Senior Cat Comfort & Care

The most common physical change for senior kitties is mobility. Your cat may not be able to run or jump the way they used to. Arthritic pain can impact their ability to stabilize on some surfaces. All of this changes the way they “hunt.” But it doesn’t mean they have to lose out.

• Keep playing on the ground so your cat doesn’t have to jump
• Play on carpet, rugs, or blankets to limit slipping and sliding
• Use toys that can sit close to your cat or that you can move far away to spark their interest and then closer for an easy “catch and kill”
• Try stationary toys like ball-and-track. Or look for toys on a string or wire that attach to the floor or hang from a doorway. Your cat can engage with the paws and mouth without much get-up-and-go.
• Take breaks. Try multiple short play sessions of a few minutes versus trying to get your cat to play for long periods.
• Try toys in cat-friendly colors like blues and greens for easier visibility
• Toys with bells or other sounds can spark interest and help your cat make the catch

If your cat has other challenges, like blindness or hearing loss, think about changes you can make to compensate, like using sound, touch, and vibration in play.