What Changes Occur In A Cat's Body As It Ages?

As cats age, their activity and ability to adapt decrease. A decrease in muscle mass leads to a decrease in strength and resistance of the body: the cat becomes slower and less agile.

Much slower is the replenishment of fluid lost during vomiting or diarrhea, thermoregulation becomes less effective, so that hypothermia can lead to hypothermia (low body temperature). The restoration of damaged tissues lasts much longer and there is a partial deterioration of smell, sight, hearing and sense of taste.

The old cat is less and less interested in others, preferring to stay in a passive state for a long time. She rejects changes in the daily routine and has difficulty adapting to changes in food and environment.

Older cats are not uncommon for kidney and dental diseases, as well as tumors. Some lose their ability to defecate normally; others are unable to control the muscles of the anus and bladder, which leads to incontinence. The skin loses its elasticity, and as the cat cares less and less about the cleanliness of the body, ear and eye secretions can accumulate, which the owner of the "old lady" has to remove.

However, old age should not be considered a disease. This is just a condition in which the cat, unfortunately, loses vitality and the ability to adapt to change.

Source: H. Nepomniachtchi "Keeping a cat"