Just as we are benefiting from the miracles of modern medicine and living to ripe old ages, so are our feline companions, especially if they’ve lived most of their lives indoors.

But what makes a cat an official senior citizen? Your veterinarian will tell you that at around eight or nine years of age, a geriatric blood panel should be added to your cat’s yearly check-up. And around that time, you might see your cat slow down and/or not be as interested in playing or hunting as previously. Or you might see the muzzle and whiskers begin to turn gray. These are signs of time setting in, letting you know that it’s time to watch for changes in your cat’s body and behavior.

Weight loss is often the first warning sign of various metabolic problems associated with aging — and people generally don’t notice it. Since the loss of only a few pounds can represent a large percentage of your cat’s body weight (i.e., losing three-pounds represents 25 percent of a 12-pound cat), it is a very good idea to weigh your feline every few months.

Then, every so often, look into your cat's eyes. Sometimes, the eyes become cloudy or the pupil seems to stay enlarged; these can be signs of blindness. If your cat startles easily or is hard to wake up from a nap, your cat could be losing hearing. And, of course, there’s what all older humans dread, too — arthritis. If your cat’s posture is different, or if your cat walks stiffly and/or pauses before jumping, arthritis could be a factor. I have noticed in my own cat, Bella, who turned 18 last October, that her belly hangs closer to the ground than before and her lower back/hip area seems to give her pain. She also stopped jumping up as readily. I now use small wastebaskets turned upside down as a step up to my bed and to her favorite windowsill. 

Self grooming can be a problem for older cats with arthritis. If your cat’s coat becomes dull and flaky, try gentle brushing to increase circulation and remove dead skin. If your cat appears to be in pain, mention it to your vet. Fortunately, there are many types of pain management available. I recently put Bella on weekly pain medication and it has improved her mobility greatly.

As your cat ages, notice what your pet’s normal food and water consumption is, as well as the amount of urine in the litterbox. Noticing these things now will help you compare and communicate any changes to your vet. This would also be a good time to make an indoor-outdoor kitty an indoor-only kitty since, with time marching on, a cat’s reflexes slow down, making fighting with or getting away from another animal much more difficult.
 
Behavior changes are often the result of health changes. Older cats sleep more because their inner clocks are adjusting to their new need for greater amounts of rest. Also, senior cats need more warmth because they don’t maintain their body heat in the same way they used to. There are cat beds and blankets now on the market that reflect cats’ body heat back to them. Creating soft, inviting spots near sunny windows can also be very enjoyable for your cat. And if your cat begins to vocalize or cry out, be sure to follow up with your vet because that can be a sign of illness.

It’s also important to encourage your cat to stay active, so keep playing together. Cat dancer-type toys are wonderful for getting cats moving.

The most important thing? Remember to enjoy each other — for your cat’s entire life.

Tails of Marin appears every Saturday in the Home & Garden section of the Marin Independent Journal