How To Keep Your Senior Cat Healthy

With advances in feline health care, cats are now frequently living well into their senior years. Medically, cats are considered seniors at age 10, but they can live in this life stage for 10 years or more with good genetic health and consistent care.  

Here are some ways to make sure your cat’s golden years are their best. 

1. Ensure Regular Vet Visits

Age itself is not a disease, but senior cats are more prone to developing health conditions like kidney disease or gastrointestinal disease. Cats are very good at hiding illness at home, so it’s essential for them to see their vet consistently in their advanced years. 

Exams, blood work, and weight checks every six months are recommended. Regular check-ins make it possible to catch illnesses early, when they’re still manageable. They also allow you to discuss diet, exercise, and behavior changes that may occur as your cat ages.  

2. Reassess Their Diet

While researchers agree that senior cats' nutritional needs change as they age, exactly how to manage these changes is controversial.  

The majority of healthy senior cats are likely fine to stay on the adult maintenance diets that they know and love. In fact, one study comparing commercially available senior and adult cat diets found no statistical difference between them in the nutrition they provided. 

However, your senior cat's individual nutritional needs should be discussed with your veterinarian. Your older cat might need a diet change to address their health. For example: 

• Obesity-prone senior cats can benefit from lower-calorie diets and diets with glucosamine to reduce stress on their joints.  

• Cats with early kidney disease will benefit from lower phosphorus, sodium, and protein levels.  

• Older cats with sensitive stomachs may benefit from low-residue or gastrointestinal-support diets.  

Often, your vet will recommend a veterinary product for these needs, as they have the best quality control and evidence-based formulas. If you’re looking at over-the-counter products, you and your vet can go through the nutrition label together to see if the diet fits your cat’s needs. 

3. Increase Access to Water

Kidney function declines as cats age. And while it may not always show up on blood work, all senior cats benefit from having increased water intake.  

Make sure your senior cat has multiple water sources available so they don’t have to work hard to find water. Picky drinkers may benefit from having more wet food in their diet or water fountains that keep fresh water flowing.  

You can also ask your vet whether your cat could benefit from hydration supplements, like Purina Pro Plan Hydra Care. 

4. Improve Litter Box Access 

Joint pain and cognitive decline in some older cats can lead to difficulty using the litter box, which can be stressful both for you and your cat.  

Help your cat go more easily by placing a litter box on every floor in multi-floor living spaces. Senior cats often prefer lower, wider, and uncovered boxes that are easier to get in and out of. 

If your senior cat is struggling to make it to the litter box, have them screened at your vet for arthritis, kidney problems, or gastrointestinal issues. 

5. Don’t Neglect Their Dental Health

Senior cats have the same set of teeth that they had at 6 months old. But years of wear and changes in oral bacteria can lead to dental health issues in older cats that affect appetite and grooming.  

Toothbrushing, oral care diets, and routine anesthetic dentistry in young cats will help protect them from needing surgical dental care as seniors. 

Unfortunately, oral health issues like fractured teeth, cancerous masses, and periodontal disease can arise in senior cats even with the best preventative care.  

Many senior cats can safely undergo anesthesia, and your vet can help assess the risks based on your cat’s individual health. 

6. Routine Grooming and Nail Care

Older cats are more prone to physical and cognitive decline that affects their ability to groom themselves and maintain their nails.  

Especially with medium- and long-haired cat breeds, gently brushing them every day can help keep their fur from becoming matted—and prevent a stressful visit to the vet or groomer.   

Trim your cat’s nails at least monthly to help keep excessively long claws from growing into your cat’s paw pad or getting caught on rugs or furniture.   

7. Watch for Subtle Signs of Pain and Illness

Cats do not want you to know when they don’t feel their best, so it’s important to take any changes in behavior or appetite very seriously.  

Common changes that pet parents misinterpret as normal aging issues include: 

• Muscle loss 

• Sleeping more 

• Urinating outside the litter box 

• Picky eating 

• Increased hairballs 

• Choosing different sleeping positions or lounging locations 

While they may be related to cognitive changes, it’s best to have your cat evaluated for more serious or painful conditions if you notice any of these signs.  

8. Minimize Stress and Change

Avoid disruptive changes in your senior cat’s environment, if possible.  

Getting a new puppy or kitten can be tempting when living with a senior cat, but older felines do not always appreciate their activity levels. Make sure your senior cat has a quiet place for some alone time if they want it. 

A consistent feeding and play routine can also greatly support cats with cognitive decline. 

9. Ensure Accessibility 

Some of your cat’s favorite activities and hangout spots may become more difficult for them to access as they get older.  

Ramps, stairs, and window perches are great additions to your cat’s environment to help them continue doing their favorite things despite limited mobility due to arthritis or other conditions.  

10. Provide Exercise and Mental Stimulation

Senior cats may not have the athletic ability they had in their youth, but they still benefit from exercise to keep their muscles conditioned and games to keep their minds sharp.  

Consider daily (though short-duration and low-impact) games with a feather toy or ball.  

Stationary track toys can provide stimulation without excess athleticism. Puzzle feeders or indoor hunting kits placed in easy-to-reach locations can also help keep your senior cat at their cognitive best.