Can Older Cats Still Leap and Jump?
As cats age, their jumping abilities change. Kittens and young cats can leap incredible heights and distances with ease. But what happens as cats grow older? Do their muscles weaken and reduce their jumping power? Or can felines defy gravity even in their senior years?
This article explores how aging affects a cat’s jumping prowess. We’ll look at the physical changes in muscle strength, weight, arthritis, and other factors. You’ll also learn simple exercises and home adaptations to help older cats retain their jumping skills for as long as possible.
While kittens may hold the records for the highest leaps, plenty of adult and senior cats can still jump onto furniture, out windows, or pounce on toys. Read on to learn more about how high and far older cats can jump compared to their younger counterparts.
Muscle strength and agility changes with age
As cats age, both muscle mass and bone mass decrease, much like what happens in aging humans. This natural loss of muscle mass is called sarcopenia. Several factors contribute to sarcopenia in senior cats:
- Reduced appetite and poor digestion lead to inadequate protein intake needed to maintain muscles.
- Lack of exercise and activity accelerates muscle loss and weakness.
- Hormonal changes affect muscle metabolism and growth.
According to research, muscle mass declines 3–8% per decade in humans after age 30. Cats likely experience a similar decrease as they age. With reduced muscle mass, older cats lose strength and flexibility in their limbs and back. They may struggle with everyday activities like jumping onto furniture or grooming hard-to-reach areas. Stiffness in the muscles and joints also makes cats less agile and nimble overall.
While some muscle wasting is inevitable in aging cats, providing proper nutrition with adequate protein, maintaining a healthy weight, and encouraging gentle exercise can help senior cats retain muscle strength and function.
Sources:
Peterson, M. E. (2018). Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Other Forms of Muscle Wasting. Purina Institute. https://www.purinainstitute.com/sites/default/files/2018-05/Peterson%20-%20Cachexia%2C%20Sarcopenia%20and%20Other%20Forms%20of%20Muscle%20Wasting.pdf
Jump height decreases
As cats age, their jumping ability tends to decrease. According to studies, a young adult cat (1-2 years old) can jump up to 6 times their height vertically, which is around 5-7 feet high (source). By 5 years old, jumping height decreases to 4-5 times their height. At 10-15 years old, cats may only be able to jump 1-2 times their height.
One study found the maximum jumping height for cats aged 1-2 years was 175 cm, decreasing to 100 cm at 11-14 years (source). Another study on 29 cats found 9 month old kittens could jump to 196 cm platforms, while cats 10 years and older could only jump to 100 cm platforms (source).
While maximum jump height decreases with age, some cats can still jump quite high even into their senior years. With proper exercise and care, many cats can maintain good jumping agility well into old age.
Arthritis hinders jumping
As cats age, many develop arthritis which can impact their ability to jump. According to the WebMD article Cat Arthritis Symptoms, Pain Relief, Treatments, and Types, arthritis causes stiffness and pain in the joints, especially after resting or inactivity. This makes it difficult and uncomfortable for cats to crouch and propel themselves upward when jumping.
Cats with arthritis in their hips and back legs may struggle pushing off the ground to start a jump. An arthritic cat may bob up and down a few times while gathering the momentum and confidence to complete the jump, according to the UniquelyCats article Signs of Feline Arthritis and What You Can Do. Landing can also be painful for arthritic cats. The impact puts pressure on stiff, aching joints. An older cat may avoid jumping up to a favorite perch or down from furniture due to the discomfort it causes their arthritic joints.
While arthritis impairs cats’ jumping abilities, there are ways to help them stay active and comfortable. Providing ramps, limiting access to tall surfaces, maintaining an ideal weight, and giving joint supplements can support an arthritic cat’s quality of life.
Weight gain makes jumping harder
Extra weight makes it harder for cats to jump up to high places like counters or bookshelves. As cats age and become less active, they are prone to gaining excess weight (Source). This additional body fat places more strain on their joints, muscles and bones when jumping up or down. Obese and overweight cats exhibit difficulty with jumping and climbing because their added body mass requires greater effort and energy to lift up and propel their body (Source). With each extra pound gained, the force and impact on a cat’s joints, ligaments and muscles increases substantially. Older cats who are overweight will be much more hesitant to jump up to their favorite spot if it requires significant effort and discomfort. Getting a cat’s weight under control through exercise, portion control and vet-recommended diet can help reduce the difficulty and pain associated with jumping.
Adaptations for low mobility
As cats age and their mobility decreases, they will adapt their behavior if they are no longer able to jump as high. According to Caring for a Cat with Mobility Issues, cats may stop jumping up to their favorite high perches like windowsills or cat towers. Instead, they will seek out lower places to perch like a chair or sofa. Cats may alter the way they enter and exit the litter box by stepping in and out slowly rather than jumping in and out.
Cats that can no longer leap onto counters and tabletops may vocalize more often when desiring food or attention. Owners can help cats adapt by placing food bowls, water dishes, beds and litter boxes in easily accessible ground level areas. Providing pet steps or ramps can allow cats to access their preferred sleeping and perching spots more easily. Adjusting the home setup is key to helping senior cats with limited mobility retain independence even if they can no longer jump as nimbly.
Exercises to maintain jumping
As cats age, it’s important to keep them active and exercising to maintain muscle strength and mobility. Some exercises that can help cats continue to jump as they get older include:
Use interactive toys like feather wands and laser pointers to get your cat running, pouncing and jumping. Moving different toys around the house encourages your cat to stay active. According to the medical director at Everyday Health, “Anything that imitates what a cat would do naturally — chasing a mouse, a bird, leaves blowing across the lawn — is great exercise.”
Place treats or toys on elevated surfaces to encourage your cat to jump up to reach them. Start low and increase the jumping height gradually. As suggested by Hills Pet, rearranging furniture can provide new jumping challenges as well.
Use puzzle feeders or food dispensing toys to motivate your cat to move around and work for their food. This activates their mind and body. Hiding treats around the house for your cat to hunt down also provides physical and mental stimulation.
Cat towers, scratching posts, shelves and window perches allow your cat to stretch and climb. Place these around your home to encourage activity and exercise.
Medical conditions affecting jumping
As cats age, they can develop medical conditions that make jumping more difficult. Two common conditions are arthritis and diabetes. Arthritis causes inflammation and stiffness in the joints, which can be very painful for cats and limit their mobility. According to Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, arthritis tends to first appear in the elbows, knees, and hips – all important joints for jumping. Managing arthritis through medication, supplements, exercise, and weight control can help reduce pain and improve mobility in senior cats.
Diabetes is another condition that becomes more common in older cats and can hinder their jumping. When cats have diabetes, their bodies struggle to regulate blood sugar levels. Symptoms like weakness, fatigue, and muscle wasting can occur, which impair mobility and balance needed for jumping up to high places. Controlling diabetes through insulin, diet, and weight management helps minimize related mobility issues in senior cats. Veterinary care is very important for properly managing diabetes and arthritis in aging cats.
Making your home cat-friendly
As cats age, their mobility often decreases, making it harder for them to navigate their environment. Here are some tips for modifying your home to make it more senior cat-friendly:
Add cushions, beds, and padding to your cat’s favorite resting spots to make them more comfortable. Arthritic joints need soft surfaces (How to Create an Accessible, Safe Home for Senior Cats. [1])
Consider using ramps or steps to reach elevated areas like beds, couches, and windowsills. This prevents jumps that could strain aging joints (How to Modify Your Home for a Senior Cat. [2])
Place litter boxes on each level of your home so your cat doesn’t have to climb up and down stairs. Use lower-sided boxes for easier access.
Elevate food and water bowls to make eating and drinking more comfortable. Consider using puzzles or slow feeders to prevent fast eating.
Use night lights to help cats with failing vision navigate in low light. Motion-activated lights can also guide their way. (How to Modify Your Home for a Senior Cat. [2])
Rearrange furniture to create clear pathways between your cat’s food, litter box, and resting areas. This prevents them from having to jump over or squeeze behind objects.
Provide scratching posts both vertically and horizontally since older cats may no longer be able to stretch upwards.
Overall, focus on minimizing obstacles and giving your senior cat easy access to their necessities. A few simple changes can keep them purring happily at home.
[1] https://www.petmd.com/cat/care/how-create-accessible-safe-home-senior-cats
[2] https://www.hgtv.com/lifestyle/family/pets/how-to-modify-your-home-for-senior-cats-pictures
Conclusion
Cats can still jump in their senior years, but likely not as high or frequently as when they were younger. While lower muscle strength and weight gain make jumping more challenging, many older cats retain enough mobility and agility to leap onto furniture and navigate their environment. Keeping senior cats at an optimal weight through diet and exercise can help prolong their jumping ability. Providing steps and ramps and limiting high perches can also make a home more cat-friendly for an aging feline. While medical conditions like arthritis may hinder jumping, cats can often adapt and adjust remarkably well as they get older. With care and attention to their changing needs, many cats can continue living active, enriched lives into their senior years.
The key takeaway is that old age does not necessarily mean the complete end of jumping for cats. While jump height and frequency may decrease, many cats can still jump to some degree well into their senior years with the right care and environment adjustments. Cat owners should understand the physical changes affecting their aging cats and support their mobility through veterinary care, diet, exercise, home modifications, and adaptations to their daily activities.
