Our senior cats might have more trouble keeping up with their grooming than when they were younger. Aging is highly likely to show up in a cat’s skin and fur, since almost a third of our cat’s total metabolism goes to its upkeep. We will also be dealing with stress, as a cat is driven to keep themselves in tiptop shape, and when they cannot, this is distressing to them.
Here’s ways to help:
extra grooming
A wet and wrung-out washcloth, swiped and rubbed over a cat’s fur is a real treat if our cat is looking a little ragged. Pay special attention to eyes and mouth area, since that feels so good. It is also a morale booster, since they feel much better getting a head start on staying groomed.
If they had a tendency to get knots on their hips (Reverend Jim) or under their forelegs (Mithrandir) check those places more often. If they are longhaired cats, and we haven’t yet gotten a dematting tool (congratulations!) get a cat matt remover now. Our diligence and their diligence may no longer be enough.
I like the serious bladed version, as shown at the link, but no matter how we go about it, our longhaired cats are going to need the help. They are napping more, which gives their coats more chances to knot up.
We might want to change up the grooming schedule by breaking it into shorter, more frequent, sessions. If they were always over-excited when we groomed them, that may have moderated with age, and we can make the grooming sessions longer.
If they do have a burst of excitement, try to direct it to their scratching post. They need the exercise, as well as the claw maintenance, more than ever.
improve their coat
Our cat’s coat might not be as sleek as usual because their nutrient uptake isn’t what it used to be. This can make a cat’s fur more brittle, prone to tangling, and harder to groom to perfection.
I’ve been putting Brewer’s yeast on my cat’s food for decades now, and when I advise friends to try it, they are thrilled with the results. Just this summer, a 16 year old miniature dachshund completely healed some stubborn skin sores when her food got dusted with a teaspoon a day, and she has more energy. Cats and dogs seem to like the smell and taste.
It is a great source of B vitamins which are water soluble and somewhat fragile, so cats often don’t get enough. While giving vitamins to our older cats is a good idea, I remain fond of natural sources, because vitamins can only put back what we know is missing. What if something is missing and we don’t know what it is?
A source of fat is another nutritional category that might need more attention. This nutrient spoils easily, so it is especially lacking in dry foods. Switching to canned can be an easy way to upgrade our senior cat’s diet.
Canned adds more water to their intake, as well as making their food easier to digest. Our elderly cat might need a bit more attention to their water needs. My vet exclaimed over how James Bond, in his late teens, was only at the very beginnings of kidney issues. We both agreed his healthy drinking habits were probably part of the picture.
Some slices of chicken, turkey, or roast beef might go over well as treats. Tristan can smell a deli sandwich from three stories up and always gets a bit of it, without any condiments. Cheese is another people food that many cats enjoy, and since it is very low lactose, it is unlikely to cause digestive upset.
Upping the food’s freshness and scent appeal can be a way of getting our older cat to eat more. A bit of a low power warmup in the microwave can do wonders for a canned food’s palatability if it has been in the refrigerator.
Improved nutrition will show up in healthier, sleeker, fur, but it will make all of our cat work better.
help their joints
Another supplement I am really impressed with is dry gelatin. This has a lot of advantages, and one main one: help with their joints.
After I started giving James Bond gelatin (it’s an easy sprinkle/mix and they don’t even seem to notice the smell or taste) he showed off how much better he felt by making sure I saw him jumping from the bureau to the bed, and back again, as he used to. Cats can get arthritis, and it’s not good for them to be on long-term pain medication. Gelatin both helps their joints, and reduces pain without bad side effects.
So if they are having trouble doing their bend-and-stretch to get those tricky places, they might feel better enough to get closer to their usual grooming program again.
The beauty of gelatin seems to come from its status as a complete protein. In nature, our cats eat almost everything of their prey; muscles, organs, and even some bones for calcium as their sandpapery tongues lick all the meat and tendons from the bone. Dry gelatin “fills in” this nutritional profile, and helps commercial cat food move closer to the cat’s natural diet.
It’s especially true for cats: when they feel good, they look good.
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