Senior Cats

Animal Planet Pet Care Library

by Sheila Webster Boneham

Of the estimated 90 million cats living in households across the U.S., approximately 40% are seniors. This expertly written guide reveals how to recognize the signs and effects of aging and includes information on special nutritional and grooming needs, housing and lifestyle adjustments, and managing age-related health and behavior changes.  Useful tip boxes in each chapter show every member of the household how to make the most out of owning a pet.

Genres: Cats, Reference, Nonfiction

112 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2007

About the author

Sheila Webster Boneham writes fiction and nonfiction, much of it focused on animals, nature, and travel. She doesn't like to be labeled -- just as she reads across genres, Sheila also writes across genres. She is currently working on a novel, a series of short stories, a series of essays about traveling the U.S. by train, and a book-length meditation on the human-canine connection. Sheila teaches writing workshops and classes, and often speaks about writing, creativity, and related topics.

Sheila's debut mystery novel, Drop Dead on Recall was named on the Top Ten Dog Books of 2012 by NBC Petside. The sequel, The Money Bird , was released in 2013, and Catwalk is scheduled for September 2014.

Sheila holds a Masters of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing from the Stonecoast MFA Program/University of Southern Maine, and a Ph.D. degree in folklore from Indiana University. She has taught writing, folklore, and literature at universities in the U.S. and the Middle East. She is a member of the Associated Writing Programs, the North Carolina Writers Network, and several other professional organizations.

Sheila and her husband and dogs have enjoyed getting to know different parts of the U.S. over the past few years. They currently live in Wilmington, North Carolina.

Reviews

[Terri Palermo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful book and a great reference. Just hitting just a tad too close to home right now, with both my boys in their teens.

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have 3 senior cats, ranging from 14 to 16 years old. I was hoping to find a little more information about living with aging cats, but this book appears to have been written by a veterinarian. Nothing against vets - they can be useful in their place - but on almost every page, there was a reference to "check with your vet about this," or "your vet can advise you," or "make sure you take your cat to the vet often." Well, sorry. I am a low-income pet owner who can't afford any non-emergency vet services. Sixteen years ago, when I adopted my first cat (all of them are indoor kitties, by the way), I had a job and could afford vet care. But now, living on social security and unable to even afford my own medical care, we all just have to make do as best we can. So I was disappointed to find that this book offered very little on caring for the aging cat, and was almost exclusively about the role of the veterinarian's services.

[Afta Gley · Rating 2 out of 5]

It didn't tell me anything I didn't already know. I was looking for more specifics.

[Lynn]

Informative, though repetitive, guide to caring for an older cat. Made me paranoid as hell about my cat though, thanks anxiety.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

My cat is 17, which in human years would put her somewhere in her 90s, and she's been going through a lot of age-related changes in the last few months, so I picked this book up on a whim when I was at the pet supplies store. This is a good reference manual for anyone with a senior cat. With a good vet who explains things and judicious use of the tons of information available on the internet, this book might not tell you anything new, but I found it reassuring to have it reinforced that some of the things that Cat has been doing are just normal consequences of age. The author is not a vet, however, and naturally not a substitute for taking your pet to a vet; she's just a really well-informed cat lover.

[James Staiti · Rating 5 out of 5]

My beloved cat is a senior, and this book has much helpful information. You can tell Dr Boneham really loves cats.

[Becky Rice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book. One of my favorite cat books currently along with cats for dummies! I have a senior cat and I love her deeply. This book has enlightened me :)