|  Your Senior Cat
Just as people are living longer than they did in the past, cats
are living longer, too. In fact, the percentage of cats over six
years of age has nearly doubled in just over a decade, and there
is every reason to expect that the "graying" cat population
will continue to grow.
So how old is my cat, really?
Cats are individuals and, like people, they experience advancing
years in their own unique ways. Many cats begin to encounter age-related
physical changes between seven and ten years of age, and most do
so by the time they are 12. As a general
rule, a senior cat is one over six years of age.
The commonly held belief that every "cat year" is worth
seven "human years" is not entirely accurate. In reality,
a one-year-old cat is physiologically similar to a 16-year-old human,
and a two-year-old cat is like a person of 21. For every year thereafter,
each cat year is worth about four human years. Using this formula,
a 10-year-old cat is similar in age to a 53-year-old person,
a 12-year-old cat to a 61-year-old, and a 15-year-old cat
to a 73-year-old.
Although many complex physical changes accompany advancing years,
age itself is not a disease. Even though many conditions that affect
older cats are not correctable, they can often be controlled. The
key to making sure your senior cat has the healthiest and highest
quality of life possible is to recognize and reduce factors that
may be health risks, detect disease as early as possible, correct
or delay the progression of disease, and improve or maintain the
health of the body's systems.
The aging process is accompanied by many physical and behavioral
changes:
- Compared to younger cats, the immune system of older cats is
less able to fend off foreign invaders. Chronic diseases often
associated with aging can impair immune function even further.
- Dehydration, a consequence of many diseases common to older
cats, further diminishes blood circulation and immunity.
- The skin of an older cat is thinner and less elastic, has reduced
blood circulation, and is more prone to infection.
- Older cats groom themselves less effectively than do younger
cats, sometimes resulting in hair matting, skin odor, and inflammation.
- The claws of aging felines are often overgrown, thick, and
brittle.
- In humans, aging changes in the brain contribute to a loss
of memory and alterations in personality commonly referred to
as senility. Similar symptoms are seen in elderly cats: wandering,
excessive meowing, apparent disorientation, and avoidance of social
interaction.
- For various reasons, hearing loss is common in cats of advanced
age.
- Aging is also accompanied by many changes in the eyes. A slight
haziness of the lens and a lacy appearance to the iris (the colored
part of the eye) are both common age-related changes, but neither
seems to decrease a cat's vision to any appreciable extent. However,
several diseases—especially those associated with high blood
pressure—can seriously impair a cat's ability to see.
- Dental disease is extremely common in older cats and can hinder
eating and cause significant pain.
- In healthy senior cats, a decreased sense of smell may be partially
responsible for a loss of interest in eating. However, the discomfort
associated with dental disease is a more likely cause of reluctance
to eat.
- Feline kidneys undergo a number of age-related changes that
may ultimately lead to impaired function; kidney failure is a
common disease in older cats, and its symptoms are extremely varied.
- Degenerative joint disease, or arthritis, is common in older
cats. Although most arthritic cats don't become overtly lame,
they may have difficulty gaining access to litter boxes and food
and water dishes, particularly if they have to jump or climb stairs
to get to them.
- Hyperthyroidism (often resulting in overactivity); hypertension
(high blood pressure, usually a result of either kidney failure
or hyperthyroidism), diabetes mellitus; inflammatory bowel disease;
and cancer are all examples of conditions that, though sometimes
seen in younger cats, become more prevalent in cats as they age.
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Owners of older cats often notice changes in their cat's behavior,
but consider these changes an inevitable and untreatable result
of aging, and fail to report them to their veterinarian. Failure
to use the litter box, changes in activity levels, and alterations
in eating, drinking, or sleeping habits are examples.
While veterinarians believe that some behavior problems are due
to the diminishing mental abilities of aging cats, it is a mistake
to automatically attribute all such changes to old age. In fact,
the possibility of some underlying medical condition should always
be the first consideration. Disease of virtually any organ system,
or any condition that causes pain or impairs mobility can contribute
to changes in behavior. For example:
- A fearful cat may not become aggressive until it is in pain
(e.g., from dental disease) or less mobile (e.g., from arthritis).
- The increased urine production that often results from diseases
common to aging cats (e.g., kidney failure, diabetes mellitus,
or hyperthyroidism) may cause the litter box to become soiled
more quickly than expected. The increased soil and odor may cause
cats to find a bathroom more to their liking.
- Many cats that do not mark their territory with urine, even
if exposed to intruding cats, may begin to do so if a condition
like hyperthyroidism develops.
- Cats with painful arthritis may have difficulty gaining access
to a litter box, especially if climbing stairs is required. Even
climbing into the box may be painful for such cats; urinating
or defecating in an inappropriate location is the natural result.
- Older cats may be more sensitive to changes in the household
since their ability to adapt to unfamiliar situations diminishes
with age.
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Close observation is one of the most important tools you have to
help keep your senior cat healthy.
You may wish to perform a mini-physical examination
on a weekly basis. Ask your veterinarian to show you how to do it
and what to look for. You will find it easier if you just make the
examination an extension of the way you normally interact with your
cat. For example, while you are rubbing your cat's head or scratching
its chin, gently raise the upper lips with your thumb or forefinger
so you can examine the teeth and gums. In the same way, you can
lift the ear flaps and examine the ear canals. While you are stroking
your cat's fur, you can check for abnormal lumps or bumps, and evaluate
the health of the skin and coat.
Daily brushing or combing removes loose hairs,
preventing them from being swallowed and forming hair balls. Brushing
also stimulates blood circulation and sebaceous gland secretions,
resulting in a healthier skin and coat. Older cats may not use scratching
posts as frequently as they did when they were younger; therefore,
nails should be checked weekly and trimmed if necessary.
Many cats tend towards obesity as they age. If your cat is overweight,
City Cats can help you modify your cat's diet so
that a normal body weight can be restored. Other cats actually become
too thin as they get older, apparently as part of the normal aging
process. But progressive weight loss can also be caused by serious
medical problems such as kidney failure, cancer, diabetes mellitus,
inflammatory bowel disease, liver disease, hyperthyroidism, or some
other condition.
Subtle changes in weight are often the first sign of disease; ideally
you should weigh your cat every month on a scale sensitive enough
to detect such small changes. Keep a record and notify us of any
significant changes in weight. Specific dietary changes may be necessary
for senior cats and cats with certain medical conditions. The staff
at City Cats can help you select the most appropriate diet for your
senior cat.
Exercise is important, not only for weight control but overall
health. Older cats frequently become less agile as arthritis
develops and muscles begin to atrophy. Regularly engaging your cat
in moderate play can promote muscle tone and suppleness, increase
blood circulation, and help reduce weight in cats that are too heavy.
During times of exercise, be alert to labored breathing or rapid
tiring that may suggest the cat has a disease. It may also be necessary
to relocate litter boxes to more accessible locations to prevent
elderly cats from eliminating in inappropriate locations. Purchasing
a litter box with low sides, cutting down high sides, or constructing
a ramp around the box may help older cats gain entry more easily.
Reducing environmental stress whenever possible
is very important since older cats are usually less adaptable to
change. Special provisions should be made for older cats that must
be boarded for a period of time. Having a familiar object, such
as a blanket or toy, may prevent the cat from becoming too distraught
in a strange environment. A better alternative is to have the older
cat cared for at home by a neighbor, friend, or relative.
Introducing a new pet may be a traumatic experience for older cats,
and should be avoided whenever possible. Moving to a new home can
be equally stressful. However, some stress can be alleviated by
giving the older cat more affection and attention during times of
emotional upheaval.
Cats are experts at hiding illness, and elderly cats are no exception.
It is common for a cat to have a serious medical problem, yet not
show any sign of it until the condition is quite advanced. Since
most diseases can be managed more successfully when detected and
treated early in their course, it is important for owners of senior
cats to carefully monitor their behavior and health.
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Just as your observations can help detect disease in the early
stages, so too can regular veterinary examinations. City Cats suggests
evaluating your healthy senior cat more frequently than a younger
cat—for example, every six months instead of once a year.
If your cat has a medical condition, more frequent evaluations may
be necessary.
During your cat's initial examination, we will gather a complete
medical and behavioral history, perform a thorough physical examination
in order to evaluate every organ system, check your cat's weight
and body condition, and compare them to previous evaluations. At
least once a year, certain tests—including blood tests, fecal
examination, and urine analysis—will be suggested. In this
way, disorders can be found and treated early, and ongoing medical
conditions can be appraised. Both are necessary to keep your senior
cat in the best possible health for the longest possible time.
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