Senior Cat Pages

THE GERIATRIC CAT

Cats are living much longer than in past years, due to better diets and the control of the major infectious diseases. Most cats live well past their 15th year, and cats in their early twenties are not uncommon. With so many older cats, the diseases of the senior feline have become better understood, and they can be diagnosed easily and treated with good results.

There are four common diseases in the older cat, and all have nearly the same symptoms. Weight loss, increased thirst, poor haircoat, lethargy, and lapses in housetraining can be seen with any of these diseases. These conditions are usually present for many months before their effects become obvious, so blood tests to screen for these diseases are important in order to diagnose the problems in the early stage.

HYPERTHYROIDISM is the most common disease of the older cat. A benign tumor of the thyroid gland produces an excess amount of thyroid hormone and the overactive metabolism causes a variety of problems, including weight loss and a rapid heart rate. There are three effective treatments, and the disease can usually be cured.

HYPOKALEMIA is a problem in which the potassium level in the body becomes depleted due to increased loss of the electrolyte in the urine. In addition to the vague signs of geriatric disease, these cats develop muscular weakness that often mimics arthritis. A potassium supplement will help return the cat to normal.

DIABETES can result if the cat’s pancreas stops producing insulin, or if excessive body fat blocks the action of the cat’s insulin. The classic signs of diabetes are weight loss and increased water drinking, but in some cats the water drinking is not that obvious. Special diet and insulin will control this disease, and many cats can live a normal life.

KIDNEY FAILURE is very common in older cats. The kidney is the organ that ages most quickly in the cat, and any cat that lives to a very old age will have deterioration in the kidney’s ability to excrete wastes and conserve water. Low potassium (see above) has recently been found to further decrease kidney function. Although kidney failure cannot be cured, there are many simple treatments that can help the cat feel better and live longer.

SINCE THESE FOUR COMMON DISEASES can be diagnosed from blood tests, it is suggested that every cat over 10 years of age should have a “senior blood profile” yearly. This simple and inexpensive battery of blood tests will reveal these diseases so that they can be treated and the old cat can live in comfort and health.