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Caring for an older cat...
milehigh
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
So, I just found out that the cat I grew up with and still see on a regular basis (she's around 13 years old) is causing some allergy problems with my Mom and quite a few of the people/family she has over there. She really doesn't want to get rid of her, so I offered to take the cat, Cuddles, into my 1BR apartment of about 800 square feet.
I'm really excited to have my cat back (she was for all intents and purposes "my" cat growing up) but knowing that she's getting older, I'm wondering if there's anything I need to keep my eye on, special food, adapting her to a new (and smaller) home...I'm going to get a brush and some lint rollers today but figured I'd seek out advice from you guys.
And as is always necessary in a cat thread...Pics of said kitty a few years ago @ Christmas.
I'm really excited to have my cat back (she was for all intents and purposes "my" cat growing up) but knowing that she's getting older, I'm wondering if there's anything I need to keep my eye on, special food, adapting her to a new (and smaller) home...I'm going to get a brush and some lint rollers today but figured I'd seek out advice from you guys.
And as is always necessary in a cat thread...Pics of said kitty a few years ago @ Christmas.
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What kind of food is she getting now? Try to feed her the same stuff (diet changes can cause puking as the cat gets used to the new food). If her current food isn't that great, do a gradual switchover to some better stuff. Things to take into account: how are her teeth? does she have any dietary issues? how is her general health? Some folks around here have a list of cat food from greatest to crappiest, maybe someone will come along and post it.
Since the cat is already familiar with you, hopefully she won't find it too hard to adapt to your place. If she freaks out, you might find it helpful to confine her to a room for a few days, if possible. If she has some favorite toys, make them available to her.
Ultra Premium (regular)
Solid Gold
Innova
California Natural
Nature's Variety Prairie
Natural Balance
Wellness
Evanger's (makes only wet) (NOT the vegetarian formula, duh.)
Tiki Cat (makes only wet)
Wysong (wet)
Ultra Premium (grain-free)
Innova EVO
Before Grain (B.G.), made by Merrick
Now! Grain Free
Wellness CORE
Nature's Variety Instinct
Taste of the Wild
Premium
Chicken Soup
Blue Buffalo
Merrick (wet)
Pet Promise (wet)
Newman's Own Organics
Felidae
Diamond Naturals (dry)
Good
Eagle Pack
Royal Canin
Wysong (dry)
Acceptable
Iams
Science Diet
Eukanuba
Purina One
Pet Promise (dry)
Diamond
Nutro
Trader Joe's
Whole Paws
Horrid
Fancy Feast
Sheba
Cat Chow
Whiskas
Meow Mix
Special Kitty, or whatever Wal-Mart calls its house brand
Store Brands
Anything that includes the words "meat" or "animal" in its ingredients list
Wellness doesn't seem to be that tasty, that is, a higher percentage of cats don't prefer it so maybe try something else first if you are able to afford something in that tier. As previously mentioned, take it slow with introducing new food starting with a tiny handful amongst regular food. I usually do a transition over a week because I have iron stomach cats but probably 2 weeks is a good time frame for slow transition for an older cat that recently moved.
Teeth are one thing mentioned already. Dry food or raw food diets are generally good for keeping the teeth cleaner (raw food is not canned, its like serious raw chewing a carcass raw). Canned wet food is good moisture for cats but is more expensive to feed (good brands that is) and may contribute to teeth rot if the cat isn't getting dry as well. Although I hear this may be something vets feel on the fence about. See if your cat has bad breath or trouble eating dry, hard foods. If so it might be a teeth issue. You could ask the vet the cat saw at their last checkup too if your parents don't remember. And if the cat's last checkup date was "Oh I don't remember he's been fine for so long" then please, take your cat to the vet at your next convenience.
Hydration is important for all cats, and older cats particularly. A lot of older cats develop crystals due to poor food, dehydration and other unknown causes in life. To minimize your risk, simply provide lots of frequently-refreshed cold water, some cats even love those running fountains that run about $20. Also, consider some high quality canned food in addition to an existing diet of dry food which I assume you'll be using already. You can simply feed the canned separately, I personally underfeed the recommended can dosage and slightly adjust the dry food, that way my wet food loving boycat still has to eat some dry food to stay satisfied. In hot weather you can make sure your cat is staying hydrated by grasping the skin at the back of their neck and pull up before letting go, if it retracts to normal quickly the cat is fine, if the skin is slow to retract the cat is dehydrated and needs attention right away.
Generally though, it's business as usual for older and younger cats. Scoop litter daily or more, feed them as well as you can afford, encourage them to drink water, use a good vet for a yearly checkup, love them and pay them attention.
Yeah, this is my general logic at this point. I'm picking her up tonight in addition to all her stuff (food, litter box, toys, etc)
The only thing I'm looking to change oddly enough is her litter box. Forever she's used a covered box, but the ideal location in my place will not accommodate the box with the top part, so I'm going to take the cover off and hope she doesn't object too much.
In any case there's a lot of good info here, and I did find out via her papers that she is in fact 15 and not 13, and due for a vet visit at the end of August. I'm pretty sure my Mom's only bought the generic cat food, so perhaps I'll start moving her to something more beneficial once she gets settled.
In any case thanks for all the replies and I'll continue to monitor this thread as it's helped a lot up to this point. I'm getting pretty excited to have my cat to come home to from now on
be aware that some cats are really particullar about their boxes. your lady might be fine but jsut an FYI. you can always do what i did and modify a cabinet to keep it out in the open only less obtrusively