For people with reduced mobility, physical disabilities, or chronic illness, everyday tasks present unique challenges. Injuries or health conditions may result in limited accessibility, compromised immunity, or flare-ups of pain and fatigue. Whatever your situation, caring for pets requires special considerations, as does much of daily life.
Whether you are thinking about adopting a cat or looking for ways to ease the burden in your current pet household, we’ve gathered ideas to help.
Why cats make good companions
When it comes to furry companionship, cats offer the best of both worlds: They are adorable and loving yet relatively easy to care for. Give them the basics—food, water, litter box, and toys—and their independent nature will take care of the rest.
Many people find that having a cat comes with profound benefits:
- Emotional support: For many, physical contact with a cat triggers the release of oxytocin, also known as “the love hormone.”
- Routine: Cats rely on routines—eating on time, having a clean litter box, napping with their human, etc. This expectation helps you stick to a routine, as well.
- Motivation: Caring for a cat can provide a sense of wellness and purpose when you might otherwise feel overwhelmed by your situation.
Beyond this, cats are resilient and adaptable, offering unconditional love as a family member who sticks by your side no matter the circumstances. On a day where getting out of bed is difficult or leaving the house feels impossible, your cat isn’t going to judge—in fact, they probably prefer it that way.
Tips on finding the right cat
Thinking of getting a cat? Of course, every feline is different, with some requiring more attention than others. Here are things to consider before adopting a cat.
Note: Be sure to consult with your doctor to understand your limitations before deciding to get a cat.
Adult cats vs. kittens
Kittens are oh-so-adorable, but they’re also rambunctious and demanding. Plus, they typically require more feedings and vet visits than adult cats. If you aren’t sure you’ll have the energy or mobility to keep up with a kitten, then consider adopting an adult cat.
Energy levels
Regardless of age, some cats are very energetic. Consider a cat’s disposition and breed before adopting—you may find that calm cat breeds are easier to care for in terms of their attention requirements.
You can find cats with all types of dispositions at your local shelter, or seek out breeds that are known for their mellow demeanors:
- American Shorthair
- Birman
- British Shorthair
- Exotic Shorthair
- Ragdoll
- Scottish Fold
- Selkirk Rex
Grooming requirements
Some cat breeds, particularly long-haired cats and (ironically) hairless cats, have strenuous grooming requirements. If you’d like to keep grooming your feline as simple as possible, you may want to avoid popular breeds like the Persian, Himalayan, and Sphynx.
How to care for a cat when you have reduced mobility or chronic illness
We’ve established the benefits and considerations of getting a cat when you have reduced mobility. Now let’s discuss the specifics of caring for them.
Wondering if your situation applies? Examples of reduced mobility include, but are not limited to, a person who:
- Is in a wheelchair
- Uses crutches, a walker, or a cane
- Recently had surgery
- Is immunocompromised
- Has arthritis and/or severe pain
- Has asthma and/or respiratory issues
- Has chronic fatigue
Food and water ideas
Use elevated surfaces to your advantage so you don’t have to bend as often.
- Place food and water bowls on a waist-high shelf, table, or bench. If it’s wide enough, you can store other supplies here as well.
- Ensure your cat has access to their elevated bowls. If your cat isn’t comfortable jumping, install a ramp or place a small cat tower next to the shelf to help them come and go.
- Store dry food and a scoop in a sealed container that easily opens and shuts. Store wet food with paper plates and plasticware for easy disposal.
Try a smart automatic cat feeder. Benefits include:
- Automatic feeding so your cat never misses a meal
- Ability to feed a meal or snack from your phone or the control panel
- App alerts when the feeder is low on food or empty
- Customizable, portion-controlled feeding schedules
- Insights into your cat’s feeding habits
Sign up for auto-delivery on cat food.
A subscription service can remove the burden of shopping in-store or forgetting to pick up food before it runs out.
Feed only cooked, commercially processed cat food.
If you are immunocompromised, you’ll want to avoid a raw food diet for cats. This type of diet significantly increases the risk of transmitting food-borne illnesses to both you and your cat. Furthermore, raw food diets are not nutritionally balanced for cats.
Try a cat water fountain. Benefits include:
- Better hydration, as many cats are more inclined to drink from a moving source
- Fresher and better oxygenated water than still water (depending on the type of fountain)
- Filtering out toxins and contaminants in tap water
The downside of a cat water fountain is the need to properly clean it—and often—to minimize the likelihood of grime and bacteria buildup. Some water fountains are more complex to take apart, which can make cleaning difficult.
Litter box ideas
Try a smart self-cleaning litter box. Benefits include:
- Automatic cycling so your cat always has a clean bed of litter
- Saving yourself discomfort by no longer having to scoop, plus reduced exposure to harmful litter dust that sometimes arises while scooping
- App alerts when the waste drawer is full or litter is low
- Insights in your cat’s health, including bathroom usage and weight
- Significantly reduced odors and litter tracking
- Multi-cat friendly—one automatic litter box replaces four traditional litter boxes
- Control panel buttons for manual operation that can be pressed with a crutch or grabber tool
If you are intimidated by the idea of maintaining a self-cleaning litter box like Litter-Robot, don’t be. Instead of bending and scooping daily, you only need to empty the waste drawer once a week or so. Top off cat litter as needed or try a LitterHopper accessory, which automatically adds litter to the globe.
In terms of cleaning the unit, a quick wipedown is sufficient most of the time. Once or twice a year, you’ll want to deep-clean the unit, which you can do by clipping a cleaning rag or paper towel to a grabber tool and reaching into the globe; this way you don’t have to crouch over and lean into it. It may help to have a lightweight stool or chair to sit on, such as a collapsible shower chair.
Place traditional litter boxes on an elevated surface.
- As with food and water bowls, you can use a low, wide bench to place an uncovered traditional litter box for easier scooping access. Again, be sure your cat can easily reach the litter box.
- It may be easier to scoop from a seated position, so keep a sturdy chair handy.
- Use a long-handled litter box scoop, which is helpful from a standing or seated position.
- If you are immunocompromised, wear an N95 mask and rubber gloves while scooping. Wash your hands thoroughly afterward (that goes for everyone).
- Keep a Litter Genie or other cat litter disposal system near the litter boxes.
Sign up for auto-delivery on cat litter.
Instead of lugging a heavy box of litter home, subscribe to have cat litter delivered to your door. It’s less work for you, and you won’t run out when you need it most.
Grooming and cleaning tips
Break up grooming tasks into smaller, more manageable chunks.
- Instead of a 15-minute grooming session once a week, brush your cat for 1-2 minutes every day.
- If trimming your cat’s nails is difficult, aim to trim one paw per week instead of all four paws once a month.
- If you can’t brush your cat’s teeth, give them a few dental chews per week and let your vet take care of the dental cleaning.
Do a little bit of cleaning often instead of a lot of cleaning at once.
- Try to stick to a cleaning schedule to avoid build-up of clutter and mess such as cat fur, cat litter, etc.
- Clean for 10-15 minutes a day instead of several hours once a week.
- Keep your supplies organized in a caddy or lightweight cart.
- Use the right cleaning tools to your advantage, including long-handled dusters, lightweight vacuums, and power scrubbers.
- If your budget allows, try a robotic vacuum cleaner.
- Use pet-safe cleaners (which are also human-safe!). Note: Consult with your doctor about cleaning products safe for your circumstances.
Playtime ideas
Cats vary in how much physical stimulation they need. Ideally, you’ll devote 10-15 minutes per day to playing with your feline. Exercise and mental stimulation are not only major benefits for your feline, they can also be a boost for you.
That said, you probably have days where one-on-one playtime isn’t feasible. Here are some ways to entertain your cat that don’t require much physical or mental effort:
- Long-handled cat wand toys
- Laser pointers
- Food puzzle feeders
- Catnip
- Cat furniture (trees, shelves, etc.) next to or in front of a window
- Bird videos on YouTube
- DIY “toys” to bat around, like paper towel rolls, ice cubes, etc.
Home setup ideas
Designate a cat safe room.
Some kitties like to try to bolt out an open door. This is especially problematic if you’re in a wheelchair and have an automatic door delay. In this case, you may want to create a cat “safe room,” a closed room where you can put your cat before you leave the house. This room should have food, water, a litter box, toys, and a cozy spot to sleep.
Have an evacuation plan.
In the event of an emergency that requires evacuation, you’ll want to be able to grab your cat as quickly as possible. Here are tips to keep in mind:
- Block off hard-to-reach access points, such as under the bed, behind furniture, and other nooks and crannies.
- Keep a cat carrier where you can easily access it. (More on cat carriers below.)
Veterinary services
Determine how you’re going to access veterinary care.
- If you drive, make sure the vet clinic you choose is accessible to you.
- If you don’t drive, designate a reliable friend or family member as your driver to vet appointments.
- Check to see if your area is serviced by a mobile veterinarian who will come to your home.
Choose the right cat carrier.
- Soft carriers are generally lighter and easier to handle than hard carriers.
- Try a cat stroller if you don’t want to have to carry your cat around.
- If you’re in a wheelchair, choose a cat carrier with straps, such as a backpack cat carrier. Wear the backpack on your chest so your cat can stay securely in your lap while your hands are free for wheeling or using the joystick.
- For a more traditional option, choose a 2-door carrier or top-load cat carrier. These require less manhandling of a cat as opposed to a carrier that only has a front entry.
Enlisting help
People with disabilities often struggle with the desire to accomplish tasks independently. But it is okay to ask for help, especially when it comes to caring for yourself and your pets.
Ask a trusted friend or family member.
If you have a friend or family member who is willing to help, then designate certain cat-care tasks to that person. Whether it’s stopping by once daily to scoop the litter box, once a week to give your cat a good brushing, or as needed for vet appointments, having someone to rely on makes a world of difference—and costs you nothing.
If your budget allows, pay for pet care.
Depending on where you live, there are paid services for just about anything: grooming, pet sitting, cleaning (and scooping), you name it. Check out local businesses and search apps like:
- Taskrabbit
- Petco
- Meowtel
- TrustedHousesitters
- Rover
- Care
Rehoming a pet
Although heartbreaking to contemplate, there may come a time when the burden of caring for a cat outweighs the benefits. In this case, you may need to find your cat a new home, also known as rehoming a pet.
Before deciding to rehome, consider these options:
- If the reason you’re considering rehoming is a serious health concern, talk to your healthcare provider about potential treatments and lifestyle modifications. (For example, wearing an N95 mask while cleaning the litter box.)
- If finances are a problem, look into local organizations that can supply free food to low-income pet parents. There may be places to seek out low-cost veterinary services or you may be able to arrange a payment plan with your veterinarian.
- If your situation of reduced mobility is temporary (for example, recovering from surgery), ask a friend or family member to take care of your cat until you’ve recovered.
If there’s no alternative but to rehome, make sure to rehome your cat responsibly:
- Never abandon or release your cat outside
- Work with a no-kill rescue or shelter
- Thoroughly screen any prospective adopters (consider asking for a rehoming fee)
Final thoughts
Living with reduced mobility and chronic illness is challenging, but it doesn’t preclude you from being a pet parent. Cats provide many emotional and physical benefits, and caring for one can be a motivating force for better health.
We hope that the tips provided above will help you care for your cat more easily. After all, the love of a pet is healing, unconditional, and something everyone deserves to experience.
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