Older animals slow down just as people do

So be aware that your cats may not be able to jump as high as they used to, and the dog might run out of steam a little more quickly. Make sure that favorite perches are still accessible and that food and water are still reachable (I have a carpeted, multi-level cat tree next to the cat feeding station to accommodate my own older cats while still keeping the dog out of their food). Many people provide a stepstool or other assistance for pets that are having trouble climbing onto their favorite sofa.