The Importance of Proper Senior Cat Care
What are common health issues for senior cats?
We typically consider an animal senior at age at around 7 years old. Common health issues can be weight gain, weight loss, vomiting, diarrhea, arthritis, lethargy, and lying around. These are some common things that you might see at home and could be related to anything from kidney disease to hyperthyroidism, and sometimes even cancer. These are some older problems we see in our cats.
How can I tell how old my cat is?
That is difficult. When they're tiny and they're babies, we can do it based on their weight and appearance, but a lot of people adopt older cats. For us to be able to age them, sometimes we can gauge it by their teeth and how much tartar or dental disease is present. We can also get an idea based on their eyes. We can start determining how old your cat is based on some physical exam findings.
What is the average lifespan for a cat?
Well, the oldest cat I've ever taken care of was 26, which was impressive. Most cats' average lifespan is anywhere from 12 to 16 years.
What should I include in a cat's senior diet?
When we start talking about diet recommendations and changes, it's not just based on their age, but also on their lifestyle. I would recommend coming in and talking to me or one of our other veterinarians about a senior wet food diet or a senior diet for a cat. It can definitely be based on their oral hygiene, how well they're eating, and what kind of diets they're accustomed to. We can help make diet recommendations based on the cat's lifestyle and physical exam findings.
What are the signs of arthritis in senior cats?
Arthritis in cats is really sneaky. It's much easier to see arthritis in dogs. These can be the cats that typically jump up on your countertop and don't want to jump up anymore, or they will jump up onto things and miss. A jump and a miss can be signs of arthritis in cats. Even sleeping more, less walking around the house, and very subtle changes are how you will start seeing arthritis become more apparent in cats. It's actually kind of hard to diagnose at home.
What are the best ways to monitor my senior cat's overall health at home?
Monitoring overall health for a senior cat at home can definitely involve monitoring your cat's weight. We recommend getting a baby scale and taking a weight of your cat every 6 to 12 weeks to gauge if there's weight loss or weight gain as your cat becomes older. Their drinking habits, such as how much water they are drinking and how much urine they are producing, can be subtle changes that owners can pick up on first.
For monitoring your cat at home, we recommend an exam every 6 to 12 months based on how your cat is doing. The changes that we can pick up on in the office are easier for us to monitor your senior cat's care under medical supervision. But at home, changes could be anything from litter box habits to eating to weight change.
Keep an eye out for anything out of the ordinary for your specific cat. Every cat is different!
You’re never alone in caring for your pet’s health. At Green Valley Veterinary Care, our team is here to support you every step of the way. Call (937) 358-8142 or email [email protected] to connect with us today.