If you have elderly cats, it is possible that they may be more nervous and prone to getting injured. There are a number of things that you can do to help reduce this problem and ensure that your cat is as safe as it can be when in the house. Here are some of the most common elderly cat’s behavior problems that owners of long-haired breeds face:
Elderly Cat’s Behaviour: Hunting
The main hunting instinct of cats is to kill prey and eat it. Unfortunately, this leads to a lot of unnecessary damage to their physical health and can even lead to starvation. Providing constant access to food and water is essential.
Stress
Just like people, elderly cats can become stressed out and anxious. This is particularly true if a cat has been away from home for many years and doesn’t feel like part of the family any longer. Providing regular exercise, affection, and interaction with the rest of the family is vital to ensuring that an elderly cat is happy and comfortable.
Stress-related hair loss. Some cats start to lose their hair as they get older, and this can be a sign of stress. Hair loss also happens because of age, so always check with your vet to see if there’s something wrong. The good news is that it rarely causes any health problems. It is also treatable.
Destructive Behavior
This might seem like a strange category to include here, but it is a behavior that tends to be more common in elderly cats. They will rip up newspapers or leave chewing gum everywhere. Sometimes this means that an elderly cat will claw furniture or leave paw prints all over the house. This can be a sign of boredom and loneliness, so it will often disappear after a few days.
Carrying Anything
Carrying anything. While some older cats won’t allow you to touch them, others will be quite vocal about what they want. Some will let you know when they’re about to eat. Others will sit on your lap and let you know what they want. This is purely instinctual, but it makes life a lot easier when you know you can easily remove whatever it is they want from their hands.
Understanding the elderly cat’s behavior can make a huge difference to both you and your cat. Knowing what to look for and how to deal with each individual issue can go a long way towards making your life easier. And that’s not all – if you have other cats at home, they too will benefit from being involved in your cat’s day-to-day activities. By keeping a close eye on your cat’s behavior, you can spot any undesirable behavior early and help your elderly cat get used to being around people and animals. Once they are comfortable, you can introduce them to a wider range of people and animals, which will do wonders for their disposition and wellbeing.
Bottom Line
Of course, elderly cats don’t always choose to become elderly. In many cases, their decline is due to disease, malnutrition, or just old age. If this is the case with your cat, there are a number of things you can do to make life easier for them. Make sure you feed your cat a balanced diet and give them plenty of extra attention and affection. A lot of elderly cats behave as though they are younger than they are, so by looking out for these subtle changes and by providing the best care for your cat, you can make your cat happy and healthy for a very long time!
