Let’s face it, we all love to spoil our cats now and then, especially in their senior years. Whether you have a kitten, a junior, or a senior cat it’s nice to know it is having a happy life.
Here are 18 ways you can spoil your furry feline friend.
1. Get pet insurance
Pet medical bills can soon mount up. I can’t stress enough how important it is to research and purchase a good pet insurance plan as soon as you get a cat.
Don’t leave it until something that requires it arises. It is virtually impossible to find insurance that covers pre-existing conditions.
Buying a policy for the first time for a senior cat can be expensive too.
Even if you’re cat never goes outside, it can still develop illnesses that are expensive to treat or injure itself in your home.
I don’t know any owner who would not be mortified if they couldn’t afford necessary medical treatment for their cat.
Expect insurance to start at around $25 per month (for a 1-year-old domestic shorthaired cat).
We’ve used Petplan for over 15 years and have always found their service excellent. Visit their website to see all the benefits and to get a quick quote.
2. Take it for annual health checks
Most pet insurance plans insist on annual health checks. This gives your vet the chance to administer any booster vaccinations due and check your cat’s general health such as heart rate, weight, and teeth.
These are important to keep your cat healthy and give it the greatest chance of having a long and happy life with you.
3. Provide the best diet
Cats have different dietary requirements at each stage of their lives. Most pre-prepared cat food is labeled for a specific age of cat so make sure you choose the right food for yours.
Good quality cat food is developed with the correct balance of calories, protein, minerals, and vitamins for each life stage.
By giving your kittie the correct balanced diet for its age, you will be doing your best to keep it as healthy as possible throughout its life.
4. Consider raised food bowls
A raised bowl allows a cat to eat in a more natural position. Many cats prefer to eat from elevated dishes, especially senior ones who may begin to struggle to bend their heads down.
Research shows raised and tilted bowls lower occurrences of vomiting whilst wide bowls prevent whisker fatigue,
You could put your existing bowls on a platform but the best option is to purchase a custom made one. The Necoichi Raised Cat Food Bowl is good for so many reasons: it’s raised, tilted, and wide!
It can be found on Amazon. Here’s the link to see all the benefits and the current price.
If you’re wondering what whisker fatigue is, don’t laugh! This is a genuine condition that many cats suffer from. They don’t like the sensitive tips of their whiskers bumping the sides of food bowls.
If your cat often drags food from its bowl to eat it from the floor, whisker fatigue could well be the cause.
5. Buy a lovely drinking fountain
Cats must drink plenty of water to maintain good health. Many cats love to drink from a moving source of water.
If you have one that likes to drink from the faucet and doesn’t seem to drink water from a dish then a cat drinking fountain is a perfect solution. It is especially important for older cats to remember to drink.
So, why not spoil your cat by treating it to a drinking fountain? We’ve had several and currently have a Catmate fountain which is excellent but quite basic.
As we’re talking about making our cats’ lives amazing, have a look at the isYoung Cat Fountain on Amazon – it’s really fancy!
6. Provide an accessible litter box
There are many types of litter boxes available including open, lidded, self-cleaning, tall and low-sided. Some cats prefer open top trays and some like ones with lids.
Fortunately, if you buy one with a lid and your cat decides to develop claustrophobia, you can take the lid off and stash it away somewhere.
As cats get older, they may find stepping over a high rim a problem in which case, it could be time to invest in a tray with a lower entrance.
We are currently using a PetFusion Large Litter Box with a low entrance at the front. It also has a nonstick surface which makes it really easy to keep clean.
It’s conveniently available on Amazon. Click this link to see the current price.
It’s a good idea to have a few trays dotted around your home so there is always one within easy reach. Not a fan of the sight of litter boxes?
A Good Pet Stuff Hidden Litter Litter Box is a brilliant idea. This is also available on Amazon. Here’s the link to see more details.
7. Supply the comfiest beds
Cats have a great talent for seeking out the coziest and most comfortable places to sleep. Usually, they can be found curled up on your favorite chair or snuggled up on your bed.
Why not treat your cat to an extra special bed of its own? There are many types available, some quite gimmicky and some more traditional.
Lots of cats like small boxes as they feel secure in them so a bed with high walls and a roof is often a perfect choice. A cat house with a place to perch is perfect.
I love this stunningMaya Nook Luxury Indoor Cat House which I spotted in Your Cat magazine.
It’s the ultimate in coziness and will look great alongside your other furniture. It has a beautiful bed with curtains and a very useful toy cupboard built-in.
It’s available on omlet.com. Follow this link to see more details and the current price.
8. Provide warmth when its cold
Cats are heat seekers, even those with the longest and fluffiest coats.
They know where hot water pipes run, love to sleep in front of the fire, and lay near any heat source they can find on a chilly day.
We can’t all afford to leave our heating running all day to keep our cat warm, unfortunately, so how can we ensure it doesn’t feel cold and miserable all day long, especially in its senior years?
There are plenty of low-energy heat pads on the market which you can place into your cat’s favorite bed. But alternatively, here is the perfect solution:
The Thermo-Kitty Heated Cat Bed. It’s available on Amazon. Here’s a link to see the current price and extra details.
My favorite feature of this bed is that it’s thermostatically controlled and is activated by the presence of your cat when the room temperature is low enough. What could be better!
9. Invest in a pet staircase
Something to consider for elderly cats or those with joint problems such as arthritis or hip dysplasia is a pet staircase.
Of course, you can strategically place boxes and low tables to help them reach the high places they love to frequent. There are a variety of purpose-built pet steps.
I’ve chosen this particular set because they come in a variety of colors and fabrics and a choice of two or three steps. This link shows the different colors and current prices.
They are light-weight and durable so can be easily moved wherever they are required.
10. Help to keep its claws healthy
Many cats can’t resist scratching at your belongings – usually thing you don’t want to be scratched! Treat yours to a variety of scratching posts and pads to help protect your furniture.
It is important that cats are allowed to scratch somewhere to shed the outer sheaths of their claws and also to flex their muscles.
As they age, they can lose the ability to retract their claws properly so consider keeping them trimmed to prevent them from snagging on your furniture and clothes.
Actually, we’ve written an article that shows you exactly how you can easily protect your furniture from your cat’s claws – the methods are applicable to any cats – thank me later if they work!
11. Help it to take care of its coat
All cats need help with grooming, especially those with long hair. Grooming will help to limit shedding all over your house.
Start a grooming routine as soon as you get your cat and keep it up regularly, especially with senior cats.
By removing as much loose hair as you can, you will help to prevent your cat from swallowing too much fur and developing fur balls in its stomach.
This saves you from having to clean hair-laced vomit from the floor too. You will also stop nasty, painful knots and mats from developing. Invest in some decent brushes for the job.
12. Provide It With Interesting Toys
Most cats are love to play at any age. Make sure you keep a wide variety of toys available and make time to play with your cat every day.
It will love having play sessions with you and you will be ensuring it stays active.
Even old cats will play and can revert to behaving like kittens if gently encouraged. I’ve owned cats all my life so know exactly what toys work and more importantly, those that don’t!
If you’d like to know which to get (and which ones to definitely avoid), our Maine Coons love these toys, and I’m sure any cat will.
13. Provide plenty of scratching posts
Scratching posts are a must and if you have room invest in an indoor cat tree, especially if you have an indoor-only cat.
Cats love any opportunity to climb up high and the best indoor trees are sturdy and have spaces to hide, lounge, play,
Be careful about buying a cheap one because it probably won’t be built to last.
14. Make sure it has places to hide
Create plenty of hiding places around your home for your cat to hide away in whenever it feels the need.
Some great examples are a space under a bed (with storage boxes creating walls) or gaps behind chairs.
Don’t forget how much cat’s love boxes and that they create perfect cat dens, beds, and hiding spots.
15. Provide a safe outside space
If you have a cat that is allowed to spend time outside then it is very lucky as it’s not possible to allow all cat’s such a luxury these days.
Consider cat-proofing your garden to prevent escape or building a large enclosure that your cat can access from your house via a window, access tunnel, or a flap.
Many shop-bought catios just aren’t big enough. However, I’ve found an excellent system on omlet.com.
You can buy an enclosure that’s 12 feet long and 9 feet wide which is also extendable to make it perfect for your needs.
It’s also strong, weather-proof, green to blend in, and easy to self-assemble. What more could you want?
Follow this link to see a full description and current prices.
Make sure you provide shade and fill it with plenty of things to keep your cat amused.
16. Give it plenty of attention
Most cats just love your company and attention, so make sure you always find time to spend with your one, especially after you’ve been out all day.
Contrary to popular belief, cats are not aloof and don’t like being alone so can become depressed.
Making a fuss of your cat, allowing it to be with you and playing with it are things
17. Buy it some night lights
These are particularly important for senior cats as they can become disorientated in the dark. If your cat meows a lot when you are in bed, night lights can help it to settle down.
You can buy these cheaply and plug them into wall power sockets all over your home.
Get a variety that turns on automatically at dusk and off at dawn so you don’t have to do anything.
Emotionlite Plug-in Night Lights are a perfect example. They’re available on Amazon – follow this link to see the current price.
These don’t use much energy so will not leave you with a noticeable increase in your electricity costs.
18. Keep to a routine
This item is last but not least, in
Make sure you feed it at the same time every day and in the same place. keep its litter box in the same spot. Try not to rearrange your furniture all the time.
Older cats can get completely disorientated if things aren’t where they usually are, so keep
Conclusion
You might follow some of the ideas in this post and you might ignore some. The main message is that there are many simple things you can do to give your cat the best chance of a long, happy, and healthy life with you.
Here are some of my favorite products for cats
Thank you for taking the time to read this article. I hope you found it helpful whether you own a cat or are considering it. I thought I’d share a few of the cat products I love which you might find really useful too.
The following are Amazon affiliate links, and if you decide to use them, I’ll earn a small commission from Amazon at no cost at all to you.
An indoor cat tree: This is an excellent item to satisfy a cat’s urge to climb and scratch. There are several sizes to choose from so you can pick the right height for your home. Our cats love this Amazon Basics tree with multi-levels, scratching posts, and a little hideaway.
Drinking fountain: Cats love to drink from flowing water. Many don’t seem to drink enough so a fountain is a good way to get them interested. This Orsda Fountain is quiet, has a large capacity, and looks stylish too.
Scratcher Lounger: The more cat-scratching posts you have the better. Many cats like to claw horizontally which is why we chose the PetFusion Ultimate cat scratcher. It has seen quite a bit of action from 4 Maine Coons but still looks great.
