13 Signs of Aging In Cats

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Cats, in general, are considered old when they reach the age of 11 years old. However, this is not an exact science, and can differ individually in cats.

Once cats become more than a decade older, they will start experiencing behavioral and physiological changes that are not common in younger felines. From the shift in their vocalization to limited jumping ability, cats show irrefutable symptoms of aging that pet parents should pay attention to.

These are some frequent signs that are evident in aging cats.


1. Mood Changes

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It's pretty natural for a cat to go through behavioral changes when they get older. Along with becoming less patient, senior cats will also experience mood swings, often getting more irritable with age.

When people complain that a cat got crankier as it got older, they aren't completely wrong. Some cats get withdrawn from socializing with humans or other animals, even preferring a sedentary life. On the contrary, some felines will start becoming more demanding, and may command recognition for themselves.

While a few changes in their personality is natural with age, drastic mood swings almost always point towards an undiagnosed health condition.

2. Frequent Urination

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When your pet cat enters the later stages of its life, possibly 10 years old or more, you will start noticing an increase in peeing frequency. With age, the cat's kidney functioning will deteriorate, causing the kidney to absorb significantly less amount of water. This will cause more water from the cat's body to be excreted as urine.

Despite the increase in frequency, the urine will be less pungent as fewer toxins are filtered by the cat's kidneys. While a surge in peeing in older cats is natural, uncontrolled bladder or accidents could imply a kidney disease or even kidney failure.

3. Dental Health Issues

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Dental problems are not new to cats, with nearly 70% of all cats suffering from, at least, one form of dental health issue. In older cats, the percentage can be even higher, mostly due to the added risk of teeth infection and gingivitis.

Even worse, like an older human, senior cats can also lose their teeth. And, although dentures can be made to aid your aging cat in eating, felines don't usually use these very effectively.

In most cases of teeth and gum diseases, owners are the last ones to know, especially if the cat is not regularly taken to a vet. Dealing with dental issues can cost a cat owner thousands of dollars, so the best way is to apply preventive measures that safeguard the cat's dental hygiene. Brushing their teeth daily and providing regular oral washes can keep the cat's teeth healthy for a long time.

4. Lethargy

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Does your cat look tired all the time? Lethargy can often be mistaken for tiredness; however, they are entirely different from one another. While a tired cat will get back its energy after proper rest and food, a lethargic cat will always look fatigued.

To be honest, lethargy isn't directly caused by the cat's age. Instead, the condition depends on factors that most old cats are likely to develop with age. For instance, infections, low blood sugar, and low red blood cell count are three major factors that can develop lethargy in cats, all of which are common in senior cats.

Normally, to determine if the condition is triggered by age or any other underlying health issue, a simple test is enough. Simply, check for other symptoms; if the cat is also signs of nausea, drooling, or reduced appetite, the lethargy is possibly linked to a disease or illness that is yet to be diagnosed.

5. Change In Sleeping Pattern

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Aging cats, on average, sleep for about 16-20 hours in a day. The sleep duration is significantly higher than that of healthy adult cats, who sleep anywhere between 12 to 15 hours.

Cats, being crepuscular by nature, remain active at dusk and dawn. On the other hand, older cats will likely sleep during the day and remain active during the night. This can be typically frustrating to a cat owner, who works throughout the day and needs good sleep at night.

Similarly, a sleeping old cat can be disturbed easily, affecting their sleep cycle. To handle the issue, the most effective measures are to provide the cat with comfortable bedding and a peaceful environment to complete their required sleep.

6. Weight Loss

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Weight loss is an irrefutable sign of aging in cats. Once a cat reaches adulthood, it will start gaining about 3% weight every year, until it reaches the age of 10. However, by the end of the first decades of their lives, cats need more calories to maintain their metabolism.

Basically, if the cat is given the same diet that it enjoyed as a younger feline, it's more likely to lose weight than a cat that had its diet changed according to age. To maintain their weight during older years, cats should be given more protein and essential fats, by up to 25% more than an average adult cat.

7. Difficulty In Jumping

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A healthy adult cat, on average, can jump as high as 6-8 feet; but, this ability is significantly diminished as it grows older. Arthritis, a joint condition, is a primary reason for older cats struggling to jump high enough, even to get into a piece of furniture or their owners' beds.

According to veterinary research credited by the NC State University, 45% of all cats have arthritis. The percentage almost doubles in older cats, with 90% of all cats beyond the age of 10 suffering from this condition.

Despite having no cure, feline arthritis can still be treated to a certain degree. While many cat owners refrain from getting supportive structures, due to the fear that their pet might lose its ability to jump altogether. However, as cats rarely fully recover from age-related arthritis, pet owners should come to terms that their cats need ramps or stairs to even climb a few feet vertically.

8. Eyesight And Hearing Loss

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If you've ever seen a senior citizen use reading glasses or hearing aids, you won't be surprised by the loss of eyesight and hearing in older cats. However, the signs of poor eyesight or hearing can be pretty complicated to identify, as cats rarely voice their concerns.

With age, cats develop blurry vision, especially due to the degradation of their lens fibers. The condition, also called cataracts, will develop a cloudy appearance that causes the vision to blur. If left untreated, cataracts can turn the eye lens fully opaque, leading to the dog becoming completely blind.

Similarly, an aging cat's ability to hear is also greatly diminished. The decline in hearing begins at around seven years old when the cat starts showing early signs of aging. Youncan test your cat's hearing my calling their names from behind, and wait to see if they react or not. However, don't clap your hands, as even deaf cats can feel the vibration.

9. Restlessness

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Restlessness in aging cats is primarily triggered when their sleep patterns are disturbed. A cat that sleeps throughout the day is more likely to remain active in the night, often with signs of restlessness.

Cats, with this syndrome, usually show typical behaviors like the inability to get full sleep, waking up to slight disturbances, and others. In most cases, this problem can be handled through a vet consultation, who may recommend medications to maintain their sleep patterns, although this method is not always effective. In some cases, the cat may behave desirably for a few days but become restless again after developing resistance to the medications.

10. Personal Hygiene Challenges

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As fastidious creatures, cats normally spend 2 to 5 hours grooming themselves, which amounts to nearly 30-50% of their time awake. However, their attention to personal hygiene significantly diminishes as they grow older.

Older cats, due to the overall decline in their physical strength and energy, are more likely to rest or take a nap than spend their time self-grooming. This can create health scares for the owner and the cat alike.

Senior cats should be cleaned, possibly every day, to remove the discharges that get accumulated in their butts, eyes, or nose. Similarly, older cats also need to be brushed gently to remove loose hair that can be accidentally ingested.

11. Increased Tendency To Drink Water

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When they're young, cats can go up to 72 hours before getting dehydrated. There's even a myth that cats don't need to drink water as they can survive solely on the water extracted from their food, although this claim is entirely false. Still, unlike dogs, cats can survive for days without a drop of water.

On the contrary, elder cats will not necessarily show this behavior. In fact, a cat's tendency to drink water dramatically increases as it gets older. Due to their failing kidneys, many cats will pee more than they did during their younger years; this creates a rapid loss of water in the feline's body, requiring them to drink more water.

According to pet owners, cats usually need only about 200 ml of water per day. If they start drinking more, it could be an early sign of kidney disease. Make sure to get your pet checked out immediately.

12. Changes in Vocalization

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A sure-shot way to identify if your cat is getting older is to notice how their vocalization changes over the years. Aging cats tend to become vocal, often meowing and chirping more than their younger companions, although the sound emitted is hoarse.

Pet owners suggest that the change in vocalization frequency is possibly triggered by the loss of eyesight and hearing. As their other senses become weaker, cats compensate by amplifying their volume or chirping frequency. 

Even the quietest cats start becoming more vocal, once they begin their years as a senior cat. If your pet constantly meows or yowls, it may be time for the cat to retire and get used to a more relaxed lifestyle.

13. Poor Litter Box Habits

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Is your cat misbehaving by refusing to use the litter box? Well, it turns out that older cats are not deliberately peeing or pooping outside of their litter boxes. Instead, they could have lost their bladder control, possibly due to kidney disease.

While occasional accidents around the house - particularly with older cats, are not an issue that warrants concern, regularly peeping or pooping without control can be a symptom of an illness or disease. Cats with conditions like glaucoma, arthritis, and disease are more likely to suffer from this condition.

Similarly, changing the location of the litter box can cause the aging cat to become confused and defecate at the previous spot of the litter box. As this is an age-related issue and not under control of the cats, punishing them will only make the situation worse.

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