Cat Supplies
Caring for Your Cat at Every Life Stage: What to Focus On?
Hi, I’m Zoe, a vet nurse by day and a full-time cat mum by night. Cats love to make us think they’ve got everything under control. They are independent, mysterious, and sometimes a little bossy. But behind those confident whiskers, our feline friends rely on us to keep them happy and healthy. From tiny kittens finding their feet to wise old seniors who’ve perfected the art of napping, each stage of life comes with its own needs.
Think of this as your lifelong guide to being the best cat parent you can be. We’ll walk through the stages together, highlighting what really matters at each age; from socialisation and play to diet tweaks, joint care, and even a little emotional support. With the right care, your cat can thrive through all their nine lives!
Kitten (Birth → 1 year old)
Vet visit rhythm: Every 3–4 weeks until vaccines and growth checks are done, then once more around 6 months of age.
What to focus on:
- Core vaccines to protect against major infectious diseases.
- De-worming frequently, as kittens are very prone to parasites.
- FeLV/FIV testing if there’s any chance of exposure.
- Socialisation: this is the best time to get kittens used to handling. Touch their paws, ears, and gently open their mouths just like a vet would during check-ups. Lightly touch between the shoulder blades and above the hind leg, as this is where vaccines are often given. The more they’re used to it now, the easier vet visits will be later.
- Litter habits: encourage consistency and cleanliness.
- Nutrition for growth: special formulated and balanced kitten food to support bones, muscles, and immunity.
- Weight checks—kittens should grow steadily, not rapidly.
- Play and enrichment to build confidence and prevent future behavioural issues. But your cat won’t play you said. That is because you were doing it WRONG. How to play ‘correctly’? Watch Here
Extra resource for new kitten parents: If you’ve just brought a kitten home, here’s a great video that covers everything from A to Z to help you get started: Watch here.
Young Adult (1 → 6 years old)
Vet visit rhythm: At least once a year for wellness exams. Outdoor cats may benefit from every 6 months.
What to focus on:
- Weight management: obesity is the #1 preventable health issue in cats. Look for formulated indoor or satiety management kibbles to help with the condition if neede.
- Dental care: daily brushing (best but only if tolerated), dental diets or chews.
- Behaviour monitoring: watch for sudden changes such as hiding, aggression, over-grooming (having no fur on tummy area can indicate something is not right sometimes)
- Parasite prevention: even indoor cats may be at risk. (You go out right?! You will bring parasites home no matter how careful you are.)
- Vaccination boosters as recommended by your vet.
- Check for subtle health signs: occasional vomiting, coughing, or reduced play may mean more than “just being a cat.”
Environmental enrichment: scratching posts, perches, puzzle feeders are to prevent boredom and stress.
Mature Adult (7 → 10 years old)
Vet visit rhythm: Every 6–12 months with at least one full wellness screen per year.
What to focus on:
- Kidney and thyroid health: early screening helps catch problems before they worsen.
- Weight trends: even small weight loss in older cats can be a red flag.
- Dental care: gum disease and tooth resorption are common.
- Joint health: stiffness, reluctance to jump, or less grooming may signal arthritis.
- Stress management: mature cats may tolerate less change. Try keeping routines stable.
Senior (11 years onwards)
Vet visit rhythm: Minimum every 6 months, sooner if they have chronic conditions.
What to focus on:
- Pain recognition: cats hide pain well, subtle changes matter.
- Arthritis and mobility: ramps, heated beds, or low-sided litter trays can help.
- Cognition: confusion, altered sleep, or excessive meowing may suggest feline dementia.
- Vision & hearing: blindness or deafness can develop gradually.
- Chronic-disease care: diabetes, kidney disease, thyroid disorders, and high blood pressure are common.
- Quality-of-life talks: discuss comfort-focused care with your vet.
Cats change as they age, and their care needs to change too. Staying alert to subtle shifts in weight, behaviour, or comfort. Sticking to regular vet visits is the best way to protect your cat’s long-term wellbeing.
💡 Coming up next: we’ll dive into how to spot the signs if your cat is in pain, plus the routine tests every cat parent should know about to keep your feline friend healthy.
