The regular lifespan of a cat is rising gradually. You might be curious whether your feline friend is considered elderly. However, being older is defined by more than just chronological age in animals. Many things, including genetics, environment, diet, and vet treatment, influence 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. Many problems impacting elderly cats’ health can be traced back to their particular lifestyle and physiology. As avid hunters and meat eaters, they put their bodies through stresses that other animals may not experience. These breed-specific characteristics have been connected to many age-related feline health concerns. Additionally, these are the most regularly occurring problems.
Kidney Disease
Kidney failure, generally induced by old age or an injury, implies that your cat’s urine will contain all of the unsafe toxins its body makes instead of being filtered out. Weight loss, increased urine output, bad breath, and severe thirst are all symptoms. Your vet may recommend a low-protein, low-salt, and low-phosphorus diet with high consumption of Omega-3 fatty acids for the early stages of this problem.
Even though they are seniors, it is essential to vaccinate your cat to avoid unsafe diseases. You can visit a reliable vet that provides cat vaccinations service to immunize your pet.
Obesity
Obesity is a typical feature of senior cats. Aging cats tend to be less energetic than younger ones, even if their diets are the same. Since they do not get much exercise, indoor cats often gain weight. Cats are most likely to get diabetes if they are overweight.
Did you know there are many proven health advantages 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 first talk to a skilled veterinarian from a spay & neuter clinic.
Dental Disease
Has your cat begun dropping their food or having trouble lifting it to chew? Excruciating gum disease is prevalent in senior cats and could be the case here. Without frequent brushing and flossing, plaque and tartar can develop on teeth and trigger significant health problems. Get your cat’s teeth professionally cleaned, and then keep their cleanliness by brushing them daily.
Cats are well-known for swallowing foreign objects, so if you find something in your cat’s mouth, it’s finest to call the veterinarian. Neglecting the warning signals of a tooth complication can cause excruciating pain and may necessitate oral surgery.
Cancer
Most senior cats died from cancer. Since cancer refers to uncontrolled cell proliferation, it covers many illnesses that might strike your pet. For cancer to develop, unusual cells should attack neighboring tissues and create chaos in the body’s normal functions.
Early detection is essential because of cancer’s dreadful and eventually fatal consequences. When a cat is considered senior, it is nearing the end of its life. So, for the finest care in their final days, it’s more effective to contact vets providing hospice and end-of-life care services. You can schedule an appointment with them by visiting this website.
Bottomline
Do not think that just because you are a cat owner, you will always know whether your cat is sick. Sick cats, particularly older ones, are masters at hiding their signs and symptoms. Maintaining optimal health for your cat requires continuous communication with your vet. This is especially true for elderly cats, who are at a greater risk of acquiring the illness simply because of aging.
