Spotting Disease in Older Cats
On average, cats have a longer lifespan than dogs. Cat's are also very good at hiding problems so you need to look for the little signs your cat may display.
Cats just like us can suffer with a slow down of bodily functions, their senses will eventually start to deteriorate, leading to impaired vision, hearing, taste and smell.
As a cat owner it is important to keep an eye out for signs of disease. Weight loss is common in older cats but can also be a sign of a bigger problem. Here are the most common problems to look out for in your aging cat:
- Kidney disease: look out for signs your cat is drinking and urinating more than usual, other signs are weight loss and vomiting.
- Hyperthyroidism: an over-active thyroid gland causes your cat to lose weight, eat and drink more
- Hypertension: high blood pressure can occur when there is an underlying kidney problem, a sign there could be something wrong is your cat yowling at night
- Diabetes: Usually causes an increase in drinking and weight loss
- Osteoarthritis: Results in a reduction in activity, reluctance to jump onto surfaces and litter tray accidents
- Cognitive behavioural dysfunction: (Similar to Alzheimer's disease in humans), signs consistent with senility including disorientation and inappropriate vocalisation
- Cancers: Harder to spot because cancers are so varied, growths are one of the easier ones to spot.
- Dental disease: Cats start to suffer with this quite early, so learning good dental hygiene at your vets is a very good idea. You'll know when your cat is suffering with dental disease when you spot them chewing on one side of their mouth or taking longer to eat their food.
Any sign in a change of behaviour can be caused by one of the underlying problems mentioned above. Its always a good idea to pop your cat along to a vet if you notice changes.