Senior moments

As we age, we all get senior moments, but did you know your aging cats get them too?

My parent’s cat, Callie, is 20 years old and has started having senior moments. She will walk into a hallway and sit down and start crying. Then she looks around like she forgot where she was going. My parents, being ever so attentive, watch for her and try to anticipate where Callie was going. When she cries, my parents will pick her up and bring her to her litter box or to her food and water depending on the direction it looked like Callie was heading. My mom jokes that it was like taking care of a baby; there is a different cry for her needs and my parents seem to have Callie’s cries down pat.

Just like people, there are signs of an aging cat. Some of the changes in behavior that you might see is meowing (mostly at night), changes in eating and drinking habits, increased sleeping, disorientation or forgetting where the cat was heading, and changes in litter box usage where the cat is not using the litter box all the time like she used to. These are normal signs of aging, but you should always take your cat to the vet to make sure there is not a medical problem causing the changes in behavior.

If your cat gets a clean bill of health your cat might have CDS (cognitive dysfunction syndrome) which is similar to Alzheimer’s disease. Here are some things you can do to help your aging cat.
* Add more litter boxes, which will make the litter box easier to find and use.
* Provide easy access to the litter box, this might include making sure that at least one side has a low side. This will make getting in and out of the litter box easier if your cat has achy joints.
* Add low stairs or ramps for easier access to some of your cat’s favorite spots, like the bed, sofa or favorite window.
* Serve regular meals to create more structure and routine to your cat’s mealtimes.
* Make dinner time desirable by adding a little hot water to the canned food, which will help enhance the aroma and make the food more appealing. Also provide plenty of fresh water.
* Limit the cat’s living space. If your cat is disorientated, shut doors to unused rooms, which will allow your cat to be more familiar with a smaller living area.
* Try to limit the use of stairs. If possible, keep your cat’s living area to one floor. As your cat gets older, achy joints and loss of vision can make stairs hard to maneuver.
* Avoid major changes. This is not the time to rearrange your furniture or add a new pet to the household. Try to leave the cat’s living areas the same so your cat is very familiar with their environment.
* Increase interaction and cuddle time. As your cat gets older and less active, find gentle ways to play, maybe playing with a string or feather that your cat can bat around without having to run. Spend this time cuddling and loving your cat. It is a great time to strengthen your bond with your cat as her activity level decreases and lets your aging cat know she is loved during the golden years of her life.