Cats Playing Patty-cake, what they were saying...

The scratching that they do is a way of trimming their nails and it removes the old outer part of the claws. Another reason they are ruining your home is because they know it to be their territory. They release a scent from special glands in their paws which helps them mark the area as theirs. They also do it because they are working the kinks out of their body as well as burning some energy. 

Purina Pro Plan, for instance, has reformulated its entire line of senior cat foods to address the changing nutritional needs of aging cats in two different phases of the senior lifestage: ages 7 to 11 (mature) and 11 and up (senior). As cats age, there's a gradual decline in the body's ability to repair itself, maintain normal body functions and adapt to stresses in the environment. 

This is an important sign that he s not feeling well and it can be a serious problem then. Cats that are finicky may waste a lot of food by refusing to eat it if it has been sitting in the feeder for too long. Another type to consider is the automatic cat feeder. These have several compartments. The feeder s lid has an opening that will allow the cat to eat out of one compartment at a time. 

If you decide to have a cat-flap fitted to your door in order that the cat can come and go as it pleases, you will have to train it to use the flap. You can use tit-bits to entice the cat to go through the flap, when it is fully open. Start by opening the flap fully, just showing the tit-bit, then next time close the flap a little bit and keep on doing so until the cat realises that the flap will open with a small push of the head. 

Consider adopting a cat of the opposite sex to your existing cat, this will avoid same sex rivalry and associated problems. For a number of reasons all your cats must be spayed/neutered. If possible arrange to bath your new kitten at a friends house before you take it home, this will neutralize kitty's odor, and go some way to prevent unsettling your cat. 

To make your cat feel comfortable and safe in its carrier it's a good idea to put a blanket in side of it, if your cat has its own blanket on its bedding then that is ideal as the cat will be able to recognize the smell, this should help your cat to feel a little bit safer. The first time you use your cat carrier it is also a good idea to put down some newspaper in side just incase your cat has any "accidents".