Ageing cat care: Adapting your home for your older cat
How to make small changes to your home that can make a big difference to the comfort of your senior cat.
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How can I spot if my cat is ageing?
As your cat ages and they adjust to a different pace of life, inevitably their wants, needs, and behaviour evolve. This can be a gradual process, so you may not spot it unless you know what you are looking for.
Cats that once spent all their time hunting and exploring outdoors may switch to staying closer to you and at home, offering new opportunities for you both to bond and spend time together. Game playing becomes less high energy, while time spent grooming may decrease, as well as their enthusiasm for food.
Be aware also of bodily changes such as a less-keen sense of smell, sight, taste, and hearing; changes in skin and coat condition; reduced immunity; and less ability to cope with stressful or noisy environments.
How to care for an elderly cat
By understanding and preparing to care for older cats, you can ensure they continue to live a healthy, comfortable, and fulfilling life. All that’s required is extra attention around any shifts in behaviour and some simple home adjustments to help them get around more easily.
Keep a careful eye on changes in mobility – trouble grooming or jumping to and from high places. This is often assumed to be general ‘old age’, but it could be caused by specific senior cat health problems, such as arthritis and joint pain. Always get this explored by your veterinarian – if your cat does have arthritis, it can often be treated to help them stay pain free and more mobile.
Changes at home to keep your older cat comfortable
As well as scheduling regular check-ins with your veterinarian, one of the best things you can do when caring for an older cat is adapt their home to make it easier for them to move around in. A few changes can make a huge difference to their daily life. Check out our six steps to making them more comfortable.
1. Banish fluffy rugs
The claws on older cats can easily get overgrown, especially if they don’t use their scratching posts or cat trees as often as they used to. Combine this with the fact that senior cats may struggle to retract their claws due to stiffness, and it’s no surprise that fluffy rugs and carpets can pose a problem. If you notice that your cat keeps getting their claws stuck in your soft furnishings, consider an alternative that’s smooth or more tightly woven.
I often see older cats who have overgrown claws, and the owners haven’t realized until they start to snag in soft furnishings. It’s easy to miss because cats often don’t let their owners know anything is wrong until the nail has curled right around into the pad, causing them to get sore.
2. Provide ramps or a step up
Don’t let mobility issues get in the way of your cat’s need to be up high. Ramps for older cats are helpful if your furry friend needs extra help to get up to their favourite napping spot on your bed or their preferred lookout point on the windowsill.
Alternatively, place secure, sturdy objects nearby to break a big jump into smaller ones so your cat can still do what they enjoy. Cat ramps for older cats or stepping blocks can also be used on either side of the cat flap to make sure that your cat has easy access in and out of the house.
3. Keep your cat’s resources within easy reach
The right recipe for caring for an older cat includes easy access to their necessities – food, water, somewhere to sleep, and a litter box. If your cat is finding it hard to reach the food bowl that’s been placed out of the dog’s range, then it’s time for a rethink. If your home is large, try positioning food and water stations and a litter box on each floor.
If your cat’s food, water, or litter box is on a different floor, they’re less likely to use them when they need to. Easier access to these necessities could reduce the risk of senior cat health issues such as dehydration, constipation, or cystitis.
4. Choose products that are senior-cat friendly
- When looking after an old cat, think carefully about which products you choose for them.
- Your senior cat is likely to find using their litter box more comfortable if it has shallow sides.
- Older pets may also prefer to eat from a raised cat bowl. This not only stops cats from having to crouch and bend their neck to eat, but it also helps to reduce vomiting and regurgitation.
- Does your cat love to drink water straight from a faucet? Many do, but as they get older it can be too painful and precarious to balance on the side of a sink. Instead, recreate the experience with a pet water fountain that sits firmly and safely on the floor.
- Orthopedic beds for arthritic cats, with a thick base layer of padding, help them to get the sleep they need. This reduces the pressure on your cat’s joints so that they’re as comfortable as possible.
5. Create a new safe space
Your cat might have a favourite spot where they feel safe, especially if they’re anxious or prone to stress. If you notice that your cat is unable to reach their old hiding place easily, it’s a good idea to help them find a replacement. An enclosed bed can make a great safe space, or you could use a cat carrier filled with senior-pet-friendly bedding to make it cozy and inviting.
6. Rethink playtime
Just because your older cat is no longer scaling their cat tree, that doesn’t mean they don’t want the mental and physical stimulation of playtime.
Keep them active and prevent boredom with puzzle toys and other less strenuous activities that can be played with at ground level and satisfy their hunting instincts.
Don’t forget to replace your tall cat tree with a short scratching post or mat – it will help keep your cat’s nails short and in good condition, as well as encourage them to stretch their muscles.
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