Senior Cat Care – Special Considerations
There are now more pet cats than dogs in North America. Improved nutrition, prevention of infectious disease, and advances in veterinary medical care have resulted in our cats living longer and healthier lives. In the last decade in North America, there has been a 15% increase in the number of cats over age 10 and the proportion of the cat population aged 15 years and older has increased from 5% to 14%.
What are some of the changes that occur in aging cats?
Many changes can occur in aging cats, including:
- Many aging cats are affected by osteoarthritis (OA), which contributes to a lack of activity. The lack of activity then contributes to stiffening of the joints and worsens the symptoms of OA.
- Reduction in exercise may result in reduced muscle tone, which may further reduce the cat's ability to jump, climb, or exercise.
- When coupled with reduced activity, common in older individuals, this 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 excessive weight gain that can cause obesity-related health issues.
- Inappetence or lack of desire to eat may develop in some senior cats, since the senses of smell and taste become dull with age.
- Periodontal (dental) disease is common in senior cats, and can cause organ dysfunction, possibly thromboembolic events (strokes), and may contribute to inappetance.
- Intestinal function, including the ability of the intestines to absorb nutrients is reduced in many older animals.
- Geriatric or degenerative changes in the liver, kidneys, and endocrine system (hormone system) will decrease the efficiency of digestive and other processes in the body.
- Thirst is often decreased, causing an increased risk of dehydration, especially when combined with concurrent renal insufficiency, a type of kidney disease common in older cats.
How might these aging changes affect my cat's response to medication?
Changes in the way your cat’s body functions as she ages not only affect food and nutrient 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 increased levels of drugs in their bloodstream. When treating geriatric patients, the dose and dosing frequency of some drugs may need to be altered.
Does my senior cat still need to have regular booster vaccinations?
It is recognized that immune function changes with increasing age in cats. This may in turn result in a reduced ability to fight infection or destroy cancer cells. Based on your cat's lifestyle, physical condition, and her risk of exposure to common preventable diseases, your veterinarian will advise you on the most appropriate vaccination program.
My senior cat becomes very distressed when we try to medicate her. Should we keep trying when it upsets her so much?
There is no simple answer to this question, and it should be discussed with your veterinarian. The proper advice for your cat depends on the specific disease being treated, and whether the treatment may lead to a cure or is aimed at controlling clinical signs. It also depends on how ill the cat is. Often, older cats do not tolerate excessive physical handling or environmental change, so while medications may be able to offer complex therapeutic options, these may not be an option for your cat. 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. Always ask your veterinarian if there is another way to provide medication. Some medications can be compounded in a transdermal form that can be rubbed on the skin.
What diseases do senior cats commonly get?
The major health problems seen in older cats are:
- obesity
- periodontal disease
- hormonal disorders such as hyperthyroidism and diabetes mellitus
- kidney disease
- liver disease
- heart disease
- neoplasia or cancer
- infections such as feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV)
- osteoarthritis
You should remember that while young cats usually have only one disorder at a time, this is often not the case in older patients, where diagnosis and treatment may be complicated by several concurrent disease processes.
What can I do to make my senior cat as happy as possible?
Most cats age gracefully and require very little. Since older cats do not generally respond well to change, it is important that any changes be introduced slowly.
Elderly cats should have easy access to a warm and comfortable bed, situated where the cat can sleep safely without fear of disturbance.
You should feed your older cat a high quality, easily digestible food recommended by your veterinarian. Although specific nutrient requirements are not yet determined for senior cats, it should be assumed that any older cat has some degree of subclinical or underlying disease, particularly of the kidneys and liver. Hence, a diet with moderate phosphorus restriction is usually recommended.
Geriatric cats 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, provide multiple litter boxes located on each floor of the house that your cat may use, and near favorite sleeping and eating areas.
My veterinarian mentioned a Senior Care/Wellness Program. What does this involve?
The aim of any senior care program is to maintain the quality of the pet's life and to slow the progression of age-related disease. Because most of the chronic diseases we see in senior cats are slow to progress, early recognition is usually only possible through diagnostic tests. The earlier a disease is diagnosed, the more likely that its progression can be slowed or reversed and a high quality of life for your senior cat can be maintained for a longer period of time. Senior cats should have regular health checks (every six months).
Senior care programs usually include a thorough physical examination, blood and urine screening, and chest or abdominal radiographs. Body weight should be recorded regularly and booster vaccinations should be given as determined by your cat's lifestyle. Additional details about your veterinarian’s senior care programs will be provided to you.
While it is true that old age is not a disease, older pets do merit special attention. This is important so that if your cat develops disease, it can be recognized and treated as early as possible, thereby maintaining her quality of life for as long as possible.
