Playing With An Older Cat

Is your kitty a fuzzy little senior? Fluffy officially enters her golden years around age nine. However, with many cats living into their teens or twenties, your pet may enjoy quite a long retirement. One of the best things you can do for your feline buddy is to play with her regularly. A local Virginia Beach, VA vet offers some advice on playing with an older kitty in this article.

Pick A Safe Place

Cats are usually fairly graceful, but they can still injure themselves with slips and falls. Older kitties can be quite vulnerable to this! Play with your furry pal in a place that offers good traction, and also offers a soft landing if she should take a spill. A carpeted area is a good spot.

Know The Benefits

Playing is of course fun for our feline pals. Fluffy never tires of letting her inner lion out to play! However, it’s also really good exercise for her. Running, jumping, and pouncing may be all the real activity Fluffy gets in a day. Playing is also good for her mind. Timing those tricky jumps requires concentration!

Make It Routine

Kitties are very much creatures of habit. Fluffy will follow a pretty set schedule for all of her naps, meals, grooming sessions, and meditations. Try to play with her at the same time every day. The routine will also help her feel safe and loved. Keep a laser pointer near your sofa or armchair, and play with your furry little friend as you are watching TV.

Don’t Worry About Overdoing It

With older dogs, it’s important to take care not to overexert them. Fido will literally run himself ragged to please his human buddies. Cats, however, really don’t care what we think. As soon as Fluffy gets tired, she’ll just ‘quit’ playing and go look for her next napping spot.

Have Fun!

Fluffy may be in her golden years, but she’s still a kitten at heart, and is still the same cute, fun pet as always. Don’t think of this as a chore: it’s a cute way to spend time with your kitty. You’ll also be repaid with purrs and cuddles, which are both truly precious gifts in our book.

Please contact us with any questions or concerns about your kitty’s health or care. As your Virginia Beach, VA pet clinic, we’re here to help!