 Not long ago, cats were considered seniors at 8 years old. Today, it's not unusual for veterinarians to have feline patients in their 20s. Thanks to improved nutrition, living indoors, and advances in veterinary medicine, cats live longer and are now considered older at 12-14 years, says Richard Goldstein, DVM, assistant professor in small animal medicine at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, whose oldest feline patient reached a healthy 22 years old. Growing older is not a disease, he emphasizes. While it's true that senior cats are more likely to get different conditions, some older cats are perfectly normal and don't change at all. Older cats tend to be less active and playful, they may sleep more, gain or lose weight, and have trouble reaching their favorite places. Don't chalk up health or behavior changes, often gradual, to old age, however. Such changes can be signs of common diseases or dental problems that should be addressed by your veterinarian. With good care, and good luck, our cats can live well into their late teens, and even their 20s. But as cats age, their physical and behavioral needs change. While these changes are obvious as your kitten matures into an adult cat, the changes when your cat transitions from an adult to a senior, starting at 11 years old, can be harder to spot. Pay extra attention to your senior cat's diet. Senior cats have unique dietary and behavioral needs. It is more important than ever for your cat to be a healthy weight to maintain optimum health. Talk to your veterinarian about how and when to transition your cat to a senior food. Your veterinarian will help you asses your cat's optimum weight and can recommend a senior food to help maintain, lose or gain weight. A cat's digestion is also improved by feeding them small, frequent meals throughout the day and night. Measure your cat's daily food and distribute it in small portions. You can use tools like hunting feeders, like Doc and Phoebe's cat company indoor cat feeder kit, and puzzle toys that promote physical and mental engagement at mealtime. Increase your cat's access to water. As cats age, they are prone to constipation and kidney disease, especially if they are not staying hydrated enough. Increase your senior cat's water intake by providing canned food and more options for drinking water. As your cat gets older, they might not be able to jump up onto counters or access the usual water dish. Get more water stations around the house with plenty of bowls and or pet water fountains to entice your senior cat to drink more. Know and keep an eye out for the subtle signs of pain in cats. Cats are masters at hiding their pain. As many as 9 out of 10 senior cats show evidence of arthritis when x-rayed, yet most of us with senior cats have no idea. The most important thing you can do to prevent the pain from arthritis is to keep your cat at healthy weight. As little as a pound or two of excess weight can significantly increase the pain of sore joints. Your veterinarian can help you with a long term plan to help control your cat's pain with medicine, supplements and alternative treatments, like acupuncture, physical therapy and laser treatments. Don't neglect your cat's dental health. Dental disease is very common in aging cats. Cats can get painful holes in their teeth, broken teeth, gum disease and oral tumors that significantly affect their quality of life. Dental disease in the mouth end of the bloodstream and can slowly affect the liver, kidneys and heart. So paying attention to your cat's dental health is essential to caring for them during their senior years. Often, there is no clear sign of dental disease. Cat parents see weight loss and a poor hair coat as the vague signs of aging, not an indication of a potential problem. A thorough veterinary exam and routine dental care can drastically improve your cat's quality of life, and can even extend their lifespan. Look When You Scoop. Is your cat starting to miss the litter box or have accidents around your house? There may be a medical issue causing him to house soil. Are your cat's stools softer, harder, or changing color? Is he defecating daily? Not defecating or passing small amounts of hard stool are indicators of constipation, a serious medical issue. If attended too early, your veterinarian can help your kitty feeling comfortable again. Has the amount of urine in the litter box changed? Even small changes in or around the litter box should prompt a call to your cat's veterinarian as they can be indicators of serious underlying disease. Hello. This video is sponsored by Beemix Pets. Are you looking for high quality cat collars at an affordable cost? Check out, BeemixPets.com. Use coupon code KittenLife, to get 20% off. Give Senior Cat's Daily Exercise and Mental Stimulation. Environmental enrichment is an essential part of your cat's quality of life. All cats need places to climb, places to hide, things to scratch, and ways to hunt and play. All of these things will help your cat stay physically and mentally stimulated as well as healthy. However, as your cat ages, providing these things may require some extra thought. Your cat's mobility may become more limited, so you will need to make your home more accessible so that it's easier on their older joints. For example, a carpeted cat ramp can act as a scratching post as well as a climbing aid for cats with arthritis. A covered cat bed can give aging cats a cozy, warm place to hide that also helps to soothe sore joints and muscles. You can move their food and water bowls to more accessible locations on the ground instead of on tables or counters. Don't skimp on biannual vet visits. Finally, and most importantly, maintaining a good relationship with your veterinarian is critical when discussing care and quality of life for your cat and their senior years. Ideally, cats over 11 years of age should see the veterinarian every six months. Good work done during these visits can detect the onset of health issues, like kidney disease, while there's still time to make medical changes that will improve and extend your cat's life. Weighing your cat twice a year will also show trends in weight loss or gain that can be valuable clues to overall health changes. And oral exams will detect dental disease before it negatively impacts your cat's health. Create a senior cat-friendly home environment. Senior cats need some extra attention. Here are a few tips to make your senior cat comfortable and happy. Place resources, food, water, litter boxes, bedding, in multiple locations where your cat can easily access them. If your cat is having trouble jumping to favorite high surfaces, add steps or ramps for access. As cats grow older, they often need extra padding and warmth for comfort. Provide soft bedding at preferred sleeping and resting spots. Provide raised food and water bowls so cats with degenerative joint disease don't have to bend to eat and drink. Help out with grooming by gently brushing or combing, and keep nails from becoming overgrown with regular nail trims. The nails of older arthritic cats sometimes overgrow into the paw pads, and this is painful. Maintain a consistent routine. No common signs of disease. General signs of disease may be hard to notice at first. Be aware of some of the more common signs of disease and consult your veterinarian if any of these are noted. Using more or less, increased amounts of urine, passing small amounts of hard stool, straining in the litter box, nausea, vomiting, or constipation, decreased appetite, weight loss, or muscle loss, poor fur slash coat and decreased grooming. Changes in behavior including hyperactivity, unusual activity, anxiety, tiredness, or not using the litter box, abnormal swelling, skin masses, unusual lumps or growths, sores that do not heal, bleeding or discharge. Be breathing, urinating, or passing stools, difficulty going up or downstairs, jumping, or walking. Caring for your senior cat can be one of the most rewarding experiences you will ever have. Continue to provide physical and mental stimulation by petting, playing, and interacting with your cat in your special ways. If you enjoyed this video, kindly press the like button. Also don't forget to subscribe with notifications on, so that you don't miss out on videos like this. Thank you for watching.