There are now more pet cats than dogs in the North America. Improvements in nutrition, prevention of infectious disease and advances in veterinary medical care have resulted in pets living longer and healthier lives. In North America, over the last ten years there has been a 15% increase in cats over 10 years of age and the feline population aged 15 years or older has increased from 5% to 14%. It's a great time to be a cat!
Why should we treat old cats differently to young cats?
1. With advancing age body functions change. As your cat ages, all of its body systems are affected:
Reduction in exercise may result in reduced muscle tone, which may further reduce the cat's ability to jump, climb or exercise. This may also lead to a stiffening of the joints and arthritis.
When coupled with a reduced metabolic rate (common in older individuals), lack of exercise can result in a fall in energy requirements of up to 40%. If a cat maintains a good appetite, its daily food intake must be reduced to prevent obesity.
Inappetance (lack of desire to eat) may develop in some senior cats since the senses of smell and taste become dull with age and periodontal (dental) disease is common. Loss of appetite may also be a sign of underlying disease, and should not be ignored as a normal part of the aging process.
Gut function and the ability of the intestines to absorb nutrients are reduced in older animals.
Thirst is also decreased, causing an increased risk of dehydration, especially when combined with concurrent renal insufficiency (kidney disease which is common in older cats).
It is often assumed that older cats have some degree of subclinical (underlying) disease, particularly of the kidneys and liver, hence a diet with moderate protein restriction is usually recommended. Senior formula diets are recommended for cats over 7 years of age, to prevent and slow these changes.
2. Older cats require careful consideration when it comes to health care
Changes in organ function not only affect food absorption, they also affect the way many drugs are metabolized. Liver and kidney disease occur commonly in older cats. When coupled with mild dehydration, these can result in reduced metabolism of medication and elevations in drug concentrations circulating within the blood. When treating geriatric patients, the dose and dosing intervals of some drugs may need to be altered.
Does my senior cat still need to have regular booster vaccinations?
Although little is known about the feline immune system, it is generally assumed that immune function may deteriorate with age. This may result in a reduced ability to fight infection or screen for cancer cells. Regular booster vaccinations are generally recommended and prompt treatment of disease is essential. Your veterinarian will determine the appropriate vaccination program for your cat based on its physical condition and lifestyle.
My senior cat becomes very distressed when we try to medicate her. Should we keep trying when it upsets her so much?
This is something you should discuss with your veterinarian. There is no simple answer to this question; it depends on whether the treatment may lead to a cure, or whether it is aimed at controlling clinical signs. It also depends on how ill the cat is, how serious the disease is, and what the consequences of not medicating might be. Older cats are often easily stressed, so while veterinary medicine may be able to offer complex therapeutic options, it is important that each case be assessed individually. Treatment should not be attempted where it will be poorly tolerated for medical or temperamental reasons. Once the patient's quality of life can no longer be maintained it is important that euthanasia is performed as compassionately as possible, in order to prevent the cat from suffering.
What diseases do senior cats commonly get?
The major diseases seen in older cats are hyperthyroidism; diabetes; dental disease, which often leads to kidney disease; infections such as FIV and feline leukemia virus; cancer, which is often related to these infectious viral diseases; and arthritis.
It is important to remember that while young cats usually have only one disorder at a time, this is often not so in older patients. Diagnosis and treatment may be complicated by the presence of multiple interacting disease processes.
What can I do to make my senior cat as happy as possible?
Most cats age gracefully and require few changes to their general regimen. Since older cats do not generally respond well to change, it is important that any changes are introduced slowly.
Elderly cats should have easy access to a warm bed, situated where the cat can sleep safely without fear of disturbance.
It is strongly recommended that you feed your older cat a senior diet. They should always have easy access to fresh drinking water.
As cats' age, some will experience a reduced ability to control urination and defecation. To reduce the risk of 'accidents', it may be necessary to allow access to multiple litter boxes in convenient locations.
Senior cats should have regular health checks with their veterinarian every six months rather than once a year. Your senior cat's body is aging more rapidly than a human body, so regular checkups should be performed more often.
My veterinarian mentioned a Senior Care Program; what does this entail?
The aim of any senior care program is to maintain the quality of the patient's life and to slow the progression of age-related disease. Programs usually include a thorough physical examination, blood screening to check kidney, liver and thyroid function. If your cat goes outdoors, screening for viral diseases should also be performed. Body weight should be recorded regularly and booster vaccinations should be given annually. Your veterinarian can provide you with additional details about a senior care program upon request.