Intervening to Delay Aging

Routine mental and physical stimulation may help to maintain dopamine production and so slow down a cat's natural aging processes.

Massaging a cat is a good way to loosen stiff joints and improve circulation, and in a cat that has bonded to you has the additional advantage of stimulating the secretion of beneficial neuroendocrine hormones.

In cats (and also in people, for that matter) the brain shrinks with natural aging until it is 25 per cent lighter than at the peak of its efficiency.

Although part of this loss is in the number of cells, most is simply in the loss of connections between the cells. Mental stimulation will not replace the lost cells, but it does maintain or even rebuild the connections between the cells.

Scientific studies carried out almost 20 years ago showed that a single brain cell may have up to 10,000 connections with other cells: with time these diminish, but with mental stimulation up to 2,000 lost connections may redevelop.

Cats can age gracefully. Mental and physical activity, appropriate nutrition, warmth, comfort and well-designed toys may help your cat to age comfortably. Aging brings disorientation: some cats pace the room, while others may forget where the cat-flap is or how to use it.

Some cats become more vocal, and some, like some elderly people, become snappy. All of these changes may be age-related, but may also be signs of treatable illnesses.