HEALTH CHECKS IN OLDER CATS

Old age is not a disease

Cats are considered to be mature when they reach the age of 7 and elderly once they reach 11. Senior cats are defined as those aged 11-14 years of age and geriatric cats are those aged 15 years or more. When caring for older cats it sometimes helps to appreciate their age in human terms. The first two years of a cat’s life are equivalent to 24 human years and every year thereafter is equivalent to 4 human years. Therefore, a 16 year old cat would be equivalent to an 80 year old human.

Some health issues are treatable

Often a problem which you suspect is due to the advancing age of your pet may actually be the result of a treatable medical condition.

Changes to Physiology

As your cats ages, there are changes to their physiology, behaviour and vulnerability to illnesses. These include: - Kidney disease - Arthritis - Dental disease - High blood pressure - Hyperthyroidism (overactive Thyroid) - Cognitive dysfunction (‘dementia’) - Diabetes - Constipation - Urinary tract infections - Cancer Many of these conditions do not show symptoms early in their course, and at this early stage are only identifiable through testing, and are likely to be progressive. The earlier a problem is detected the better it can be managed improving longevity and quality of life for your cat. Many common conditions can be diagnosed with a clinical exam and laboratory screening therefore regular Health Checks are advisable. These could be combined with your annual vaccinations. If you feel that your cat is actually showing signs of ageing or any symptoms of a problem, we would recommend booking an appointment. We offer a “Wellness Package” which decreases the cost of initial screening tests. For more information please visit the Wellness Package for cats Page. Dietary considerations With ageing, the nutritional requirements of your cat may change. We have various diets designed for the older cat as well as for specific problems such as obesity, joint pain or dental disease.