Senior Cat Care

Over the Age of Nine

We love our older patients. The relationships they have with you, their human companions are deep and precious. But our older cats are more susceptible to many different diseases and conditions. We follow the recommendations of the American Association of Feline Practitioners for Feline Senior Care. This includes twice yearly examinations, blood work to check for many of their more common conditions, urinalysis and blood pressure measurement.

Geriatric Wellness Program

Cats today are living longer, healthier lives than ever before. With improved healthcare and preventive medicine programs, we are seeing more and more cats live to their upper teens and early twenties. Because changes in body condition and daily behaviors can be subtle, we rely on careful observations by you, their caretakers.

The Cat Care Clinic recommends a geriatric wellness program for all cats nine years and older to help recognize and treat diseases as early as possible. These diseases can be treated most effectively when detected in their early stages. Common signs of geriatric diseases include vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, change in appetite, increased thirst, lethargy, change in elimination behavior, and failure to use the litter box. We encourage you to bring any other observations about your cat to our attention. Our goal is to work with you and use the tools available in modern veterinary medicine to maintain the highest quality of life for your cat.

We offer the following recommendations:

9 to 10 Years Old

  • Annual Complete Physical examination
  • Annual geriatric blood panel & urine sample

This examination and testing begins our screening process for common geriatric diseases and allows us to evaluate your cat’s blood cell count, blood chemistries, and major organ systems. We are able to establish baseline values that we can monitor as your cat grows older.

11 Years Old & Beyond

  • Physical examination every 6 months – We hope to detect changes on physical examination and body weight measurement by monitoring our oldest patients very closely.
  • Annual geriatric blood panel & urine sample – We continue the monitoring process for common geriatric diseases detectable through these tests.
  • Blood Pressure assessment – Like their human counterparts, cats can suffer from high blood pressure (hypertension). Some causes are hyperthyroidism, heart disease and chronic renal failure. All cats over the age of eleven should have their blood pressure checked during their yearly visit. It is a simple non-invasive and non-painful procedure.

Older Cats With Diagnosed Health Problems

  • Physical examination every 6 months – and possibly quarterly if closer disease monitoring is needed.
  • Semi-annual geriatric blood panel & urine sample – These tests help us maintain or adjust your cat’s treatment plan.
  • Semi-annual blood pressure assessment – Cats with certain diseases are at a higher risk of developing hypertension.

This comprehensive plan for our geriatric population helps ensure high quality medical care for this special group of cats. We encourage you to bring any concerns regarding your geriatric cat’s health and lifestyle to our attention. We look forward to working with you and your older cat.

Common Diseases of Older Cats

Arthritis

Arthritis occurs commonly in older cats. Unfortunately, the symptoms of arthritis are often mistaken as “normal” aging changes. Arthritic cats often become less active, sleep more, and may not be able to access perches and beds. The pain associated with arthritis can significantly alter your cat’s quality of life, but there are many options for treatment.

Cancer

Many types of cancer occur in cats, and cancer can be found anywhere in the body. External tumors may be readily seen, but internal tumors can be hard to find. Cancer is always a concern in senior cats that are slowly losing weight but seem normal in other ways. Blood tests, x-rays, ultrasound, endoscopy, or exploratory surgery may be needed to diagnose cancer. Each type of cancer responds in different ways to treatment, so a biopsy is needed to determine the exact cell type. Cancer treatments range from surgery to chemotherapy to radiation.

Dental Disease

Older cats can have significant dental disease and infected gums. Bacteria can spread from their mouths internally and affect other organ function.

Diabetes Mellitus

When a cat eats, food is metabolized into glucose which enters the blood. Glucose in turn triggers the pancreas to release insulin into the blood stream. This allows the transport of the glucose into cells, thereby nourishing the body. If an animal cannot get glucose into his cells, the body begins to “starve”. This is why diabetic cats typically have ravenous appetites. They tend to drink more water, urinate frequently, and show signs of weight loss. Diabetes is more prevalent in male cats, but is seen in females as well. Treatment of diabetes usually involves feeding a special diet and giving insulin injections.

Hypertension

High blood pressure occurs in cats. It can result from hyperthyroidism or kidney failure, or be a primary disease. If untreated, hypertension can lead to impaired vision, seizures, and disorientation. Treatment of the primary cause and use of oral medication can control hypertension.

Hyperthyroidism

This is very common in older cats. It is usually the result of benign growth(s) on a cat’s thyroid gland(s). The thyroid glands produce hormones that affect general metabolism and organ function throughout the body. Thyroid growths cause an overproduction of these hormones. Excessive hormone levels can cause your cat to lose weight even though he/she has a voracious appetite. Rapid heart rates, arrhythmia, vomiting, and diarrhea are some of the other signs a hyperthyroid cat may exhibit. Diagnosing this disorder can be done with a simple blood test. Treatment options range from suppressing the thyroid with medication to surgical removal of the overactive tissue, to radiation therapy.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

IBD is a problem that affects the lining of the stomach and/or the intestines. Cats with IBD typically have vomiting and/or diarrhea that do not respond to conventional remedies. To definitively diagnose IBD, biopsies of the stomach and intestine are needed. Biopsies can be obtained through the use of an endoscope or through exploratory surgery. Treatment for IBD involves reducing inflammation and controlling infection, usually with long-term medication. The prognosis for cats with IBD is good, but in some cats, IBD progresses in some cats to a type of cancer called intestinal lymphosarcoma.

Kidney Failure

The kidneys are responsible for filtering the blood, producing urine, and maintaining water and electrolyte balance in the body. When kidneys begin to fail, a cat’s body is not able to maintain hydration and electrolyte balance. Cats with renal (kidney) failure tend to drink more water than usual, urinate more frequently, and lose weight. Since the kidneys cannot repair themselves, treatment is aimed at slowing down the degenerative process and controlling some secondary problems such as anemia, constipation, and dental disease.