With improved veterinary medicine & nutrition & so many more cats being confined to either indoors or indoors with an outside enclosure, cats are living longer than ever. With age comes special requirements to ensure your cat maintains & quality & comfortable standard of living. It is not unusual for a cat to reach 20 years of age, although the average lifespan is around 15 years.

Having said that, the goal is to ensure your cat is well cared for in his/her older years & preventative medicine is of essence. Most young cats will see a veterinarian once a year for their annual vaccinations & a general physical examination. When your cat becomes older it is advisable you make more frequent visits to the veterinarian. Remember, your cat can't tell you if there is something troubling them, so you have to act on their behalf & that includes looking out for their physical wellbeing. Remember, with regular veterinary checkups, many diseases associated with aging can be diagnosed early, which increases your cat's chances of either a recovery or longevity.

When is a cat considered elderly?

Many people will state that a cat ages 7 years per year but this is in fact incorrect. The table below gives an  estimate of how cats age;

Cats are considered elderly from around 10 - 12 years of age. They may well still have a spring in their step & no medical problems but around this age it is time to be aware that your cat is getting along in years  & keep an extra watchful eye on their health.

Effects of ageing:

Ageing causes wear & tear. The vital organs begin to lose efficiency, the immune system becomes less effective & hair falls out.

• Muscles shrink & lose strength & flexibility.
• The metabolic rate slows down, often making it more difficult to keep off excess weight
• Vital organs begin to lose their efficiency
• Bones lose calcium, which leads to weakening
• Hearing & vision also decline with age
• Skin is thinner & loses elasticity
• Hair becomes more sparse
• Joints stiffen
• Cognitive abilities decline
• Sleeps more
• May develop grey hairs around the muzzle
• Decreased tolerance to cold & hot

What medical conditions are elderly cats prone to?

There are too many possible medical conditions which senior cats are more prone to, some of the more common ones include:

• Diabetes
• Kidney failure - Kidney failure is a common disease seen in senior cats. There is no cure but it can be managed through medication & diet.
• Osteoarthritis
• Dental disease - Dental disease becomes a greater problem in senior cats. This has a run on effect of causing pain when your cat eats, therefore a senior cat may be reluctant to eat, and it also has an impact on the kidneys.
• Hypertension
• Obesity
• Poor appetite - On the other hand, cats may have a decreased sense of taste & smell, plus older cats often have dental problems. Both of which can result in a reluctance to eat.
• Hyperthyroidism
• Vision - Cats can develop cataracts in their senior years, although they are fairly uncommon. Degeneration of vision is a side effect often encountered in senior cats.
• Hearing - Loss of hearing can develop in their senior years. This comes on gradually. Cats with loss of vision or hearing can still lead a full & happy life although adaptations will be necessary. Deaf or blind cats shouldn't be permitted to roam outdoors unless they are on a harness or in an enclosure.
• Tumours - As the cat ages, the chances of developing cancer increase.
• Senility - Older cats may lose their cognitive
• Liver disease - The liver is susceptible to tissue degeneration, plus a diminishing of the bile secretions & a tendency for scar tissue formation. These can all result in liver disease.
• Heart - Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the most common heart problem in older cats & can lead to congestive heart failure. Feline hyperthyroidism is often associated with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
• Skin problems - Irritations & wounds are slower to heal due to a less efficient immune system.
• Constipation - Senior cats may develop constipation with age.
• Claws - Claws become thickened, overgrown & more brittle with age & it may be necessary to regularly clip them.
• Increased vocalisation - This may be the result of loss of vision or hearing, also an older cat may lose some cognitive function which can cause increased vocalisation.

Diet:

There are special diets on the market especially designed for senior cats. If your cat has a medical condition such as diabetes your veterinarian may recommend a prescription diet to help manage it.

Older cats can also lose their sense of smell & taste, so a highly palatable diet may be necessary to encourage eating.

Your veterinarian is the best person in regards to what is the best diet for your cat & it's own specific requirements. Never attempt to change your cat's diet without consulting your veterinarian first.

What other special needs to elderly cats have?

Joints often become stiff & painful in old age therefore it is recommended you make your cat's life as & pain free as possible.

Place litter trays & food bowls in an easily accessed area which doesn't require any climbing or jumping. If your cat has been going to the toilet outside, consider providing it with an indoor litter tray.

Bedding - Cats are less tolerance of cold & a warm bed, slightly raised off the floor, and in a draft free spot will be greatly appreciated by your senior cat. In the warmer months, make sure your cat is able to find a cool spot to sleep.

Exercise - Exercise in older cats is still of great importance. This will help with muscle tone & blood circulation. During exercise, watch for signs of laboured breathing or rapid tiring & don't over exert your cat.

Mental stimulation - Just as physical exercise is important to the senior cat so is mental stimulation.

Vaccinations - The older cat's immune system isn't as efficient as was & it is important to maintain a strict vaccination regime to protect it from disease.

Regular veterinary care - With regular visits to the veterinarian any age related conditions can be picked up early & treated. Many diseases afflicting older cats can't be cured but they managed. Your veterinarian will perform a thorough physical examination of the cat & want to run some tests, some of which include:

• Complete blood count
• Urinalysis
• Stool exam
• Other tests may also be ordered depending on your own cat's situation

Grooming - As cats age they may find grooming becomes more difficult, especially if they suffer from arthritis. Daily grooming is recommended in older cats, and this provides the carer with an excellent opportunity to examine the cat at the same time.

TLC - All cats need physical & emotional contact with their carers and this definitely includes elderly cats who need to feel safe, secure & loved.

Stress - Stress should be kept to a minimum. Older cats don't cope as well as younger ones & stress

Routine - Senior cats aren't as adaptable to change as younger cats & routine is important to them, so try to stick to the same routine as closely as possible.

Boarding - Senior don't cope with change as well as younger cats & are more prone to stress. If you go away a gentler option is to have a friend, family member or pet sitter visit your house once or twice a day to care for your cat. If you do have to board your cat, send along a familiar blanket or bed for your cat to be comforted with while you are away.

Monitoring your cat:

Every pet owner should be observant of their cat's behaviour, physical well being & routine. This way, if a change is noted veterinary attention can be sought immediately. In the older cat some things to watch for include:

• Loss of appetite or weight
• Increased thirst
• Increased urination
• Increased appetite
• Change in bowel function (constipation, diarrhoea, blood in stool)
• Any lumps or bumps
• Change in behaviour
• Weakness
• Lethargy
• Any discharges
• Blood in urine
• Straining to go to the toilet
• Change in behaviour

For further information on signs of sickness, read here...

Saying goodbye:

Eventually there will come a point where your cat has little or no quality of life & it will come upon you, as the cat's carer & spokesperson to make a decision to have them euthanised. This is a heart wrenching decision but the cat's comfort & well being must be the number one priority.

Euthanasia involves giving your cat an overdose of anaesthetic. It is a fast & painless end.

Finding support can sometimes be difficult if friends & family aren't pet lovers. Sometimes people just don't fully understand how a pet can be a member of the family, but we all know that a cat is every much a part of the family as the rest of us & when it's time to say goodbye it is an extremely sad period.

Do seek out comfort & support of others, be it a sympathetic friend or family member. There are many online support groups for animal lovers on the internet. If you are having trouble coping with the loss, a pet loss councillor may be of assistance to you. Do allow yourself to grieve though.