Keeping your Older Cat Healthy
As your cat enters
old age, decreases in organ function are
inevitable as the cumulative effects of everyday
living begin to take their toll. You don't
expect an older cat to run around like a kitten,
nor should you expect its internal organs to
function as efficiently. Older cat health
problems can be mental as well as physical: Cat
behavior often changes with age and, in some
instances, it's quite possible for an old cat to
exhibit signs of senility.
Age and the Older
Cat
With proper health
care, many cats can live into their late teens
or early twenties. Check your cat's age against
the list below to see how old he is in human
terms.
-
A 1-year-old
cat is similar to a 15-year-old human.
-
At age 2, your
cat's age is equivalent to 25 human years.
-
After age 3,
add four human years for every year above
age 2.
Thus, to calculate
the human equivalent for your 12-year-old cat,
add 10 X 4 = 40, plus 25, or 65 years.
Older Cat Health
Issues
Arthritis affects
cats just as it does humans, and can compromise
a cat's quality of life. In addition to the pain
that comes from joint inflammation, the cat's
mobility is affected. Cats with arthritis can't
jump up onto beds and other raised surfaces as
easily as they used to (For one old cat who
loved to snooze on the bed, I moved a low chest
next to the bed so she didn't have to jump as
high).
Covered litter
boxes can also cause trouble for arthritic cats
who have trouble getting through the box
opening. In severe cases, the arthritis can even
affect feeding, leading to cat weight loss. If
your cat has difficulty lowering herself to her
food and water dishes, place the bowls on a
thick phone book to make it easier for her to
feed.
Older cats
sometimes produce excessive thyroid hormones.
Left unchecked, the excess hormones can lead to
cat weight loss and damage to internal organs,
particularly the heart. Symptoms may include
weight loss, but not always. Sudden weight
changes and behavioral changes such as
restlessness or aggression may indicate a cat
with excessive thyroid hormones.
Weight Loss
Sudden fluctuations
in weight (either increases or decreases) may
indicate a variety of health problems in older
cats. Hyperthyroidism, kidney problems or other
internal organ problems may cause sudden weight
loss. On the other side of the coin, obesity can
strain and overwork an older cat's heart, organs
and musculoskeletal system. Monitor your cat's
weight, and report sudden changes to your vet.
Hair Loss
Cat hair loss and
some decline in coat quality occurs with all
older cats to some degree. As the cat ages, the
fur becomes more sparse, and often the cat
requires more help grooming. Check your cat
occasionally: Hair loss that leaves bald patches
may indicate parasites, hormone problems or
infections.
Senile Cat Behavior
Senile cats often
display certain behavior patterns. Meowing for
no reason is quite common, and can be nerve
wracking (It's 3:00 am, and you've got a cat
yowling in the hallway because she thinks she's
lost). Wandering and restlessness are also
common. Cat aggression may increase as your cat
experiences some loss of mental sharpness
associated with aging.
Look for these
behaviors in your elderly cat if you suspect
she's senile:
Many of the
symptoms of feline senility can also indicate
physical problems. Is the cat yowling because
she's senile, or does the meowing indicate that
she's in pain? Wandering and restlessness might
indicate that she can't settle down comfortably
because of physical discomfort. The same can be
said for cat aggression: A sudden change may
indicate a health problem. Have your vet decide
what's causing the behavioral change.
If the cat's
strange behavior doesn't have a physical cause,
you might try some behavior modification. Cats
who forget how to use the litter can be
retrained: Shutting them in a small room with
the litter often reminds them what it's for! Cat
yowling, restlessness and wandering may indicate
nervous problems. Some of these problems can be
alleviated with medication.
In all cases, your
veterinarian has extensive knowledge about aging
cats and can help you decide on the best course
of action
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