The average life expectancy of a cat is increasing continuously. You may wonder whether or not your feline friend is considered a senior. Nevertheless, being older is defined by more than just chronological age in animals. Many things, including genetics, environment, diet, and vet treatment, impact how quickly or slowly the cat ages.
Common Health Issues When Taking Care of an Old Cat
Cats do not just get ill as they are old. A number of the problems that affect elderly cats’ health can be traced back to their particular lifestyle and physiology. As passionate hunters and meat eaters, they place their bodies through stresses other species might not face. These breed-specific characteristics have been connected to many age-related feline health issues. Moreover, these are the most frequently occurring problems.
Kidney Disease
Kidney failure, generally caused by aging or an injury, implies that your cat’s urine will have all the hazardous toxins its body produces rather than being filtered out. Weight loss, increased urine results, bad breath, and extreme thirst are all signs and symptoms. Your veterinarian may recommend a low-protein, low-salt, and low-phosphorus diet with high consumption of Omega-3 fats for the early stages of this condition.
Even though they are seniors, it is essential to vaccinate your cat at a feline vaccination clinic to avoid unsafe illness.
Obesity
Obesity is a regular feature in elderly cats. Aging cats tend to be less energetic than younger ones, even if their diets are the same. Because they do not get much exercise, indoor cats often gain weight. Cats are most likely to get diabetes if they are obese.
Did you know there are numerous proven health benefits to spaying or neutering your pet? If your pet is healthy, spaying or neutering is available at any age. If you’re considering getting this procedure done on your pet, you must speak to an experienced vet first.
Dental Disease
Has your cat begun dropping their food or having issues lifting it to chew? Unpleasant periodontal disease is prevalent in senior cats and could be the case here. Without regular cleaning and flossing, plaque and tartar can accumulate on teeth and trigger serious health issues. Get your cat’s teeth professionally cleaned and then maintain their cleanliness by cleaning them daily.
Cats are well-known for ingesting foreign objects, so if you find something in your cat’s mouth, it’s best to call the veterinarian. Neglecting the warning signals of a tooth problem can result in severe pain and may need cat dental surgery.
Cancer
Most elderly cats die from cancer. Because cancer refers to uncontrolled cell proliferation, it covers many diseases that might strike your pet. For cancer to develop, unusual cells must attack neighboring tissues and cause havoc in the body’s regular functions.
Early discovery is vital because of cancer’s awful and inevitably fatal consequences. When a cat is considered elderly, it is nearing the end of its life. So, it’s better to contact veterinarians providing hospice and end-of-life care services for the finest care in their last days. To learn more about pet hospice service, click here.
Bottomline
Do not think that just because you are a cat owner, you will constantly know whether your cat is sick. Ill cats, specifically older ones, are masters at concealing their symptoms. Keeping optimal health for your cat requires continuous communication with your veterinarian. This is specifically true for senior cats, who are in greater danger of getting the disease simply due to aging.
