What to Expect as Your Cat Ages

Humans are often anxious about what to expect as their cats age.  It really should come as no surprise that cats age in very similar ways to humans, albeit faster.  From wanting the kids to turn down the music to an inability to handle a change in eating habits, your cat may also spend a lot of time wondering if he’s lived up to his true potential and has experienced all that life has to offer.

Below I’ve listed five other things you can expect your cat to experience as he ages.

1) Expect he’ll receive more mailings from AARP
There’s no better organization than AARP at tracking down those of us who are getting a little long in the tooth.  Depending on how close he is to 50, your cat may begin to receive regular mailings detailing the benefits of membership.  If he drives, it may behoove him to join AARP to take advantage of lower car insurance rates.

2) Expect him to put a larger percentage of his salary into his 401K
It’s no secret that cats are living longer.  Better nutrition, advances in medical care and increased public awareness about the dangers of black market catnip have all contributed to healthier lives for many of us.  If your cat wants to continue living the lifestyle he had before retirement, he’ll probably start socking more money away each month.

3) Expect him to get a little thicker around the middle
It happens to the best of us.  We get a little achy and tired and don’t exercise as much as we should.  If we don’t reduce our caloric intake, it won’t be long before we put on a few pounds in the wrong places.  While a tiny little bit of extra weight may not be so bad, don’t let it get out of paw.

4) Expect he’ll be more concerned about the future viability of Social Security
The asset-challenged agency has been in the news frequently over the past several years.  Your cat might be concerned that his piece of the Social Security pie may not be available as he nears retirement.  Afterall, if he’s been paying into the system all these years, he’s going to feel he deserves to get his money back.

5) Expect him to discuss his bowel habits with anyone who will listen
This might be the most disturbing sign that your cat is aging.  But, if you’ve spent time with elderly people in Florida, you’ll be used to it.

As your cat ages, you can expect him to experience new challenges just as you will.  But, if you help him meet those challenges head-on, maybe the two of you can age gracefully together.

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Sincerely,
Jester, Director of Cat Stuff