November has been designated as a time to celebrate our senior cats with Senior Pet Month. The ASPCA has embraced this month to focus on adopting senior pets. This leads to certain questions about age. What is a senior pet? How old is my cat?
Most know our cats age faster than we do. This means that most cats reach adulthood by age two and middle age by four. By age seven, most cats are entering their senior years! Cats age rapidly and there are factors, such as the size of your cat, which affect the aging process. What is your cat’s age?
As our cats age, health problems start to progress more quickly. Some common illnesses associated with cats as they age are osteoarthritis, periodontal disease, diabetes and cancer. Here are action items you can do to help your cat age as gracefully as you are:
- Schedule senior well-checks with your veterinarian.
Just like humans, as cats age, they have more health problems. It is much easier to be proactive and work ahead, then to wait for something to happen. Consult your veterinarian to discuss what you should be aware of for your cat. Most recommend seeing your veterinarian twice a year.
- Keep track of your cat’s weight.
Your cat’s weight has a bigger impact on their health as they age. Dramatic changes in weight, either gaining or losing, can be an early indicator of illness.
- Start a mobility supplement such as Glyde™ Mobility Chews.
When you were 20, you were able to jump higher and run faster. Now at age 40, not as much. Your cat feels the same way. These are normal signs of aging. We would all agree we do not want our cats to be in pain just because they are getting older. Glyde Mobility Chews has all-natural ingredients to combat the signs of arthritis and promote better joint health in all ages of cats.
- Continue playing with your cat.
If you see less interest in playing, and more interest in sleeping, take the initiative to change this pattern. Keep your cat active with some of these ideas.
The fact is our cats are graceful, fiesty, wonderful additions to our family. The only problem: they don’t live nearly long enough. This is not something to simply accept. Instead, let’s do our part to have them living their best lives they can while they are here with us.
