Tips for elderly cats

[BrainInAJar]

Hello,

My cat is nearly 18 and slowing down. I've ordered her a little set of stairs so she can get on and off the bed more easily.

I'm wondering:

1. what other things can I do to make her life better now she is older; and
2. what sort of health issues or symptoms should I be looking out for? She has hyperthyroidism and very early kidney disease (she is under vet supervision but I feel bad that it took me a while to notice the symptoms).

I want to make sure I am doing everything right for her.

Thanks

Lots of warm soft places but not soft as in sinking in - can be hard to get up from so might need something firm with a blanket
Microwave heat pad for comfort
Kitten food for extra calories

Thanks! Yes I've been putting her medicine in kitten milk which she loves!

It's so strange because until recently, the battle was keeping her from getting too fat and now it's trying to fatten her back up!

Other than kidneys/thyroid most old cats will have arthritis, they hide it well but it's very painful and needs medication. Also due to arthritis keep an eye on her claws, they often can't retract them due to arthritic toes and they overgrow, become thickened and curled and often end up growing into the pads.
Steps are a good idea and ideally keep everything the same at home, no moving furniture around etc. low sided litter trays like kitten trays, again due to arthritis and make sure you have them accessable on every floor.

Was also thinking of arthritis, symptoms often come on slowly so are just seen as slowing down due to being old, but a trial with painkillers will often show that it's pain causing the slowing.

Similar position with my senior girl of 20
Meds for hyperthyroidism
Meds for high BP
Three monthly full check up including eye check
Mature consult food ( wet and dry ) for weight gain. Also recommended for early kidney disease
Vet advised senior cats have different nutritional needs to kittens so would not recommend kitten food due to high protein content
Keep a check on nails ( especially dew claws )
Metacam if arthritis is an issue ( my girl is still spritely )
Hope this helps

Our senior cat was recently poorly and feeling very sorry for herself. I bought her an electric heat mat knowing she's happiest when cooking herself (she will lay touching the radiators when they are on full blast and sunbath in direct midday sun in a heat wave 🥵). It holds the trophy for the only piece of pet-specific equipment she's ever accepted use of other than her food bowl.
I agree with PP about blankets on firmer surfaces too. When she was poorly, she wouldn't even sit on our bed or sofa. Her paws and legs were very painful and unsteady, and she only wanted hard surfaces as a result (she spends most of her indoors time on our bed usually). She wouldn't tolerate more than the heat mat covered with a thin blanket on a hard floor or furniture top.

Thanks this is v helpful. Yes I've just had the vet trim her claws. Now I can no longer hear her tapping across the floor !

Also, my garden requires going down 2 flights of stairs. She gets halfway these days and then hesitates and turns back.

Would it be worth me carrying her down so she can nibble on grass and watch the birds as she has done previously? Or would that distress her ie because she's aware she might struggle to get back up the stairs under her own steam? She does not always love being picked up even at the best of times!

Is there a way of making her an accessible viewing platform halfway down? And growing a tray of grass? Pain meds really could make quite a difference though, and worth a try.

@Scampuss it's a flat's stairwell she needs to go down. The window there is the same view as she gets from my flat. I could grow cat grass for her but I suppose I can't really recreate her actual favourite thing to do which is to prowl through hedges and hide in bushes. I might take her down as an experiment. If she hates it, I won't do it again!

I will ask the vet though about painkillers just in case she's secretly in pain. Is there a downside to taking painkillers if she doesn't "need" them (yet)?

Get nails done regularly and keep brushing esp the hard for her to reach bits .
A water fountain is good to encourage water intake and take regular pictures. .I found them useful in assessing how my old boy was doing especially at the end
Lots of cuddles for her and spoiling

Great tips, thanks! <copies and pastes into note pad>

YuMOVE Senior Cat | Joint Supplement for Older, Stiff Cats, with Glucosamine, Chondroitin, Green Lipped Mussel, FOR SENIOR CATS and Breeds | 60 Capsules amzn.eu/d/0XMFHC5
Our vet recommended this for our elderly cat and it has definitely made a difference - he is a bit more lively.
He also has a heat pad that he sleeps on 24/7.

Trialling pain meds is the best way to see if they help.

Raising the food bowl a little can really help. Arthritis is common in the neck and sine, so lowering their head when eating and drinking can be uncomfortable

The plug in heat mat was a favourite with our old girl, also used lick e lix for daily meds everything was crushed and fed mixed in.

@LilacpointMummy did the vet say if the joint supplement would contraindicate with Metacam at all? I can't see that it would but just wondered......

My vet said Yumove is fine to take with painkillers and other medication.

Plug in heat mat was amazing for our old girl. Also consider how easy litter tray is to get into. Plus their paws can be more sensible as they she apparently so a change of litter can be needed. Can you make a ramp or add mini steps to make the drop less on each one?

My old girl has a plug in heat pad with a blanket over it on the sofa which she never leaves, raised food bowls and a step to get up and down. She eats the gourmet gold pate as she had a load of teeth out a few years ago.
Shes 19-20 and no health issues luckily.

@Bamaluz great thanks I shall get some then.

What lucky cats all of these girls and boys are!

Great tips! My girl will have alllllll of these things.

Yep, I alternate between cat milk and lik-e-lix for the twice daily medication to be mixed into!

Tell me about dew claws, we have an elderly cat too & he looks slightly inflamed around the dew claws.
He's never had his nails cut, should he? He does go click click across the floor. He goes outside & still catches mice!