You know that when your cat gets older, you will have to start caring differently for them than you did when they were a kitten. But when does that point begin? Usually speaking, a cat will be senior by the time they are older than 7 to 10 years old. By this time, your cat will have special health issues that need to be addressed. As an example, one study discovered that almost 90 percent of cats that were older than 12 had signs of arthritis. Sudden weight loss in older cats could be the result of a dental disease, or a disease of the kidney, thyroid, liver, or heart. Then there are senior cats that struggle with obesity; with less mobility and energy could come the health problems that come with being overweight. Here then are some age-specific tips to help you care for your maturing cat.

One of the main things to do is to keep in regular contact with your veterinarian. Yearly exams are vital, even if your cat seems healthy; many conditions take a long time to notice. This will also save you money to catch a disease before it has fully developed. When you visit the vet, request a body condition evaluation. This way you can find out if your cat's weight is healthy or not. And then you can ask the vet to show you how do this evaluation for yourself.

Then you need to talk to your vet about changing your cat's diet. For example, you do not want to feed your pet a vegan or even vegetarian diet. Your cat needs protein, animal protein. As a rule, they actually need more protein than dogs do. Make sure you pay attention to the nutrition labels on your cat's food.

If your cat needs to lose weight, then you will need to create a more intensive diet regimen. Obesity can increase the risk of diabetes, liver disease, skin disease, and cancer, just to name a few conditions. You will need to make sure that you are helping your cat to healthily lose weight, without skimping on vital nutrients. Talking to a vet can help you come up with specifics, but generally introducing a good deal of L-carnitine into your cat's diet can help.

If your cat as arthritic problems, or some joint disease, then DHA or EPA fatty acids have been known to help. Glucosamine and chondroitin can also be helpful supplements. A cat with arthritis may also require modified living quarters. This could mean a litter box with a lower edge, and softer and more comfortable bedding. You also want to make sure that your cat will have no problems getting to their food or water. You definitely do not want necessities to be a flight of stairs away from your pet.

Now if your cat has a heart or kidney disease, then this will require special diet considerations too. Lower sodium is helpful for cats with heart disease, and a cat with kidney disease will need nutrients that monitor electrolyte levels. When a cat has hyperthyroidism, your diet choices can become more complex. If your cat has an overactive thyroid, then you might want to limit the iodine it consumes. This is not something that you want to do for a cat with a healthy thyroid, however.

More than ever, you cannot forget to brush your cat's teeth. As mentioned, dental disease can create all manner of health problems for your beloved pet. If brushing is not an option for you, however, you could always give your cat dental treats.

For more tips on helping your senior cat live healthier, contact a veterinarian today!