and down on things

Veterinary Care

Things can change rapidly in an older cats body, which is why senior felines should receive an examination from a local veterinarian every year and, in some cases, twice a year. During a yearly examination, your vet can do laboratory testing to check under the hood for common illnesses, like kidney or dental disease.

With just a little TLC, any aged feline can live well into her teens and beyond. Plus, if you know what to expect ahead of time, then you can set up your cat for a wonderful quality of life during her golden years.

6 Signs of Aging in Cats

Your cat has offered you countless hours of love, laughs and companionship over the years. Now that she's getting older, it's time for you to repay all her unconditional love with extra attention and care to guarantee that her senior years are happy ones.

Senior Cat Signs

Some cats begin showing age-related physical signs as early as age seven, while others are still friskier than kittens at ten. A general rule of thumb is that a cat is classified as "senior" if she's over 11 years of age.

As the parent of an aging cat, you'll want to watch for changes in behavior that could signify an underlying problem. Here are five common age-related symptoms and conditions you might see in an older kitty:

1. Sleeping all the time...or not at all: While slowing down as a cat ages is normal, if you notice your cat is sleeping all the time or more deeply than normal it might indicate a more serious health problem. Conversely, cats that are more active at night and not sleeping as much, might be experiencing age-related changes. The Tree House Humane Society in Chicago also notes that an older cat that suddenly seems to have much more energy might be suffering from hyperthyroidism. Talk to your vet if you have any concerns about her overall health.
2. Confusion: If your cat is getting confused by ordinary tasks or objects she is used to navigating like finding her bed she may be reaching her golden years. This can also be a sign of a larger cognitive issues, so you should consult your vet if you notice this type of behavior.
3. Having trouble climbing stairs or jumping: Arthritis is common in older cats. While your cat might not limp or show other obvious signs of painful joints, you might notice she has more difficulty than she used to jumping into a litter box, climbing stairs or jumping on furniture.
4. Unintentional weight loss or weight gain: In an older cat, weight loss can be a sign of any number of problems, from heart and kidney disease to diabetes, notes the University of Illinois School of Veterinary Medicine. Some pets' food and energy needs can increase as they move from adult to senior cats, and they may lose weight faster than they can eat to catch up. On the opposite side of the spectrum, as cats age, their metabolism slows down so they don't need as many calories as they used to. If you notice your cat is starting to pack on the pounds, it might be time to transition to a senior cat food that is better equipped to meet her biological needs.
5. Behavioral changes: Is your cat having accidents when she never did before? Is she avoiding human interaction? These can be signs of a cat in kidney failure, a cat in pain, or a cat that is mentally confused health conditions that are more prevalent in senior aged cats. Your veterinarian can help you get to the bottom of your cat's behavioral changes.
6. Matted or oily fur: A cat that has stopped self-grooming could be in pain because of arthritis or dental issues.

Older cats should see a vet every six months. But if you notice any change in your cat's behavior or appearance you should never hesitate to call sooner. A vet, after all, will be familiar with all the signs of aging in cats.

Caring for Your Golden Girl

You can also take some easy steps at home to improve your cat's quality of life in her senior years:

• Choose a high-quality food made for senior cats: Youthful Vitality 7+ Cat Food, for instance, is specially formulated to support brain function, energy and vitality, healthy kidneys and bladder, healthy digestive system and luxiurious fur.
• Give her a warm place to rest: Especially if she suffers from arthritis, she'll appreciate you moving her bed from a drafty area.
• Think easy access: Give her a litter box, water bowl, and food bowl on every floor of your house. If she seems to be having trouble climbing into the litter box, find one with lower sides or even try an old cookie sheet.
• Help her groom: Many people rarely brush their cats because they are such good self-groomers. But as your cat ages, brushing your cat serves a dual-purpose of acting as a bonding activity and keeping her coat healthy when she can no longer do it alone.
• Continue to Exercise Her: Here are some easy ways to keep your senior cat moving.

It's important to remember that aging is not a disease. Cornell University's Feline Health Center notes that aging is a natural process, and the body whether human or feline goes through many complex physical changes as the years progress. But even though some of your cat's conditions might not be easily cured, they can likely be controlled. Help your cat enjoy her senior years by making sure she has access to vet care and that she has plenty of love and attention at home.

Contributor Bio

Kara Murphy

Kara Murphy is a freelance writer and pet parent who lives in Erie, Pa. She has a goldendoodle named Maddie.

Just as people are living longer than they did in the past, cats are living longer too, and there is every reason to expect that the "graying" cat population will continue to grow.

How old is my cat in human years?Cats are individuals and, like people, they experience advancing years in their own unique ways. Many cats begin to encounter age-related physical changes between seven and ten years of age, and most do so by the time they are 12. The commonly held belief that every "cat year" is worth seven "human years" is not entirely accurate. In reality, a one-year-old cat is physiologically similar to a 16-year-old human, and a two-year-old cat is like a person of 21. For every year thereafter, each cat year is worth about four human years. Using this formula, a ten-year-old cat is similar age wise to a 53-year-old person, a 12-year-old cat to a 61-year-old person, and a 15-year-old cat to a person of 73.

Advancing age is not a diseaseAging is a natural process. Although many complex physical changes accompany advancing years, age in and of itself is not a disease. Even though many conditions that affect older cats are not correctable, they can often be controlled. The key to making sure your senior cat has the healthiest and highest quality of life possible is to recognize and reduce factors that may be health risks, detect disease as early as possible, correct or delay the progression of disease, and improve or maintain the health of the body's systems.

What happens as my cat ages?The aging process is accompanied by many physical and behavioral changes:

• Compared to younger cats, the immune system of older cats is less able to fend off foreign invaders. Chronic diseases often associated with aging can impair immune function even further.
• Dehydration, a consequence of many diseases common to older cats, further diminishes blood circulation and immunity.
• The skin of an older cat is thinner and less elastic, has reduced blood circulation, and is more prone to infection.
• Older cats groom themselves less effectively than do younger cats, sometimes resulting in hair matting, skin odor, and inflammation.
• The claws of aging felines are often overgrown, thick, and brittle.
• In humans, aging changes in the brain contribute to a loss of memory and alterations in personality commonly referred to as senility. Similar symptoms may be seen in elderly cats: wandering, excessive meowing, apparent disorientation, and avoidance of social interaction.
• For various reasons, hearing loss is common in cats of advanced age.
• Changes in the eyes. A slight haziness of the lens and a lacy appearance to the iris (the colored part of the eye) are both common age-related changes, but neither seems to decrease a cat's vision to any appreciable extent. However, several diseases, especially those associated with high blood pressure, can seriously and irreversibly impair a cat's ability to see.
• Dental disease is extremely common in older cats and can hinder eating and cause significant pain.
• Although many different diseases can cause a loss of appetite, in healthy senior cats, a decreased sense of smell may be partially responsible for a loss of interest in eating. However, the discomfort associated with dental disease is a more likely cause of reluctance to eat.
• Feline kidneys undergo a number of age-related changes that may ultimately lead to impaired function; kidney failure is a common disease in older cats, and its symptoms are extremely varied.
• Degenerative joint disease, or arthritis, is common in older cats. Although most arthritic cats don't become overtly lame, they may have difficulty gaining access to litter boxes and food and water dishes, particularly if they have to jump or climb stairs to get to them.
• Hyperthyroidism (often resulting in overactivity); hypertension (high blood pressure, usually a result of either kidney failure or hyperthyroidism), diabetes mellitus; inflammatory bowel disease; and cancer are all examples of conditions that, though sometimes seen in younger cats, become more prevalent in cats as they age.

Is my cat sick, or is it just old age?Never assume that changes you see in your older cat are simply due to old age, and are therefore untreatable. Owners of older cats often notice changes in their cat's behavior, but consider these changes an inevitable and untreatable result of aging. However, any alteration in your cat's behavior or physical condition should alert you to contact your veterinarian.

Disease of virtually any organ system, or any condition that causes pain or impairs mobility can contribute to changes in behavior. For example:

• A fearful cat may not become aggressive until it is in pain (e.g., from dental disease) or less mobile (e.g., from arthritis).
• The increased urine production that often results from diseases common to aging cats (e.g., kidney failure, diabetes mellitus, or hyperthyroidism) may cause the litter box to become soiled more quickly than expected. The increased soil and odor may prompt cats to eliminate in inappropriate areas. .
• Many cats that do not mark their territory with urine may begin to do so if a condition like hyperthyroidism develops.
• Cats with painful arthritis may have difficulty gaining access to a litter box, especially if negotiating stairs is required. Even climbing into the box may be painful for such cats, prompting them to eliminate in inappropriate areas.
• Older cats may be more sensitive to changes in the household since their ability to adapt to unfamiliar situations diminishes with age.

How can I help keep my senior cat healthy?Close observation is one of the most important tools you have to help keep your senior cat healthy. You may wish to perform a basic physical examination on a weekly basis. Ask your veterinarian to show you how to do it and what to look for. You will find it easier if you just make the examination an extension of the way you normally interact with your cat. For example, while you are rubbing your cat's head or scratching its chin, gently raise the upper lips with your thumb or forefinger so you can examine the teeth and gums. In the same way, you can lift the ear flaps and examine the ear canals. While you are stroking your cat's fur, you can check for abnormal lumps or bumps, and evaluate the health of the skin and coat.

Daily BrushingDaily brushing or combing removes loose hairs, preventing them from being swallowed and forming hairballs. Brushing also stimulates blood circulation and sebaceous gland secretions, resulting in a healthier skin and coat. Older cats may not use scratching posts as frequently as they did when they were younger; therefore, nails should be checked weekly and trimmed if necessary.

Daily Tooth BrushingBrushing your cat's teeth with a pet-specific toothpaste or powder is the single most effective way to prevent dental disease. Dental disease is more common in older cats and can lead to other health problems, so maintaining oral health is important. Most cats will allow their teeth to be brushed, although it may be necessary to gradually introduce your cat to tooth brushing over several weeks to months. Watch this video for instructions on how to brush your cat's teeth.

Proper NutritionMany cats get heavier or even obese as they age. If your cat is overweight, you should ask your veterinarian to help you modify the diet so that a normal body condition can be restored. Other cats actually become too thin as they get older. Weight loss can be caused by a variety of medical problems such as kidney failure, and special diets may be helpful in managing these problems.

Reducing StressReducing environmental stress whenever possible is very important since older cats are usually less adaptable to change. Special provisions should be made for older cats that must be boarded for a period of time. Having a familiar object, such as a blanket or toy, may prevent the cat from becoming too distraught in a strange environment. A better alternative is to have the older cat cared for at home by a neighbor, friend, or relative. Introducing a new pet may be a traumatic experience for older cats, and should be avoided whenever possible. Moving to a new home can be equally stressful, however, stress can be alleviated by giving the older cat more affection and attention during times of emotional upheaval.

Cats are experts at hiding illness, and elderly cats are no exception. It is common for a cat to have a serious medical problem, yet not show any sign of it until the condition is quite advanced. Since most diseases can be managed more successfully when detected and treated early in their course, it is important for owners of senior cats to carefully monitor their behavior and health.

How can my veterinarian help?Just as your observations can help detect disease in the early stages, so too can regular veterinary examinations. Your veterinarian may suggest evaluating your healthy senior cat more frequently than a younger cat. If your cat has a medical condition, more frequent evaluations may also be necessary. During your cat's examination, the veterinarian will gather a complete medical and behavioral history, perform a thorough physical examination in order to evaluate every organ system, check your cat's weight and body condition, and compare them to previous evaluations. At least once a year, certain tests, including blood tests, fecal examination, and urine analysis, may be suggested. In this way, disorders can be found and treated early, and ongoing medical conditions can be appraised. Both are necessary to keep your senior cat in the best possible health.

Should I adopt an older cat? A special group of senior cats that deserves particular attention is older cats in shelters. While young cats and kittens are attractive to most potential adopters due to their cuteness and playfulness, senior cats are often overlooked by people considering adopting a cat. If people keep their minds open, they will find that there are countless older cats that would make excellent pets and would brighten up any home. Older cats in shelters are often more calm, are more likely to be litter trained, and can provide wonderful companionship to anyone kind enough to take them into their home. The next time you are at the shelter, take some time to check out these mature felines. Taking them home can make both of your lives richer, happier, and more satisfying.

Updated December 2016