My 18-year-old cat's fur is rough. Is a dull coat normal for seniors?

Question

Hi! Tony is very elderly, 18, and his fur just doesn’t feel or look as soft as my 11 year old kitty. Is this just age related? He’s just had his 6 mth checkup and bloodwork. All is normal. He has had for a long time now high blood pressure and hyperthyroidism and takes meds for both. He’s recently started potassium supplements, not because of kidney trouble but because my vet said the amlodipine over time can cause low potassium. But it’s back to normal now. thanks! Pet's info: Cat | Domestic Shorthair | Male | neutered | 18 years and 1 month old | 9.5 lbs

Linda G, MS, DVM · Accepted Answer

Hello. It is very common for the coat to become a little more brittle as pets age. Tony is probably grooming a little less, too, so the oils in the coat are not being distributed as well as in a younger animal. all of this is very normal. If you suspect that Tony may have a bit of arthritis, talk to your vet about starting him on a glucosamine supplement, Adequan injections, or even some more directed analgesic medications. He may groom a bit more with this. But otherwise, I would not be too concerned. You have done a great job keeping him so healthy for all these years! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

My 18-year-old cat's fur is rough. Is a dull coat normal for seniors?

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