You should take your cat to the vet for check-ups twice a year as soon as they celebrate their 7th or 8th birthday. Cats are excellent at hiding symptoms of diseases. But as they age, they’re more likely to experience an illness that is more difficult to treat than when they were younger.
This article discusses the five most common health conditions encountered in senior cats. Aside from the ones showcased here, diseases such as liver conditions, cancer, and high blood pressure are also on the rise.
Chronic Kidney Disease
CKD is the most common disease that affects geriatric cats. Healthy kidneys are essential for a healthy body. These organs are in charge of filtering out a variety of toxins. With adequate performance, they maintain the electrolyte balance and they also release hormones regulating blood pressure.
Cats get kidney disease for two main reasons. Like big cats, domestic cats are obligate carnivores, so a larger amount of protein passes through the kidneys compared to other species, leading to faster organ damage. They’re also notorious for not drinking enough water. Dehydration damages the kidneys as well.
Common symptoms of CKD in cats include:
- Weight loss
- Increased or decreased urination
- Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
Vets diagnose chronic kidney disease with a variety of tests ranging from blood work to urinalysis. They may use additional testing such as an ultrasound, which proves its worth in the differential diagnosis of various kidney pathologies.
While there is no cure for CKD, you’ll be happy to know that it can be maintained with treatment.
Your cat can live for many years after the diagnosis, provided that you follow your veterinarian’s instructions as closely as possible.
Hyperthyroidism
As its name suggests, this disease involves an overproduction of thyroid hormones by the thyroid gland.
While thyroid hormones are important, particularly for regulating a cat’s metabolism, when they’re in excess, they cause more harm than good.
Cats with hyperthyroidism experience symptoms such as constant hunger, hyperactivity, and high blood pressure. The latter is especially dangerous in senior cats, as it can cause damage to other organs, not just the cardiovascular system. Some pets experience significant behavioral changes such as aggression or depression, which stop after they get treatment.
Diagnosing hyperthyroidism in cats is straightforward, with a physical exam and imaging tests proving their worth the most.
Luckily, this illness is treatable, so your vet will prescribe the appropriate medication once they diagnose your pet.
Dental Disease
If you’ve been a cat parent for a while and you’ve tried at least once to clean your cat’s teeth, you probably know how challenging this task is. Dental disease is typical for seniors, no matter what species they might be, and while the loss of teeth is natural, there are some complications that your vet must address.
Massive amounts of plaque and tartar cause gingivitis and maybe even stomatitis. These potentially recurring mouth infections make it possible for germs in the mouth (or on your cat’s food or coat) to get into their body and affect other organs.
As good as cats are when it comes to hiding symptoms of disease, they can’t do the same if they have a tooth infection or other pathologies. Consequently, you might notice these symptoms:
- Bad breath
- Pain when you touch the side of your cat’s face
- Drooling
- A reluctance to eat
Vets can and will treat dental disease if the tooth is salvageable. Using pet mouthwash, checking your cat’s oral hygiene regularly, as well as switching to wet cat food exclusively are a few examples of things you can do to address this issue.
Osteoarthritis
Any cat’s joints wear out as they age. Some health conditions may increase the speed at which arthritis develops, such as injuries and obesity. Hip dysplasia is another cause of osteoarthritis in this species.
Pets that have this condition experience these symptoms:
- Difficulties in getting in and out of the litter box
- A reluctance to jump on and off the couch
- Not wanting to climb or go down the stairs
- Not being able to groom themselves properly due to pain and discomfort in some joints
Your vet can rely on a multitude of diagnostic tests these days to diagnose your cat’s osteoarthritis, such as X-rays, CT scans, and more.
Unfortunately, this illness is a degenerative disease, so a miracle treatment to make it go away doesn’t exist. Instead, it is a condition that you must manage long-term.
Physical therapy, supplements like those made from glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, along with weight management, significantly improve your cat’s symptoms.
Your vet may also prescribe non-steroidal medications at the beginning of the chosen therapy. These drugs lower the pain levels and make life more enjoyable for your pet.
Diabetes Mellitus
Everyone knows that obesity is one of the main causes of diabetes. Given that 60% of domestic cats are overweight and obese, you can imagine why so many end up being diagnosed with type II diabetes.
Although there’s never a good thing to say about this metabolic disease, there is something positive when it comes to cats—they almost never have Type I diabetes. Yes, type II still requires you to administer insulin to your cat if your vet diagnoses them with this illness — especially at first.
However, with the appropriate diet and lifestyle changes, as well as the right medications, your cat can live for many more years.
Some symptoms you might notice in your cat if they have diabetes are increased thirst, weight loss, as well as vomiting.
At the same time, your cat will lose their interest in food and use the litter box one too many times. Veterinarians diagnose diabetes mainly by using blood work and urinalysis.
Fortunately, there are multiple treatment options these days as veterinary medicine has evolved a lot in the past few decades.
