Cats are considered senior at age 10, and super senior from 15 years old.

Behavior changes in your older cat may be a sign of medical issues, so stay on top of vet visits.

Senior cats still need play and enrichment, so make time for play with a wand toy.

This year, my cat Melina turned 16. Her beautiful tortoiseshell coat is a little faded, but she still has a fierce personality, living up to the tortie stereotype. As an older cat, though, she needs a little extra care. So how can we help our senior kitties to be as happy as possible?

Cats are considered mature between 7 and 10 years of age, senior from 10 to 14 years, and super senior from 15 years. As cats get older, they experience physiological changes similar to those in people as they age. There is a lot that we can do to help make their lives better.

Stay on top of medical issues

Vet visits should be more frequent as cats get older. The Feline Veterinary Medical Association recommends that cats aged 10-15 years should have a wellness visit at their vet twice a year, becoming as often as every four months for cats over 15 (Ray et al 2021). That’s assuming they are healthy; if your cat has medical issues, more frequent visits may be needed.

Observe your cat in your home so that you can let the vet know of any changes you have seen. Pain due to problems such as degenerative joint disease or dental issues is more common in older cats. Ask yourself if they are still jumping up and down from furniture like they used to and if they still go up and down stairs the same as before. For example, do they still jump from a table to the........

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