Does an older cat need special care?

I have had cats since I was a child. As all living things do, they eventually get older and need special care to stay in top health. Just like people, cats have different needs as they get older. From diet to grooming and even their sleep habits change. It can be difficult to keep up with.

It's especially hard if you have several cats of all different ages. You may wonder "How can I care for my older cat when I have a younger cat too?" After all, many multi-cat households share the same toys, treats and food bowls for all the cats, so things can get complex! 

You obviously won't care for your aging cat the same way you would care for a kitten, though they are similar. Here are a few simple tips to help you take care of your older cat.

Bathing your cat without getting scratched to shreds!

Is it possible to bathe your cat and not get scratched to bits? Of course! Now it is much easier if you start when your cat is a kitten and basically train them to accept the water. Older cats can be bathed too though. Although your cat doesn't realize it right now, after some tender loving care and a little shampoo, he will appreciate it.

Why would you want to bathe a cat? Well, they can get dirty and can become flea infested just like a dog, so they do need a bath in these instances. Sure a cat bathes themselves and most of the time that is sufficient. If your cat happens to get into something like car grease (walking or sleeping under a car) paint, any chemicals or pretty much anything they get into that you don't want them licking off their fur.

What people food can cats eat?

I've had some cats over the years that tried to eat my food every chance they got, and others that couldn't care less what I was eating. They would rather eat their cat food and treats. It seems to me like interest in people food really depends on the cat, but if the cat does seem interested in my food...what is safe to give them?

While we love giving our feline friends the occasional treat, it's important that we make sure the food we're feeding them is safe. When it comes to people food, there are a few things you should never feed your cat. Fortunately the vast majority of foods that are good for humans, are ok for cats too.

Why Do Cats Knead?

One of the sweetest things cats do is to 'make biscuits'. It's even more adorable when they do it on your lap or while laying next  to you. Trixie does it every morning while we're still in bed. She purrs so loud while kneading the blankets...that's usually what wakes me up each day!

If you think your cat holds you hostage from moving when she's sitting on you just wait till she starts kneading and purring. You're not going anywhere! I mean, how could you disturb such wholesome behavior as a cat pinning you down and loving on you?

While it's an adorable behavior, have you ever wondered 'Why do cats knead?' Kneading or "making biscuits" is a common behavior in felines. Have you ever noticed that your cat appears to knead their cat bed or your lap when they're happy? This motion of pressing their paws back and forth against a surface does imitate the motion you use when you knead bread dough. But, what does it mean?