Senior Cat Comfort & Care

Just between us, did your grandparents get a little cranky as they got older? Your senior cat might, too. Why? Similar reasons, actually.

A common cause is physical discomfort. The normal aches and stiffness of age mean that being picked up by you or pounced on by your other cat doesn’t feel great. Senior cats will be more reactive to keep that from happening. Of course, serious pain can also cause this reaction.

Any medical issues can cause stress and lower tolerance levels, with or without physical discomfort. With the help of your veterinarian, managing not just the condition but the associated symptoms can help turn down the grumps.

Changes in vision and hearing, or anything that makes your cat feel less secure, can lead to grumpy behavior.

Remember, what we call “grumpy” is really physical discomfort, nervousness, or other physical or emotional stressors. You can help by considering what triggers your cat and offering support. That might mean things like pain management, keeping younger pets at a distance, and adjusting their environment so they feel secure. See Chapter 11 for more on environmental changes.