How A Cats Behaviour Can Change With Age

As cats get older, not only does their appearance alter, but their behaviour can change as well. Here are some signs to look for as he ages.

Just like humans, cats change as they get older. That’s why it’s so important to really get to know your cat and look for changes in his personality and habits. In this way, you can alert your vet and have your cat examined promptly. It’s also a good idea to have your senior cat examined at least once a year to keep track of his health.

Below are a few of the ways that a cat’s behavior will change as he gets older. Just remember that not all cats will exhibit all of the following changes. Every cat is an individual and you and your vet know your cat best.

Changes in Vocalizations and Behavior

Feline cognitive dysfunction may cause your senior cat to become more vocal, meowing more throughout the day and/or night. He may also begin pacing a lot and may show signs of confusion or disorientation, so routine and schedules are the key to helping your cat feel comfortable.

More than normal meowing could also indicate that your cat is losing his hearing or that he’s in pain. If your cat has taken to meowing more than he used to, it’s a good idea to have him examined by a veterinarian in order to rule out medical conditions, anxiety, or other causes that can be controlled or resolved with the proper treatment.

Becoming More Active at Night

While it’s common for cats to have nocturnal habits that can be somewhat annoying to their owners, if your cat has become more active than usual at night in his old age, it could be a sign of restlessness that results from geriatric anxiety. This anxiety can result from feeling separated from you while you sleep or from feeling frightened and concerned about making his way around the house in the dark.

Your cat may also be more active at night because he needs to go to the litter box more often, but the loss of his senses could make it harder for him to get to where he needs to go. Again, if your older cat is active at night, particularly if he meows a lot, this could be a sign of vision or hearing loss, which could also affect how deeply he’s able to sleep. After ruling out medical problems with your vet, it may be enough to simply leave some night lights on to ease his anxiety and help him find his way.

Not Using the Litter Box

A senior cat may end up eliminating outside of his litter box, but he’s not doing it to be disobedient, so don’t punish him. This behaviour could be the result of decreased mobility, feeling the urge to go to the bathroom more frequently, losing control over the bladder or bowels, a urinary tract infection, diabetes, or kidney disease, among other causes.

In the event that your cat starts going to the bathroom outside of his litter box, it’s time to bring him to the vet to determine what’s causing the behaviour and to get him the right treatment.

It’s also recommended that you switch litter boxes, if necessary, to ensure your cat can comfortably walk into and out of it. You may also want to add an extra litter box or two around the house so that your cat can go when he feels the need without having to walk very far.

Changes in Personality

A cat that typically craved attention when he was young may become more distant in his old age, or a cat that was aloof before may now be quite clingy. Other personality changes include irritability, crankiness, apathy, and aggression. Bear in mind that some of these changes could be caused by pain, soreness, weakness, or diminished senses.

Make sure to include your cat as much as possible by keeping him near the family. Have him sit next to you or on your lap while watching television, as an example. It’s also a good idea to approach your cat gently so you don’t startle him and cause him to lash out at you.

Again, to rest assured that these changes are nothing more than the result of aging, have your kitty examined by a vet to rule out medical problems.

Always Provide Plenty of Love

Your senior cat may be a little different than he was when he was younger, but he still loves you unconditionally, so take care of him, make sure he’s seen by a veterinarian, and give him highly nutritious food to help keep his body as strong as possible.

We love cats of all ages at Poynings cattery and will cater to all their needs. To find out more call us on 01273 857 539

Filed on Tuesday, May 16th, 2017 at 6:54 am under: Uncategorized

Summer is on its way….

Now the clocks have changed summer is officially on its way – well so they keep telling us!!

When you are booking your holiday to the sun, don’t forget about your feline friends and book them in for a holiday of their own at our Cat Boarding Hotel in Brighton.

We are family run and have been established for more than 29 years. We pride ourselves on offering a warm, clean, comfortable and friendly service for your cat – a home away from home!

You can be sure that your cat is in very good hands with us, and will have as good a holiday as you will!

Some of our happy customers enjoying the British sunshine at our Cat Boarding Hotel. We are 10 minutes away from Brighton and en route to Gatwick Airport. Places are booking fast for the summer holidays – ring us on 01273 857539 to book.

Filed on Friday, March 31st, 2017 at 8:58 am under: Uncategorized

Some of our lovely customers

At The Poynings Cat Boarding Hotel, we love to hear from our satisfied customers.

A few days ago we received this lovely card for Waffles and Theo who recently came to the Poynings Cat Boarding Hotel while their owners went on holiday.

Why not have a look at our testimonials to see what other people think of us, or give us a ring on 01273 857539 to talk about your cat boarding needs.

Filed on Thursday, July 2nd, 2015 at 10:57 am under: Uncategorized

Is Your Cat a Picky Eater?

Check out this article published in the mail online today. It may give you an incite into why your cat is such a fussy eater! Many of us think that our cats being fussy eaters is just one of those things. According to this study it could actually be caused by their bitter taste receptors and the ‘man made’ food and medicines we provide them. Have a read here: www.dailymail.co.uk

Filed on Wednesday, June 3rd, 2015 at 9:29 am under: Uncategorized

Cat Carriers

When bringing your cat to Poynings Cat Boarding Hotel, they will need to be brought in a secure cat carrier. This is to ensure their safety and security during this transition process. The RSPCA have written a guide on how to introduce and familiarise your cat to a new cat carrier. To see more follow this link http://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/cats/environment.

We personally find that cardboard carriers are not very strong and recommend a more stable plastic variety. It is important to ensure that your cat is happy in their carrier and feels safe, using the tips provided by the RSPCA can help you with this.

At Poynings Cat Boarding Hotel we can lend you a carrier to transport your cat and are always happy to discuss ways in which to ease the journey for your cat. Why not give us a ring on 01273 857539 to discuss your cat boarding needs.

Filed on Monday, May 18th, 2015 at 12:52 pm under: Uncategorized

The UK’s favourite cat names

Cats protection did a UK wide survey to find out the most popular cats names. Did your cat make the top 5? At our cat boarding hotel in Poynings, Brighton we certainly see a variety of cats with a huge range of names and nicknames. Check out the top 5 unusual names – our favourite is Captain Horatio Frankenstein!

Infographic credit http://www.cats.org.uk.

Filed on Friday, April 17th, 2015 at 3:17 pm under: Uncategorized

Cats protection e-learning course

Why not head over to http://learnonline.cats.org.uk/ufo and check out the Cats Protections new online E-learning course – Understanding Feline Origins. A great way to learn more about your cat and their ancestry, what makes them who they are today and how we can help maintain their healthy, happy lives for years to come. All our staff at our Brighton cattery ensure cats (and their owners) receive the highest levels of care tailored to meet every individual cats needs.

“Writing table with cat and mouse” by Superikonoskop – Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

Filed on Thursday, March 19th, 2015 at 12:21 pm under: Uncategorized

What does your cat really think of you?

Check out the article below in National Geographic magazine. A fascinating insight into the way cats view their human friends by Christine Dell’Amore in an interview with John Bradshaw author of the book Cat Sense and cat behaviour expert at the university of Bristol.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/01/140127-cats-pets-animals-nation-dogs-people-science/

We certainly see a great variety of cats with different behaviours at our cat boarding hotel near Brighton – why not give us a ring om 01273 857539 to arrange an appointment to see for yourself!

“Spielendes Kätzchen” by Loliloli – Own work. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons.

Filed on Thursday, March 12th, 2015 at 9:51 am under: Uncategorized

Keeping Your Cat Cool This Summer

Here are some top tips from Burns Pet Food to keep your cat cool this summer…

Provide shade outside — this is usually supplied by plants. However, if this is not the case, creating some shade with a cloth over a comfortable spot is an easy alternative. Choose somewhere that gets a gentle breeze, under which your cat can lie. Water should always be accessible in outside areas as well as indoors.
Choosing cool spots — cats love to curl up in the bath or sink because porcelain stays cool even when it is hot outside. They might also linger in cooler rooms, typically laundry or bathrooms. Try not to reprimand your cat for picking the coolest spot in the house.
Dampened towels — most cats do not like getting wet, but you can at least help cool their fur down in extreme heat with dampened towels. Simply dampen a cloth or paper towel and gently stroke your cat with the cloth or towel from the top of his head and down the back. Do this a couple of times a day if it is very hot.
Water — lots of cats enjoy the heat and the sun, making dehydration a real risk. Constant access to water is essential. Ensure the water bowl is always filled during hot weather (indeed, a cat should have access to clean water at all times of the year). It may be that they drink more in the heat and therefore replenishing is required more often than usual.
Sunbathing — cats love hot spots and basking in direct sunlight. They usually cope with high temperatures better than dogs, but still can become affected by heatstroke over a prolonged period. So keep an eye on your cat’s sleeping habits, particularly at the hottest times of day. If your cat has a tendency to head for the sunniest spots outside and nap, it might be an idea to keep him inside between 11am to 4pm.
Sunburn — cats with pale coats are particularly prone to sunburn. Ears are most commonly affected, which can be very painful. Siamese, Birmans, Cornish and Devon Rex cats with sparse fur and the hairless Sphynx are especially vulnerable. If they sit outside it’s wise to apply sun block cream on their ears. Like humans, severely sunburned skin can lead to a form of skin cancer, so it’s important to take precaution.
Keeping cool inside — if your house gets warm in the summer, fans can help to keep air circulating indoors. If you are trying to keep your cat out of the sun at peak times, netting frames over the back door and windows can help, so you can leave them open for ventilation without your cat escaping.
Car journeys — try to avoid cat carriers that attract the sun and choose one with plenty of ventilation. Never leave a cat unattended in a hot car, like dogs they can quickly overheat.
Keep meals cool — if your cat eats wet food, don’t leave this down during hot weather as it will attract flies. Many owners switch to a dry food in the summer because it won’t dry out or attract flies. It’s also worth considering feeding your cat a calorie-controlled diet in the warmer months if he is prone to putting on weight. Cats are often less active in the summer and therefore won’t burn off calories as quickly as in winter.

Filed on Monday, July 22nd, 2013 at 9:29 am under: Uncategorized

Planning a holiday? Relax in the knowledge that your cat will have as good a holiday as you!

Are you planning a holiday to get away from it all this summer?