The effects of aging tend to sneak up on all of us—even our pets—but because they happen so gradually, they can be easy to miss. If your dog is starting to bump into objects around the house or your cat isn’t spending as much time in her favorite lofty perch, a few environmental changes may be in order.

If you have a senior cat, you may wonder what sort of special care they could need. Do they have different dietary requirements? What about their overall health and mobility? And perhaps, most of all, what defines a “senior cat”?

Have an older pet at home? 

Just like humans, pets can develop a number of new health issues as they enter their senior years. Often attributed to simply “slowing down,” it is not uncommon for many of these age-related problems to go untreated or even unnoticed. However, many of these changes can be effectively managed with proper veterinary care.

Common age-related medical issues in pets include:

Have an older pet at home? 

Just like humans, pets can develop a number of new health issues as they enter their senior years. Often attributed to simply “slowing down,” it is not uncommon for many of these age-related problems to go untreated or even unnoticed. However, many of these changes can be effectively managed with proper veterinary care.

Common age-related medical issues in pets include:

While our cats are generally living longer, a feline is still considered a senior at age 11 (about 60 in human years) and geriatric at 15 (76 years for a human). So although your kitty may be young at heart, it is important to remember that senior and geriatric cats are more at risk for arthritis, especially in the hips and spine.