Senior Cat Comfort & Care

Cats are impressive hunters. Think about how they stalk and attack their prey in the wild. It’s not all running and chasing. It's also strategy. After all, they may only get one shot, so they want it to count. They get into a good hiding spot, get low, activate their "wiggle butt," and watch for the perfect moment to strike.

Senior cats don't always have the mobility to get up and go. That doesn't mean their instinctual need to hunt goes out the window. You just have to make some adjustments.

Lean into the strategy. A good wand toy and some props are all you need. Use boxes, paper or fabric bags (with the handles removed), tunnels, blankets (without large holes or hanging strings), and even furniture. Give the "prey" places to hide, pop its head out, then rush back, crawl in, around, and under things. This kind of movement and mystery activates your cat's prey drive and gets them thinking about how they can catch that prey. When they're ready to pounce, make it easy. They don't even have to get up if that's hard to do. You can take the prey to them so they can grab it with a paw.