No living being can escape aging and although cats have many lives, aging will eventually caught up to them. According with the Guinness Book of World Records the cat that lived longer was Grandpa, a 34 year old cat (over 150 human years) that died in 1998. However, the average life expectancy for cats is between 10 to 15 years. This means that, in average, a 12 year-old cat is a senior animal.

Cats seem to age like most humans do: the system starts slowly to shut down and some complications may occur. The aging process varies among individual, since the degree of tissue vitality loss and organic failure isn’t directly proportional with age. Some of the major changes are:
 

Activity

Cats start to slow down as they become older. This doesn’t mean that are sleeping all the time: they tend to be more active during the night, sleeping when humans are awake which accentuates the idea that they are sleeping more often. Older cats have shorter sleeps, since they need to go more frequently to the litter box.

As a result of the decrease activity, senior cats don’t groom themselves as well as they used to. Besides this, the sparse use given to the nails may let them overgrown.

Obesity is also a concern. Accurately speaking, obesity is a concern in cats of all ages, but since the activity level of senior cats is lower, the lack of exercise may contribute to some extra pounds.
 

Hearing and seeing

As cats grow older, hearing and seeing may be menaced. It is usual for cats to have their sense of hearing diminished; some may in fact become deaf. The eyesight also starts to fail. In any case, you should take your cat to the vet, if you notice anything strange, since most ailments, although age related, can be solved.

Cats with diminished senses become more fearful and anxious, which can lead to aggression. The fact is that a cat that doesn’t see or hear well may feel threatened by the blur he know sees or may the frightened by the person who suddenly appear in front of him without making a sound (or so he though).
 

Memory

Memory lapses are common in older cats, caused by the decline of their intellectual abilities.

Cats with memory blanks may be caught up wandering or disorientated. Loss of litter box training is also a common problem, but physiological problems shouldn’t be discarded.
 

Coat

The cat’s hair changes texture as he ages. The coat usually becomes duller and dryer and the hairs thicken.
 

Humor

As with old people, cats don’t react well to changes when they reach their senior years. There is also a decreased ability to handle stress, which may trigger more aggressive responses than usual. Cats become more irritable, some spit and scratch when they are handled; other seeks attention and may become jealous of other animals or children.
 

Along with this, some ailments commonly arise:

Arthritis

Unfortunately, Arthritis is common in senior cats. Cats with Arthritis may start to limp or become to stiff. This disease causes pain to the animal, but there are many medications that can relieve it. Although most cats with Arthritis don’t become overly lame, the pain caused by this disease can cause the decrease of the level of activity and consequently loss of muscle mass and tone. These cats may have difficulty accessing their food and water dishes or litter box if they are in a high position that requires jumping or climbing stairs. The cat may start to loose weight and urinating in inappropriate places.
 

Nutritional Problems

As the cat ages, their weight seems to change: some become overweight, other become too thin.

Obesity is as big concern in cats as in humans. If you notice an increase in your cat’s weight, talk with your vet so that he can advise you on a more adequate diet.

Loosing weight can be related with many different things in geriatric cats: teeth, disease, and loss of appetite. In fact, senior cats should eat less, since they don’t spend so much energy, however, their weight shouldn’t decrease significantly.

Older cats seem to have more difficulty in the absorption of the food nutrients, which means they should be given a high-quality diet, but in a proportion according with its age.
 

Dehydration

Senior cats often become dehydrated, usually because they are poor drinkers. Dehydration slows down the blood circulation and weakens the immune system. Owners should check the amount of water the cat is drinking daily.
 

Dental Problems

The cat with dental problems usually loses his appetite, since eating may be painful.
Tartar, enamel erosion, tooth loss and oral ulcers are usually the main problems that arouse in the cat’s mouth and cause bad breath. Cat’s with bad teeth may drool or let the food drop when eating.
 

Kidney failure

The Kidneys are the first organs to be affected with age. Excessive drinking and urinating are symptoms of Kidney failure. But these symptoms are not exclusive of kidney disease, so you should take your cat to the vet as soon as possible.
 

Hyperthyroidism

Hyperthyroidism is caused by the excessive activity of the thyroid gland. Cats with this condition often show an increase of the activity and appetite, followed by weigh loss and vomiting. Hypertension and tumors can also be associated with this disease.
 

Diabetes

Diabetes mellitus is the most common form in cats. This disease has similar symptoms to Kidney failure and it also needs veterinary attention. Insulin injections and specific diets are usually needed.
 

Tumors

Tumors can appear in any part of the cat’s body, although you should pay special attention to the mammary glands, mouth, skin and hocks and elbows. You should look for abnormal swellings can don’t disappear. Tumors aren’t synonym of cancer, but in any case, bumps and lumps should be checked by the vet.