Recognizing the Litter Box and Diet Requirements of an Aging Feline

Pet owners which have been blessed to bring up a kitten to maturity understand how a cat’s needs change over time.  From what the cat eats to the litter box it may use, each individual cat goes through life changes as we do.  By recognizing these changes, as cat owners we can make life more comfortable and enjoyable for our cats.

Kittens are very active when they are young.  They are able to consume most cat food which provides enough nutrients to help them grow and keep in good health.  But as cats age, the food they consume usually is reduced as their activity lessens.  Consistent veterinarian checkups are essential to keep an eye on the cat’s health and weight.  A cat which has discontinued growing, but is still gaining weight, is an important indication that the cat is consuming too much food.

Many kittens are litter box trained with a kitten sized litter pan.  As they grow older, they will quickly grow out of their litter pan.  Cat owners must then purchase a large cat litter box.  Careful consideration should be made when shopping for a new litter box so that it is appropriately sized.  A large step is all the effort a cat should have to use to get in and out of the box.

The toys that a cat finds interesting, which provides essential playtime for fitness, commonly change over the lifetime of the cat.  As each cat enters maturity, it is more difficult for them to play and jump like they did when they were younger.  Pet owners need to be considerate of of the cat’s aging process.  Even mature cats like to play, but they won’t participate in activities that would exceed their physical abilities.

In their senior years, cats will slow down.  Their diet and physical requirements change and require that pet owners address these changes.  With the right diet and regular exercise, a cat may continue to enjoy a healthy and pleasant life in their senior years.