The Senior Citizen Cat
By Audrey Hayes, VMD, ACVIM
Staff Oncologist, The Animal Medical Center
Originally printed in: Fall 1986 Newsletter
Reprinted: March 1991 Newsletter
The average life expectancy of a domestic cat is between 15 and 17 years,
with many reaching 20 years and more. This longer life span can be attributed to recent
advances in veterinary medicine, increased owner awareness regarding preventive care against
infectious diseases and accidents, and improvements in feline nutrition.
Popular belief has it that a year of a cat's life equals seven of ours. In
fact, kittens mature more quickly than this and cats slow down in ther later years. The first
year of a cat's life can be equated to about 15 human years. Thereafter, the rate declines
gradually until, when a cat is in it's teens and twenties, each year is equivalent to only
about 3 of ours. When we refer to the senior cat, we include those 13 years and older.
Health Care -- As with all pets the older cat should be brought to the
veterinarian for an annual physical examination and dental check-up, at which time the yearly
vacinations against contagious viral diseases are administered. By keeping to the schedule, owners
increase chances of early detection of abnormalities, which can be life-saving in the older
cat. Depending on what the veterinarian finds at this visit, laboratory tests may be indicated
and more frequent examinations required. Some syptoms which may be indicative of a serious
medical problem in an older cat are:
---Increased water intake and urination with greater appetite and weight loss.
Theses symptoms could mean typerthyroidism or diabetes mellitus. Both conditions can be
treated.
Increased water intake and urination with decreased appetite and vomiting could
signal kidney disease.
While grooming owners should check for any growths or lumps which may appear
on the cat's body.
If any of these conditions arise, veterinary care should be sought immediately.
Home Care---Signs that a cat is aging may be both physical and behavioral.
Owners should be observant of changes in the cat's patterns which may include the following:
---More time spent sleeping and decrease in agility. The cat may become more set
in it's ways as well as slower and stiffer in movement. This is not cause for alarm. However,
owners should adequately accommodate the pet's needs by having more litter pans and water
lowls in various locations so that the pet does not have far to go for either. If the dwelling
is more than one story be sure there are litter pans and water bols on each floor.
---As a cat gets on in years, it may groom itself less and less. Owners should
note these changes and compensate by grooming the cat more frequently. This will help prevent
hairballs, matting, dandruff, and skin irritation, and is particulary important for long-haired
cats.
---Deafness or partial hearning loss is common among older cats and may be the
reson for increased sleeping. This will not bother most cats as long as they are kept in familiar
surroundings.
---Stress should be kept at a minimum for the elderly cat. Since cats are
creatures of habit, this includes taking care not to deviate from normal feeding patterns and
other daily routines. If an owner must go out of town, it''s best to leave the pet at home in
it's own surroundings with someone visiting daily. If the owner will be absent for an
extended period of time, it's a good idea to make tapes of their voice.
---If a senior cat displays signs of illness, it should be tended to immediately
since any problem is more likely to have a detrimental effect on the aging pet. This includes
loss of appetite, weight gain or loss, chronic vomiting, excessive diarrhea or constipation, and
an increase in water consumption and urination.