Throughout each stage of your cat’s life, it needs different care to support its wellbeing – whether that’s the growth stage during their life as a kitten or supporting their health as a senior cat. But when does your cat become senior, and what changes might you notice?

Your cat’s age in human years

Just as with humans, the ageing process is an individual experience and different cats will show signs of ageing at different times. However, in general your cat’s body will start to show the first signs of ageing at a cellular level at seven years old – but you won’t be able to see any outward symptoms until your cat is about 12 years old. From this point on, the cells in their body are slowing down and their bodily functions are less effective, including their heart and immune system.

The veterinary classification of your cat’s age is:

• At seven to 10 years, your cat is mature
• At 11 to 14 years, it’s considered senior
• From 15 years upwards, it is classified as geriatric

To understand this in terms of human years, a 10-year-old cat would be the equivalent of a 56-year-old human. It’s not uncommon for cats to live up to 20 years – that’s the same as a 96-year-old human.

 The signs of ageing in your cat

Although each individual cat will display signs of ageing differently, there are some common ageing processes which happen to every cat. Their smell, taste and hearing become less acute, which has an impact on their appetite. This can also be affected by dental issues, such as the teeth showing wear, gum disease or tooth loss. A combination of these problems can then lead to weight loss.

Their joints are less flexible, especially if affected by osteo-arthritis, which can result in severe pain and mobility issues. This inflexibility also affects their ability to groom themselves properly, which in turn has an impact on their coat and skin.

The coat itself may become whiter and you might see decline in its quality as the sebaceous glands – which produce nourishing oils for the skin – are less productive. The natural ability to produce an immune response tends to decrease with age, exposing the cat to more risks of infection and disease. Several metabolic processes like digestion are also altered as the ability to process fats and proteins decreases as the cat grows older.

Senior cats may exhibit altered behaviours including a lack of interaction or making noises at unsociable times. They may sleep more, but less deeply, which can interrupt their routine and cause behavioural issues.

Symptoms of illness in senior cats

Sometimes, these symptoms in an older cat aren’t simply a sign of ‘getting older’; they may also be a symptom of a bigger problem.

Cats tend to hide any illness, limiting their movement or activity which may exacerbate the problem, rather than indicating pain through noticeable signs such as limping or making noise. For this reason, it’s important to take note of any subtle changes in their behaviour – such as refusing to eat or no longer jumping up to their favourite spot – and take them to your vet for a check-up.

There are some common symptoms to look out for in a senior cat which may indicate an underlying issue:

• Loss of appetite or weight, which can indicate a digestive issue
• Increased urination or thirst; potentially a sign of urinary problems
• Stiffness, limping or difficulty getting up, which may be arthritis
• Appearing disoriented, anxious, or exhibiting unusual behaviour

By making sure you visit your vet regularly, you’ll be able to catch any serious conditions before they develop and ensure you provide the best care possible for your senior cat.

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If your cat has recently had an operation, it’s important to take care of them in the right way to give them the best chance of recovering quickly and effectively.

Surgery can be very difficult for your cat, both mentally and physically. Their body will be working hard to repair and maintain its strength, so the diet you feed your cat – and how you feed it – is crucial.

How should I feed my cat after surgery?

Your cat’s body and digestive tract is unlikely to be able to cope with the same amount of food ingested as it was pre-surgery. Digestion and proper absorption of nutrients from food takes a lot of ‘work’ from your cat’s system, and this energy may be being directed elsewhere to speed the healing process.

Ask your veterinarian for advice on how to feed your cat immediately after surgery. How much should you feed after you bring your cat home? Does your cat need a diet change? Most veterinarians will recommend feeding a smaller portion the night after discharge from the hospital, such as half of the normal portion, but it will depend on your cat and what type of procedure they have had. Many cats don’t have their full appetite after they’ve had surgery, but ask your veterinarian about this if it persists.

If your cat vomits after eating their food on the same day as their surgery, ask your veterinarian to recommend the best way to progressively return your cat to their feeding plan.

Your cat may have to wear a protective collar to prevent it licking or scratching their wound; make sure this doesn’t interfere with eating and drinking, and if so remove it during meal times. Depending on the type of surgery your cat underwent, it may require assisted feeding through a feeding tube. If this is the case, talk to your vet about the best way to do this.

What should I feed my cat after surgery?

Your vet might recommend you transition your cat to a ‘recovery’ diet while they are getting better from their operation. Recovery diets are designed to give your cat all the nutrients it needs to return to full health while minimising the digestive workload. These foods have increased amounts of protein, fat and calories, making it an energy-dense food; this means your cat can eat smaller portions and still get the energy and nutrients it needs. The protein in the recovery diet aids in the growth and rebuilding of cells, and should be highly digestible so its easy to absorb. 

Many cats often have a decreased appetite after surgery, so any recovery food should be palatable and appetising to your cat, with an appropriately shaped kibble or pieces, to encourage them to eat.

When should my cat return to the vet after surgery?

With the right care and diet, your cat will hopefully be back to full health soon after its operation. However, if you notice any of these symptoms, it’s essential you return to the vet:

• Bleeding
• Vomiting, diarrhoea, or constipation
• Consistent loss of appetite or decreased water intake
• Depression, weakness or lethargy
• Shivering or a change in body temperature
• Unsteadiness on their feet
• Laboured or painful breathing

Taking extra care of your cat after a surgical procedure means they’re more likely to recover faster and be back to their regular selves sooner. If you’re unsure about how to take the best care of them, ask your vet for advice.

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Why might you change a cat’s food?

There may be an occasions when you may decide it’s time to change your cat’s diet. There could be a number of reasons for this transition, including

• Your kitten is ready to move on to adult food
• Your cat’s health requirements have changed and they require a more specialist diet
• You’d like to transition to a wet, dry or mixed feeding plan

Nowadays complete well-balanced foods adapted to the cat’s age, physiological status and lifestyle can be given all throughout their life with no risk of nutritional deficiency. This means pet owners could be increasingly more likely to shift between cat food products.

Why is it important to change a cat’s food carefully?

Early experience of a type of food will play a big role in the creation of later food preferences for kittens. This is why it is important to find out what sort of food a kitten was given before you bring them home – they will adapt to a new environment more easily if their food is familiar.

In the same way, during the cat’s life, any change in food should be made gradually. Faced with a new sort of food, some cats can be wary. This avoidance behaviour is called neophobia. It is believed that this behaviour is a sort of protection against ingesting toxic or tainted food. This is why it is better to introduce new types of food in stages, and to reduce any potential stress factors, to avoid aversion to the new food.

How to change your cat’s food

It’s best to introduce a new food to your cat gently, over a period of at least a week. This way you can help to avoid stomach upsets, neophobia, or any other anxiety for your cat.

Begin by introducing small percentages of the new diet, gradually increasing the ratio until your cat has completely transitioned onto their new food.

Day 1 & 2 – 75% previous food + 25% new food

Day 3 & 4 – 50% previous food + 50% new food

Day 5 & 6 – 25% previous food + 75% new food

Day 7 – 100% new food

It’s a good idea to maintain your cat’s regular feeding routine, sticking to the same mealtimes and eating environments to minimise change and keep your cat comfortable through the transition to a new diet.

Keep an eye on your cat

Pay close attention to your cat’s behaviour once they have fully transitioned to their new food. This will help you to notice how well they are responding to the change – the best diets will be visible in your cat’s appearance, body weight and stool quality.

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What causes hairballs in cats? 

Cats lick their coats to cool themselves, calm their emotions, regulate anxiety, and remove dead hair. The rough texture of a cat’s tongue contains hook-shaped structures – called conical dermal papillae – that work like a brush, picking up dead hair and debris from their coat.

Cats spend two to four hours daily grooming themselves. When licking their coat, they can ingest 60-120g of hair yearly (1.5-3 liters). And when shedding, they may swallow more than 100mg of hair per kg of body weight daily! 

Ingested hair can clump together in the esophagus and stomach, creating cat furballs. The medical term for these masses is “trichobezoars”, and they are usually around 4cm long and 1cm wide in shape. Once formed, hairballs in cats are either regurgitated or digested.

Cat hairball symptoms to look out for

If digested, cat furballs can cause issues including constipation, diarrhea, frequent vomiting, and loss of appetite. If your cat is showing signs of discomfort or any of the above symptoms, speak to your veterinarian. 

How to prevent hairballs in cats

There are a few simple steps that you can take to protect your cat both inside and out. Here’s what to do. 

1. Help your cat exercise 

Indoor and older cats are more likely to develop hairballs, as their lack of physical activity slows digestion. Some become anxious because they can’t run, climb, or hunt, and may lick more to reduce anxiety, which also makes them more prone to hairballs. Here are some ways to increase your cat’s activity:

• Provide hiding spaces in high places to encourage climbing
• Offer toys and play with them often
• Use active food puzzles, such as placing dry food in a ball that must be rolled to release it

2. Switch to a cat hairball diet

Give your cat a high-fiber diet to help them pass hairballs naturally and prevent hair from clumping and sticking together in the stomach or intestine. Especially for indoor cats who don’t eat as much grass as outdoor cats, a high-fiber diet can help to prevent hair-induced constipation. To effectively combat the formation of hairballs, fiber content should be at least double that of standard food. Fiber-enriched diets can increase hair elimination in feces by more than 70% compared with standard food.

Fiber quality is essential

When searching for the right cat hairball diet, it’s important to remember that not all fibers are equal! Fibers differ in chemical composition, digestibility by intestinal bacteria, and water-binding capacity – this changes their effectiveness in stimulating digestion and preventing constipation.

• Some fibers act as laxatives. They form water-binding gels that improve transit and elimination. Psyllium fibers, common in human medicine, provide a lubricating effect for cats with slow bowel movements.
• Fiber that feeds beneficial intestinal bacteria keeps digestive flora balanced. These fibers include fructo-oligosaccharides and inulin and are called prebiotics because they “give life” to micro-organisms.
• Viscous fibers work with insoluble fibers such as beet pulp and psyllium to increase stool moisture content and texture. Both viscous and insoluble cellulose fiber help prevent constipation.

Royal Canin’s dry hairball diet and wet food combine a specific blend of natural dietary fibers such as psyllium to help stimulate the intestinal transit. 

3. Brush your cat regularly 

Brushing is essential to rid your cat’s coat of dead hairs and limit the amount they swallow. For long-haired breeds such as the Persian, Himalayan, and Birman, daily grooming is needed to prevent matting and minimize shedding. 

When your cat is molting in spring and autumn, it’s recommended to brush them every day. Don’t forget to treat your cat for fleas, even in winter. If your cat has itchy skin due to parasites, they will tend to lick themselves even more than usual and ingest even more hair, increasing the chance of cat furballs.

Helping your cat with hairballs

Cats groom themselves for hygiene, anxiety relief, and temperature control. Hairballs from cats are a normal part of pet ownership, and by providing a supportive diet with the right nutrients and fibers, and regularly grooming and playing with your cat, you can help them be healthy and comfortable.

FAQ’s

Are hairballs in cats dangerous?

Hairballs are a common occurrence and usually aren’t a cause for concern. While it can look uncomfortable for your pet to cough up hairballs, this is a natural way for cats to regurgitate the hair they consume through grooming. If you’re concerned about your cat’s wellbeing, speak to your veterinarian.

What causes hairballs in cats?

Cats lick their coats for many reasons, and all this grooming means that they swallow a lot of dead hair and debris. Ingested hair can clump together in the esophagus and stomach, leading to the formation of hairballs.

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Senior cats – those over the age of 10 – are unfortunately likely to suffer from several illnesses as they age, and the gradual loss of effectiveness of their bodily functions. However, these common ailments can be alleviated with the right mix of diet, medical support and environmental changes.

Loss of mobility in senior cats

Older cats can often suffer with arthritis and joint pain, as their joints and cartilage have worn down over the years. This leads to a lack of mobility, including unsteadiness, difficulty with jumping, and even difficulty with grooming themselves properly as they are no longer as flexible. Sensitive joints can also mean they’re less willing to get involved in play or come when they are called, as it can be painful to move.

Caring for your cat’s joints can be done through their diet; for example, the inclusion of long chain omega 3 fatty acids in their food helps support joint health. Similarly, nutrients like chondroitin and glucosamine help support the health of their cartilage.

You can also alleviate any discomfort your older cat may have when moving may by providing them with ramps to their favourite high perches, swapping their litter box for one with shallower sides that’s easier to access, and making their bedding more comfortable.

Ageing cats and diabetes

Diabetes mellitus affects around one in every 200 cats, particularly among older cats with a sharp increase in frequency after the age of seven years, and is directly associated with obesity. Therefore, one of the best ways to protect your cat against the onset of this condition is by maintaining a healthy body weight.

Cats with diabetes have cells which fail to respond to insulin properly, with some cases leading to their body not producing enough insulin to function. This means they have to receive insulin through injections, most commonly once or twice a day. A combination of insulin therapy and diet changes – to one which is high in protein but low in carbohydrate – is commonly prescribed.

The symptoms of diabetes in older cats include excessive urination and volumes of urine, increased thirst and increased hunger, as well as obesity as predisposed condition. If you notice your cat displaying any of these symptoms, make sure to visit your vet.

Older cats and weight loss

Weight loss is a very common but non-specific symptom of illness in older cats, so it’s important to make an appointment with your vet if you see your cat losing weight – that way, they can identify the likely cause and prescribe appropriate treatment.

Some systemic diseases which have weight loss as a symptom are chronic kidney disease, diabetes, hyperthyroidism and intestinal inflammatory disease. Your senior cat may also have lost weight due to a drop in their appetite, which can be caused by:

• Dental problems which make eating painful
• Deterioration of smell and taste, reducing their desire to eat
• Digestive disorders which prevent nutrients in their food from being properly absorbed

Your vet will be able to give you information on the best way to take care of your cat, depending on the underlying cause of their weight loss. However, you can also try giving them a softer-textured food which may be easier to eat, or warming their food up so the aroma is enhanced, which can stimulate their appetite.

While these ailments are common in older cats, they don’t have to cause them unnecessary pain or stress. Visit your vet if you believe your cat is suffering, and they’ll be able to advise you.

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