| Older cats health issues will creep into your cat the | | | | However, older cats do not digest or absorb fat as |
| same way that they will with us, and there are | | | | well as younger cats, and this is the adjustment that |
| several different issues that are common in older | | | | you will have to make in their diet. Protein needs also |
| cats. As most any cat lover knows, your cat will | | | | stay the same throughout their life span. Unless your |
| suddenly hit that mythical eight to nine years of age | | | | cat has a special need for decreased protein, |
| when certain things will start to happen with their | | | | decreasing it can weaken their immune system which |
| body. As the aging process starts to affect your cat, | | | | is the last thing you want to do. |
| it sets off a very gradual decline in their overall | | | | Vitamin and mineral supplements are not needed as |
| abilities, both physical as well as mental. | | | | much in older cats, but there is a lot of medical |
| However, just like with us, not all cats will experience | | | | evidence that shows that Vitamins A, E, and C play |
| these changes at the same rate, but sooner or later, | | | | very important roles in slowing the aging process. |
| they will start to happen. The most important thing | | | | Before stopping them as your cat gets older, you |
| that you can do for your cat at this stage is to start | | | | should consult with your veterinarian. Water is also |
| preventive measures and build their immune system | | | | critical for older cats, and a lot of cats will slow down |
| as strong as you can in these final years. | | | | the amounts that they drink as they age. However, |
| What if you don't know the age of your cat? | | | | water is still the most important nutrient for your cat. |
| If your cat has been rescued or adopted, you may | | | | Dental Issues: |
| not know exactly how old they are. However, there | | | | Dental problems are the next major health issue in |
| are some very helpful techniques that might assist | | | | older cats. The majority of all cats will develop some |
| you in identifying as close as you can the actual age | | | | type of either a dental problem or a gum problem by |
| of your cat. There are two different areas that can | | | | the age of three. The best method of preventing |
| help you in this process; their teeth and their eyes. | | | | major issues with your older cat is to brush their |
| Your cats teeth completely fill in by the age of six | | | | teeth regularly two to three times a week their |
| months, and that is the starting point for identifying | | | | entire life. Feeding them cat chew treats will help |
| how old your cat is. Your cats teeth will play a | | | | reduce tarter build up and preserver their teeth for |
| prominent role throughout their lives, and the | | | | their later years. |
| accumulation of tarter is the key. By the age of two | | | | Kidney Disease: |
| years they will have developed some mild tater | | | | Chronic renal failure is the one of the biggest killer of |
| buildup, and by the age of five, the tarter has | | | | cats of any age, but it is an older cats biggest |
| become more pronounced on your cat molars, as | | | | challenge. The digestion of food produces waste |
| well as their canines. The canines are located to the | | | | products, and if your cats kidneys fail these waste |
| left and the right of the lateral incisors, and your cat | | | | products cannot be removed and it becomes a toxic |
| has four of them. | | | | situation for them. The single largest causes of a |
| This will all depend on your cats diet of course, and is | | | | kidney failure in cats are the poor flow of blood, |
| not extremely reliable, but it does help. By the | | | | infections, or immune system abnormalities. |
| magical age of eight or nine, the incisors start to | | | | Kidney stones block the flow of blood and can be |
| wear down and by the age of twelve, they will start | | | | the cause of several infections to occur. Vitamin C is |
| to fall out. Your cats eyes will also help to identify | | | | perhaps the most natural way of eliminating kidney |
| their age. Lenticular sclerosis, which is an age related | | | | stones in cats, as it will actually dissolve the stones. |
| density of the nucleus, occurs in the aging process. | | | | But your older cat must also have the most |
| Thin lines begin to show up in their eyes around the | | | | important nutrient, water. You have to make sure |
| age of six, and the older they are, the more these | | | | they continue to drink enough water. |
| lines spread out and create an almost bluish shield | | | | Diabetes: |
| covering the eyes. These are not cataracts, but | | | | Other than kidney disease, the largest older cats |
| rather the simple sign of aging. Neither of these | | | | health issues are with DM, which is Diabetes Mellitus. |
| processes is extremely accurate, but it is the only | | | | There are two types of this very wicked disease, |
| measurable way to help identify your cats age if you | | | | Type I and Type II. Type I occurs when your cats |
| do not know exactly how old they are. | | | | body does not produce enough insulin, and Type II |
| Common Health Issues in Older Cats: | | | | occurs when enough is produced but something |
| Older cats health issues will all depend on your | | | | interferes with its process. DM Type I is the most |
| specific cats overall health, as well as how their | | | | common by far, and it attacks middle aged and older |
| nutritional needs have been met. It will also depend | | | | cats of any breed. The peak age of attack is |
| on how strong their immune system is and how it | | | | between the ages of 9 and 11. |
| has been maintained. | | | | The best defense you have in protecting you older |
| Nutritional Issues: | | | | cat form this disease is by controlling their weight and |
| The first concern with older cats health issues starts | | | | by placing them on a high protein and low |
| with their specific nutritional issues and the toughest | | | | carbohydrate diet. Protein is absolutely essential to |
| challenge will be with obesity and preventing it. You | | | | older cats, but in this case it may save and extend |
| may also have to deal with special nutritional needs in | | | | their lives. |
| your aging cat. | | | | Summary: |
| When a dog ages, their metabolism starts to change | | | | Older cats health issues certainly do not end with |
| and as a result their caloric needs decrease. Your cat | | | | these threats, as Hyperthyroidism, Hypertension, |
| is not a dog, and this does not happen to your cat. | | | | Heart disease, Skin tumors, and Cancer are also very |
| Their energy needs stay almost exactly the same | | | | formidable threats to your older cat. But the key to |
| throughout their life span. Obesity occurs in most all | | | | all of these threats is building their immune system |
| cats between the ages of six to eight years of age, | | | | and than maintaining it, as well as maintaining their |
| not as they get older. This is your cats biggest health | | | | weight. If your cat is obese, controlling their diet with |
| issue, but if your cat is not obese by this age, the | | | | high protein is extremely important. However, |
| chances of them becoming obese decrease as they | | | | understanding your actual cats age if you do not |
| age, they do not increase. | | | | know for certain, helps in the process. |