How to care for your geriatric friend

Once your feline friend has crossed 15 years, it is a milestone as very few cats make it to this stage. Handling them would require a lot of patience and commitment from you as a concerned pet parent. Your furry pal may lack interest in activities that he once was used to and his grooming and toilet habits can get erratic. Below are few pointers which will help you understand and take better care of your geriatric buddy.

• Common problems seen in geriatric cats are;
• Lack of appetite – Physiological changes with age will affect your cat’s ability to digest food easily. So making his feed soft with no or less fat and protein is advisable. Smaller portions of food must be served in regular intervals but make sure his food is warm. Introduce more fluids in his diet as the elderly can get easily dehydrated. Being affectionate towards your pet by stroking and petting while feeding can help him emotionally.
• Your elderly friend’s sense of smell, hearing, immunity and the ability to digest fats will be reduced.This would also affect the way he handles stress thereby making him more dependent on others.
• Cats at this stage have reduced Immunity and are more prone to infections.
• Arthritis is also commonly seen in cats at this stage.
• Your elderly cat might not be able to lick themselves clean as they would normally. Due to this the skin may be prone to infections and pests. So, wiping him with a safe antibacterial shampoo on a regular basis will help him fight common infections.
• You must look out for gum diseases, bad breath, and drooling and consult a veterinarian regularly.
• Encourage them to play even though them seem disinterested.
• Provide them with easily accessible litter boxes as the elderly cats would not prefer to go out to relieve themselves.