Elderly Cat Health Problems
As cats grow older, they begin to experience changes in their bodies just as humans do. It is important for cat owners to remember that just because the cat is getting older, that does not necessarily mean that odd behavior is merely a by-product of age. Older cats become more susceptible to illness and diseases. Many of these illnesses and health problems are treatable or can be made better with proper veterinary attention.
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Aging
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Cats mature at a more rapid rate than humans. A cat is fully developed by two years old, at which point they are at the age equivalent of a 21 year old person. At this point, a cat will age roughly four years for every calendar year, rather than the generic seven cat years to one human year rule of thumb. A cat reaches his or her elderly stage of life around 8 to 10 years old, but this varies. Depending on the quality of care and nutrition a cat has received over his or her life time, a cat can live 8 to 12 years before showing signs of aging.
Changes in Behavior
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Cats are likely to adopt different behaviors as they get older and their bodies need different requirements. However, certain behaviors can be an indication that an elderly cat is experiencing a health problem or disease. A common sign that your cat is not feeling his best is when he goes to use the litter box. If he misses the box, eliminates in inappropriate places around the house or noticeably goes more or less frequently than usual, this can be a sign of a medical problem and the cat should be taken to the vet immediately. Other behavioral changes like aggression, excessive fear and anxiety can all be signs that a cat is under stress from medical problems or environmental issues.
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Common Age-Related Problems
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Elderly cats face a lot of the same health problems and diseases that elderly humans face. Aging organs can cause heart and kidney disease, which could lead to increased problems with urination, fatigue and pain. Arthritis of the joints can lead to difficulty in getting around or climbing stairs and can make the cat irritable around people. Dental disease can cause a cat to stop eating hard food and lose out on needed nutrition. Over-eating can lead to obesity or be a sign of feline diabetes, which has been a growing diagnosis with improvements in veterinary medicine. Hyperthyroidism can cause an aging cat to lose a significant amount of weight in a short amount of time, despite an increase in appetite. Inflammatory bowel disease will lead to poor absorption of nutrients due to the swelling of the intestinal lining and can cause diarrhea and vomiting.
Preventative Measures
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Proper care and nutrition throughout the cat's life time is the best prevention. An annual veterinary exam is an important step in catching the onset of a health problem. With the cat's medical history, the vet will be able to track sudden changes and highlight areas of concern. Older cats should have checkups twice a year to better detect and treat problems before they become serious. Blood work and urine analysis should be included in these exams to check for problems in kidney function and other major organs. The kidneys can continue functioning until at least 70% of their function has been lost and, when symptoms of the disease start showing, the kidneys could well be into a state of failure.
Care
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Cats tend to lose their ability to properly digest and absorb fats when they are older, so switching to a cat food that contains fats that are more digestible can give a cat the nutrition he needs without overeating. Frequent grooming of fur and nails can help cat owners detect any strange lumps or swellings that could be an indication of cancer or tumors. Regular grooming can help reduce hairballs, which become more problematic in older cats. Dental care, including tooth brushing, can help keep older cats' teeth and gums from being susceptible to tooth and other dental diseases.
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References
- Photo Credit cat image by Galyna Andrushko from Fotolia.com
