Caring for Your Aging Cat: 6 Tips for Hip and Joint Health

An indoor cat's lifespan can reach nearly 18-20 years, and after around 11 years of age, you may notice some differences in your senior kitty's behavior. She may not jump as high as she used to or have trouble reaching that highest platform on the cat tree. While your cat may slow down as she becomes a senior because of osteoarthritis, you can improve her quality of life with a few simple tips and some hip and joint supplements from our wide selection of cat hip and joint healthcare products.

About Feline Osteoarthritis

As cats age, the cartilage in between their joints begins to break down. As the problem progresses, the bones rub together and cause inflammation and pain as arthritis develops. This can affect a variety of joints, including:

• Knees

• Elbows

• Hips

Cat osteoarthritis is common with aging cats and usually causes symptoms such as decreased mobility, a loss of playfulness, and a loss of agility while jumping. While there is no cure for cat joint problems related to osteoarthritis, consulting your vet and choosing products that support your senior cat's aging joints can improve her health as she enters her golden years.

1. Begin Joint Support Early

Support for your older cat's joints when she first enters her senior years can prevent some of the pain and inflammation that occurs as she continues to age. A veterinary checkup at age 10 and advice from your vet, along with offering VetriScience GlycoFlex® Stage 3 Bite-Sized Cat Chews, can support joint health. This product protects the joints and builds cartilage in your senior cat's joints and the connective tissue as well.

As you discuss supplements with your vet, reporting possible arthritis symptoms may make for a faster diagnosis so you can start treatment at home. These might include a new reluctance to jump or climb stairs, limping, and noticeable morning stiffness.

2. Give Simpler Access To a Litterbox

If your senior cat begins to relieve herself outside the litterbox, this could mean that arthritis makes it difficult for her to step in and out. You can make her more comfortable by offering a catbox with a low threshold, like a Way Basics Modern Cat Litter Box. This hideaway box is easy to assemble and requires no tools, giving your senior a simpler way to access the bathroom.

If you have other cats, consider placing your senior cat's new litterbox in a place where only she can use it. Giving her a bathroom territory of her own can make her feel more confident about using the space and may lead to fewer eliminations outside of the box.

3. Offer An Herbal Supplement

If you have concerns about artificial ingredients in some store-bought cat joint supplements, then an herbal product may set your mind at ease. The PetAlive Muscle & Joint Support-S Dog & Cat Herbal Supplement contains no dyes, gluten, or artificial flavors, offering your senior cat an all-natural solution for hip and joint support.

4. Give Simple Access To Food and Water

As your cat ages, stairs and platforms may become a challenge. As the joints in the hips degenerate, she might experience discomfort if she has to climb to reach their food and water bowls. Make a place for her bowls at ground level that other pets cannot access so she still feels secure during mealtime. Add Fera Pet Organics Vegan Omegas-3 Algae Oil For Cats and Dogs to her food. This product supports joint, skin, and coat health for your older cat with a mix of Omega-rich ingredients.

5. Help Your Cat With Grooming

Watching young cats groom themselves makes you appreciate how naturally flexible they are. However, as your cat ages, she might not be able to move the way she used to to get herself clean. When this happens, her coat might begin to dull or develop mats. Help her maintain coat health by grooming areas she has trouble reaching and reward her with Icelandic+ Beef Collagen Mini Puff Cat Treats with Lamb Marrow afterward. These low-fat, high-protein mini snacks are rich in marrow and support your senior cat's overall health.

Stretching and bending to use the scratching post can cause your older kitty discomfort, so make a manicure part of her grooming sessions. File or trim her nails, including the dewclaw, to reduce pressure on her feet and prevent ingrown claws, which may lead to a dangerous infection.

6. Encourage Mobility

Your senior cat's playfulness may lessen as her joints ache, but maintaining activity can keep them healthy. Encourage your cat in brief play sessions at least once a day that encourage instinctive behaviors, such as:

• Pouncing

• Stalking

• Swatting

After playtime, continue supporting your older cat's joints with Cosequin®ï¸ Joint Health Supplement for Cats by Nutramax®ï¸ in easy-to-administer Sprinkle Capsules. This is a veterinarian-recommended brand that contains glucosamine hydrochloride and sodium chondroitin sulfate for joint wellness.

7. Install Bed Ramps

Would your older cat rather snuggle up with you at night rather than sleep in a cat bed but has trouble jumping because of her arthritis? You can make bedtime easier by installing low ramps that give her easier access to her favorite sleeping spot and her favorite human, too.

Watching your cat age is not easy, especially if she develops osteoarthritis in her later years. After a visit and advice from your vet, you can help maintain her quality of life with products from Baxter Boo that support her joints, along with an environment rich with senior cat perks so she enjoys her golden years in comfort and happiness.