At Centretown Veterinary Hospital we celebrate our seniors! Ageing is a natural process and one that can be approached with grace. We encourage pets and their parents to monitoring their health more closely. Together, we can take preventative steps to provide the extra support for our seniors.

What are the stages of a senior cat’s life?

As a general guideline, there are three senior stages: Mature from 7-10 years of age (approx. mid 40’s, mid 50’s human years), Senior – 11-14 years (approx. 70 years of age) and Geriatric – older than 15.

What are some tips on how to care for my senior cat?

As cats age more rapidly than humans, they can develop illnesses and conditions more rapidly as well. It is very important that your senior cat has a physical exam with your veterinarian at least once a year, in order to detect changes as early as possible.

What are some common health issues experienced by senior cats?

Older cats experience similar age-related conditions as people. Common health issues experienced by senior cats include arthritis, diabetes, obesity, kidney and heart problems, high blood pressure, thyroid disease and cancer.

Why is my senior cat having behavioural issues?

Senior cats can start to behave differently for many reasons. A decrease in vision, hearing, and cognition may cause your cat to act differently. Arthritis or other painful conditions can limit activity or change eating and elimination habits. Please inform your veterinarian of any changes you observe.