Feline Ageing

Feline Ageing  

On a Cat Ageing by Alexander Gray

Ageing cats experience much the same ailments as people do when they grow older. The clinical symptoms of aging are easily recognized:

The lustre of the coat will diminish, with some grey hairs developing.
Claws will become more brittle.
Slowness in movement.
A reduction in vision.
Deafness.
Breathing difficulties.

 
Here are some of the less easy to identify intrinsic changes:

Sclerosis (hardening of the internal tissues.) 
Inflammatory bowel disease.
Cardiovascular disease.
Osteoporosis.
Hypertension.
Thrombosis.
Kidney problems.

Unlike dogs, a cat’s need for energy stays relatively consistent throughout its adult life. Although obesity is one of the main health problems in middle-aged cats, older cats tend to lose some of their fat. Some studies have suggested that older cats do not digest/absorb fat as well as when they were younger.

Skin and Coat Changes

As with people, older cats may start to grey. The coat may become thinner and lose its lustre, however, this may be a sign of nutritional deficiency rather than old age. Grooming, with special attention being paid to the anal area is a good way to check for sores and tumours.

Vision

Ophthalmic examinations should be included in the physical examinations of senior cats. Cataracts commonly occur in senior cats, and some may develop glaucoma. Certain breeds are predisposed to glaucoma including:

Persian.
Siamese.
Some Domestic Shorthairs.

Hearing

Losing the ability to hear clearly is common among older cats. Slight hearing loss is hard to assess in cats, and can often progress to an advanced degree before becoming aware of it. The result being what seems like negative behavioural changes. Your cat, when approached, might claw you simply because it had no idea that someone was approaching and reacted from instinct.

Changes in Urinary Habits

Urinary incontinence is a common problem in older cats. You should be aware that they don’t know that they are passing urine and couldn’t prevent this happening even if they were aware. Senior cats should never be punished or scolded for incontinence problems.

Changes in Eating Habits

Older cats are more likely to develop tooth and gum disease. This can often be painful, causing a loss of desire to eat. Diminishing activity levels will also cause a reduction in appetite.

Decreased Mobility

Many senior pets, like us, experience a reduction in mobility as they age. This is often due to arthritis. Cats that have experienced a previous trauma are more likely to develop this. Arthritis can range from mild to debilitating. Older cats may have problems moving, but they should always be encouraged to exercise to reduce loss of muscle tone and mass.

Decreased Heart Function

As cats age, the heart begins to lose efficiency. Mitral valve problems are particularly common. Cats frequently develop cardiomyopathy.

Decreased Immune Function

As cats age, their immune systems fail to function as effectively. Infectious diseases are therefore more common.