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| Home > Cat Chat > Loving Care for Your Senior Cat |
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This article is Part One in a two part series exploring Senior Cat Care. Part Two, appearing as our May Cat Chat article, will give you tips on optimizing your senior cat's environment, and also important information about senior illnesses and palliative care. |
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| Loving Care for Your Senior Cat |
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Bogey dares you to guess how old he is. He knows you'll be
wrong, because he knows that cats have a unique way of hiding
aging from even the most attentive owners. Once cats reach three
to four years of age they can go well into their teens before
they show signs of physical weakness, arthritis, failing eyesight
and hearing and other common ailments of an aging body of any species.
And even then they can often get along just fine with a good
diet, lots of love, and a little something extra from their people.
Just like senior humans have special needs befitting the physical
age of their bodies, our cats will benefit from an appropriate
diet and exercise, regular health checks and even some palliative
care you may not give to a younger cat.
DEFINITION
"Senior" is as loose a term with cats as it is with humans, and feline aging is not
the equivalent of canine aging.
We used to assume that dogs and cats both age, over the course
of a lifetime, an average of seven "human" years for
every year the animal is alive. Cats, however, tend to live a
little longer than dogs, so while dogs are still averaged at seven
"human years" for each "dog year", cats average
only five "human years" for every "cat year".
In addition, the age considered "senior" for an animal
was, and still is in some cases, only seven years old. More recently,
though, other authorities and perhaps even your own veterinarian,
differ in opinion, especially for cats, varying from eight to twelve years of age.
EXAM
From kittenhood, Tabby should see the veterinarian yearly as part of her regular care even if there's
no apparent health issue, as a benchmark from one year to the next. If a health problem arises, our
cats can't say to us, "Hmm ... I think it was in January that I first noticed that ...,"
but an observant veterinarian will know if a lump, bump or symptom
was present at the previous yearly examination. If you've been
lax when Tabby was young, and unless your veterinarian indicates
any chronic conditions developing, tighten up your schedule when
she reaches about ten years of age.
In addition to this yearly checkup, and because health symptoms
are that much more likely to arise in an older cat, consider a
"senior exam" for your cat between ten and twelve years
as well. Many veterinarians and clinics offer these as a matter
of course, but be cautious what they include, which is sometimes
no more than a regular yearly exam with a basic blood test, but
the cost is triple the charge for a regular annual exam.
The purpose of the senior exam is to determine baseline data
on the cat's major health indicators at an age when everything
appears normal. Find an exam that lists not only the procedures
but also the conditions or symptoms for which tests are performed:
a CBC, or complete blood count, does not include the T-4 or thyroid
test, and in some cases does not include measures for BUN and
creatinine, the indicators for renal failure, two very common
chronic illnesses in older cats. So in addition to the usual exam
of eyes, mouth, ears, weight, heartbeat and temperature, a geriatric
exam should also check your pet's blood, urine, blood pressure
and/or radiographs for problems such as kidney disease, hyperthyroidism
or arthritis. None of these conditions may be present, or only
the earliest symptoms, but later if you do begin to see changes
in Tabby's lifestyle you have a record of her body when she was
healthy and your veterinarian has a much more clear starting point for diagnosis.
FOOD
If you haven't already, start reading labels. Tabby may tend to fill out around the middle as
she gets older, or she may be a little chubby to begin with. Also, while maintaining the proper
weight balance is critical as cats age, be careful with weight loss and management.
Cats are "obligate carnivores", meaning that they
must eat protein to maintain their body tissue. While many senior
foods may advertise reduced protein content because it's assumed
to be better for an older cat, the only content that should be
reduced is calories, just like a human diet or senior program.
If protein is changed at all it should only be made more easily
digestible, but should still be animal protein, not vegetable protein.
One other change in the food content should be an increase
in fiber, obviously necessary as the cats' digestion changes,
also aiding in hairball prevention.
If you currently feed only dry food or leave dry food available
all the time, you may also consider feeding an increased amount
of wet food. It has a stronger smell to attract her, is easier
to chew and swallow, and the increased moisture content is always
a benefit. If you feed at specified times, consider feeding an
extra meal in between; just like senior people, Tabby will eat
less at each meal and her digestion can only handle a certain
amount, but she needs just as much food through the course of a day.
Feeding at specified times instead of leaving food available
all the time is a good idea all through Tabby's life. For one
reason, the food is always fresh, and sense of smell is what prompts
a cat to eat; with aging this becomes critical. More importantly,
monitoring Tabby's dining habits is important as she ages, and
a change in her consumption or even her attitude toward mealtime
and her food can often be the first early indicators of a health problem.
Quality treats with high nutritional content can be given to your senior cat occasionally, and is a way of
nurturing the bond between you. Treats generally come in crunchy, soft or liquid form.
Kitty Kissers and
Kitty Kaviar are all natural treats.
For additional healthful treats and supplements for your senior cat, look at
CatSure,
a nutritional supplement formulated to meet the needs of aging cats,
Joint Health,
an oral supplement for joint relief and cartilage maintenance, and
Lap Happy Milk, a nutritious treat.
EXERCISE
Tabby may still be racing to the top of the cat tree and running laps in the middle of the night
at age 15, but at some point she'll slow down in either speed or frequency. While it has
always seemed that she could sleep 18 hours a day and eat whatever she wanted and still
stay in prime physical shape, she may need a little encouragement as she grows older.
Physical activity not only helps to keep her muscles toned,
but it also keeps her heart and lungs and circulatory system in
good condition, helps with digestion and elimination and even
appetite if that starts to wane. If you don't already play with
her on a regular basis, find some toys that get her excited to
leave around, and some interactive toys so that you can see she gets her exercise.
Da Bird is an intriguing wand toy that
will keep your senior cat amused. Another great idea for her is the
Cat Sitter Video or DVD,
especially designed to entertain cats. Another way cats can exercise on their own, is to provide a sturdy
cat tree with several perches or landing spots. Visit our
Furniture
page for a look at some great alternatives for your well deserving cat.
References
Online sources:
Cat Fancy: http://www.catchannel.com/cat/care/elderly/default.aspx
ASPCA http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pets_petnutritionolder
Other sources include "CatWatch," the newsletter from the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine and
"Catnip", the newsletter from the Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine.
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