Activity
Your cat's activity is essential, both for their joints and mental vitality.
So, don't let them sleep all day on a cushion, but encourage them to move and play with balls or a mechanical mouse.
Nutrition
No extra snacks, and no overindulgence, especially in old age, as kidney failure and diabetes are higher risk.
Your cat does not need to grow physically, but rather maintain a good balance. There are good "senior" foods on the market that provide balanced meals. Their protein content is lower than that required by the diet of young and adult cats, so as not to overload their body.
There are more fibres to facilitate intestinal transit, and vitamin supplements and fatty acids are also added to block the free radicals responsible for cell ageing.
Check-up at the veterinarian
Visits to the veterinarian should be more frequent and accompanied by blood tests to assess renal, hepatic and pancreatic function.
You must not neglect the slightest symptom because, after a certain age, it can be the sign of diseases that are sometimes well advanced.
Senility
A cat's senility most certainly does exist. Cats' brains have been found to contain cells identical to those responsible for Alzheimer's disease in humans.
It should come as no surprise if the cat sometimes makes plaintive meows for no reason, stares at walls for a long time, urinates or defecates a little bit anywhere.
They should not be reprimanded, they do not do so on purpose and they need affection more than ever, feeling weaker and therefore more dependent on their masters.
