9 Ways To Make Your Senior Cat Feel Young

1. Give your old cat a leg up.

Help your older gal get up on the bed (or reach her chosen windowsill perch) with a special staircase that lets her reach her favourite places. Nighttime snuggles await! Check out Armarkat for truly beautiful staircases designed to give your cat a leg up!

2. Get your freak on!

Senior cats tend to have lower energy levels in general (which is another reason why old cats make awesome pets), but that doesn’t mean they don’t still want to play! Help your super senior rediscover kittenhood with a new toy. All cats love the Kiticatterfly with its enticing feathers, and you can’t go wrong with the NekoFlies series of absolutely terrific wand toys (picture: find it at nekoflies.com)!

3. Treats, treats, treats!

Your older cat deserves to be spoiled every now and then and some special treats are just the ticket! Bonus if these treats do double duty in the health department. Limited-ingredient freeze-dried treats from Redbarn are great for cats with potential allergies, and the irresistible salmon flavour and shape will have your cat chomping at the bit.

4. Next level senior cat-naps.

Your older cat deserves a super-comfy place to lie down, and an orthopedic bed that’s easy on achy joints, like Bowsers Oslo Ortho bed, makes for dreamy catnaps. The memory foam cushion is infused with Cool Gel Micro Beads that cradle joints and regulate body temperature, and the scooped front allows easy access for older, arthritic pets. If your old kitty suffers from arthritis, also check out these natural ways to treat arthritis and help improve your cat’s everyday movements.

5. Stop the spread.

Senior cats need fewer calories because of their decreased activity level, so a specially formulated food for seniors is a smart choice to keep the pounds off—carrying extra weight is responsible for a whole host of health problems. If your senior is experiencing particular health problems, some brands have food specially formulated to offer joint support, urinary tract support, and adjusted protein levels to suit your older cat’s needs. Try NOW FRESH Grain Free Senior cat food recipe from Petcurean. Made with 100% fresh turkey, salmon, duck and Omega 3 and 6 oils from coconuts and canola, this food helps manage weight, promotes skin and coat health along with digestive, vision, immunity and heart support.

6. Stop food theft

If you have a multi-cat home and your senior has a special diet, you’re going to want the Sure Petcare microchip pet feeder. It prevents food theft ensuring prescription food is eaten by the right cat. The sealed bowl only opens for the correct cat (recognized by a microchip collar, included), plus it keeps food fresh, and reduces pests and odours.

7. Engage that brain!

Keep your cat’s mind active and engaged with a window perch, like the innovative Kitty Cot ($45). This unique cat window-seat attaches to your windows using patented giant suction cups. The Kitty Cot is easy to install (you don’t even need any tools!) anywhere on a window and at any height. Lay your cat’s favourite blanket on it, install next to a bird feeder, and watch your cat be entertained for hours! Birdwatching has never been so easy.

8. Keep those joints happy.

Older cats often experience joint pain, and that pain can hinder their nighttime runabouts. Though identifying your cat’s joint pain can prove difficult (they are notoriously good at hiding it), studies show that around two-thirds (!) of cats over twelve have degenerative joint disease. Signs of joint pain include reluctance to move, reduced activity, altered grooming, and a change in temperament. Providing a joint supplement designed to support and sustain joint health and function is a good way to help your cats stay active. We like Cosequin from Nutramax, which contains Glucosamine Hydrochloride and Chondroitin Sulfate to promote joint health. (If your cat is inactive, no longer maintaining her diligent grooming, and reluctant to be touched, it’s time for a vet check-up!)

9. Keep things interesting.

This option is great for a single-cat household, and will keep your cat active for ages! Add a fun new game to your cat’s environment by using Doc and Phoebe’s interactive Indoor Hunting Feeders. Simply fill the three little mice with your cat’s regular food, place around the house and watch your cat hunt for their meal. Fill each mouse twice a day for your cat to hunt, and you’ll be sure to see an increase in your cat’s activity level, and  some weight management as well!