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When is My Cat Classed as Older?
Just as people are living longer than they did
in the past, cats are living longer too. The
percentage of cats over 6 years old has almost
doubled in the last 10 years and the aged cat
population is growing. Within the past 5-10 years,
veterinary medicine has seen some significant
improvements in treatments for the ailments
commonly faced by ageing cats. Like people, cats
do not live forever. They age at different rates -
some slow down at the age of 8, others remain spry
into their teens or early twenties.
Most glide gracefully from middle age into old
age, simply slowing down their pace of life. They
experience old age in different ways and at their
own pace. Grey hairs appear round the muzzle and
in the fur (some owner therefore refer to older
pets as "silvers").
An elderly cat grows thinner; its backbone,
hips and shoulders become more prominent as it
loses the insulating layer of fat under the skin.
It may become rickety or unsteady on its back legs
and its senses are less acute.
These are all signs of "winding
down". Older cats exercise less and sleep
more, they groom less thoroughly and less often.
They lose their appetites. The early stages of
this decline are so gradual that owners may not
notice it. Recognizing subtle signs early on can
slow the rate of decline, but at the end of the
day, ageing and death are natural processes and
unlike humans, cats do not seem to fear the end.
The average cat life-span is 12-14 or 14-16
years depending on which studies you read. Pet
food manufacturers recommend senior formulation
foods for cats over the age of 8 and many vets
consider the cat geriatric when it reaches 10
years old. Generally, once your cat is over 12
years old, it is an 'older cat' and its needs and
habits change.
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