I saw it coming, but I wasn’t always sure what to do for a smooth transition into his senior years. Always an active, curious little guy, he began to show signs of slowing down, playing less and enjoying more catnaps. At twelve it seemed he had turned a corner. He needed a little more coaxing to drink enough water and some extra persuasion to be enticed into playtime.

A change of diet was one good step for his digestive help and his appetite…no problem there. The vet told me his immune system had become less resilient, so I became more aware of the need to eliminate some health risks in his lifestyle, including less outdoor time and more attention to helping him with grooming. Two years have passed. His hearing has become somewhat impaired and his eyes less clear, but he still shows interest in his environment and in his favorite visitors who give him lots of extra attention.

More pronounced has been his inability to get around as well as he once did…no more bounding or jumping, of course. Part of this has been due to some arthritis and joint discomfort. That was a gradual change that became more significant when he could no longer access his food and water dishes with ease; even using his litter box was proving more challenging for him.

Again, I shall be eternally grateful to my trusted vet who recommended pet stairs and pet ramps for use in various strategic locations in our home; this has greatly reduced the physical stress that had been limiting my cat’s mobility. For a year now he has benefited from the daily use of these aids to reach his favorite spots on chairs, on the sofa and to join me in bed; this has been in addition to the absolute saving grace of being able to use his litter box and eat and drink without hesitation.

At this rate I expect he will be enjoying many more happy years, as we age gracefully together.