Your cat is part of your family, and once it reaches around seven years old, your cat is considered to be a senior. As a senior pet, your cat has increased healthcare needs you'll want to be prepared for. By developing a care routine with your veterinarian, you will be able to keep your cat healthy and catch any issues before they become problematic.
Frequency Of Visits
Elderly cats may develop issues with their health as they age. To maintain your cat's health, you will want to increase the frequency of your cat's checkups. Normally, your cat would see your vet annually to get checked out, but as it ages it's best to up the number of visits to twice per year. Increasing your cat's vet appointments twice per year will help your vet to catch any potential health issues before they become a serious threat to your cat's health.
Pain Management
As your cat ages, it may become susceptible to arthritis. While humans may be able to pop as aspirin or other form of NSAID, these medications can be fatal to cats. NSAIDs include standard over the counter pain medications like aspirin, naproxen, and ibuprofen.
Arthritis pain in elderly pets is managed with pain relievers that are kitty-specific. Ask your vet what would be best for your cat. You can also offer your cat joint supplements and warm places to sleep.
Diet Changes
Older cats may not want to eat as much as they used to, but they still need a diet high in protein. You may want to avoid many senior pet foods on the market as they contain lower protein. Look instead for a high-quality food that's grain free, so it's friendly to your cat's kidneys and easy to break down. You may also want to think about lowering your cat's calorie intake if it's overweight. When a cat is older, the more weight it has to carry the harder it is for it to get around and clean itself.
Vaccination Schedules
Vaccinations for older cats are something that need to be planned carefully with your veterinarian. If your cat is outdoors, it should be vaccinated against feline leukemia. Your cat should also be vaccinated against rabies in order to comply with local laws. Your vet may stagger the dosing of any other vaccines or boosters to make sure they don't overload your older cat's system. This is because as your pet ages, its immune system won't be as strong as it used to be, and staggering the vaccinations will ensure your kitty can recover more quickly between doses.
For more information, talk to a professional like Animal House Veterinary Hospital.
