Should a cat begin to lose agility at 6?

[LapdanceShoeshine]

This is my oldest cat - she’s quite small but has always been very agile. It seems to be taking her longer now to work out if she can make a jump & occasionally she’ll fluff one altogether.

Or might it be her eyesight rather than her strength/agility?

(Pic attached just because she’s so cute )

[YesItsMeIDontCare]

House Panther!!!

No harm in popping her along to the vets for a general health check to rule out anything, but cats are considered senior at age 7+.

[BackToTheFuschia7]

She is very cute

But no, she should really still be in her prime. Well worth a check at the Vets to make sure she isn’t in pain. Cats don’t slow down until they’re about 10 or older IME.

[yawning801]

So adorable!! I think yawningcat has slowed down a bit recently and she's only seven and there's nothing wrong with her health. Or maybe it's a weather thing?

[LapdanceShoeshine]

Thanks, YesItsMe

I did think about her getting towards 7, & assumed there was a reason for that being the magic age. She’s become more clingy too - we were away last week, with neighbour coming in to feed, & she’s shadowing me everywhere since I came back.

She had her annual check-up relatively recently & was fine but I hadn’t noticed anything then. I’ll monitor for now & take her again if it seems to get worse

[LanguidLobster]

She's lovely

[LapdanceShoeshine]

Thank you all

I will keep an eye on her (& tell her how lovely she is!)

[starfish4]

Definitely get her checked. She may have an injury (cats are good at hiding pain) or it could be something simple like early arthritis. She can have non steroid medication for the later or you may want to try fish oil or another off the shelf product aimed at arthrities

[HardAsSnails]

I too would get her checked at the vet. I'm not sure if it's just the angle of the photo but she does look quite portly which might be contributing...

My current and last cat didn't lose agility in any noticeable way until about 14 years old.

[LapdanceShoeshine]

Oh, it is the angle! She’s not at all portly she’s a short-hair but with relatively long hair (iyswim) which makes her look chunkier but she’s quite dainty really - barely 4kg.

It seems as if her judgment & confidence are impaired more than her physical ability, as she can still do the spectacular leaps but it takes her longer to decide.

[HardAsSnails]

Lol. Maybe she had a scare and is just being more cautious.