Senior Feline Citizens

Cats are amazing and wonderful creatures - full of life and zip and able to snooze anywhere, anytime - a bit of a paradox really. But like all things living, they grow old and sadly, die. Some cats seem to just go on and on - not much can slow them down. In fact, house cats (indoors only usually) tend to live exponentially longer than outdoor cats - and they live a good life! We all know that someday our little kitten will one day be elderly cat. How can we make the transition easier for our older cats? What should we expect?

Many people assume that cats have a similar experience to humans - a gradual slowing and growing old. This is one area where that seems to be different. Indoor cats live a very long time under good conditions - there are reports of cats living well into their twenties. Conversely, outdoor cats live an average of 1-3 years. These indoor cats usually stay nearly as active (if their health is good to begin with) as they were when they were just out of kittenhood. Of course, they may be a bit more set in their ways!

First and probably most important, regular check-ups are necessary. Going to the vet for an annual exam (at a minimum) will pin-point hard to detect conditions or diseases. We can also be more observant of our feline friends - a change in behavior, eating habits, routine can be one of the only signs you'll get of an illness or injury. Watch for those "senior moments". Your vet should check for risk factors of thyroid levels, blood chemistry, fecal exam, weight, and eye check once your kitty reaches near the double digits in age.

It's not necessary to shift to a special cat food for seniors if your cat is not overweight or has no health problems. Older cats do tend to have gum/dental problems though. Changing foods may address those issues, but good dental care is important on a regular basis as well. Older cats are also more prone to digestive diseases like inflammatory bowel disease or urinary tract problems, diabetes, hyperthyroidism, etc. Signs of hyperthyroidism: loss of weight or eating voraciously, nervous behavior/hyperactivity (not normally there, different personality), rapid heartbeat, increased thirst & urination, poor coat/lack of self-grooming. (source: http://www.peteducation.com)

Do cats need vitamin supplements, especially as they age? No, as before, unless there is a specific medical reason and if a cat is generally healthy, supplements aren't necessary. One exception may be those cats that are not on a commercially available quality prepared cat food. If your cat has a home-made diet or uses a lot of hairball remedies, Vitamin D decifiency can occur. So are supplements the answer? Maybe - only a very small dose is needed, and overdoing it is easy and dangerous. (Source: Cornell University - Veterinary Medicine).

Go To Page: 1 2

Articles in this Topic    Discussions in this Topic