Is My Cat A Senior Citizen? - May 11

by Cheryl Waterman

One of the questions we get asked most often, is how old is my cat in “human” years?

Research shows that one year in human years is equal to anywhere from 4-7 in “cat years.” Variations occur based on breed and weight. Purebreds and cats that are overweight do not, as a rule, live as long as mixed breeds or cats that are at a good body weight. The following scale is used at the Cat Clinic of Johnson County, however, it can vary in some cases, just as it does with humans, i.e., you can be 65 years old, but if you exercise, eat right and watch your weight, your doctor may tell you that “physically” you are only 55!

Average Life Span

The average life span of cats relates to whether they are kept inside, again, what breed they are, and the quality of their health care. Many cats can easily live an average of 15-16 years of age.

Due to the fact that cats are experts at hiding symptoms of illness (which keeps them safe from predators in the wild) ideally twice-a-year visits (esp.  after the age of 8) are recommended.

Unfortunately, the fact that cats can appear asymptomatic makes it very difficult for owners to know when something is wrong at home. Some signs of illness or disease can only be detected by your veterinarian. If an owner waits until their cat is showing signs of distress, it is often be too late for life saving treatment.

Monitor Your Cat’s Health

Things that you, as a cat owner, can do at home to monitor your cat’s health are the following:

• Weigh your cat(s) at least once a month.  You can use a regular scale as long as it tells weight in pounds and ounces.  Even 3-5 ounces of weight loss can be cause for concern.

• Be aware of how much water your cat consumes.  An increase in water consumption can be a primary sign of diseases which are common in older cats, such as chronic renal disease or diabetes.

• Also be aware of urine output. Any increase in urine output can indicate hidden disease.

• Changes in grooming or personal care can be a sign of arthritis or other serious illness. Regular brushing and cleansing (with unscented baby wipes) can help your older cat feel better.  Often older cats may require more frequent nail trimming since their nail sheaths don’t shed as often as they get older.  If left untrimmed, nails can grow into the toe pad causing much discomfort.

• Good nutrition is extremely important in all phases of your cat’s life.  Feeding a good quality of “senior” food designated to be gentle on kidneys and GI tracts is always helpful.  Cats depend heavily on their sense of smell to stimulate their appetite, so if your senior citizen isn’t eating well, don’t be afraid to offer him/her a “smelly” canned food to increase their appetite.  Just as we do, as cats age they lose their acute sense of smell.

• If your older cat stops using its litter box as consistently as normal, don’t assume they have forgotten where it is.  Inappropriate urination and/or defecation are common signs of a medical issue.  REMEMBER, no urination at all is an EMERGENCY…..call your veterinarian immediately.

• Some older cats may demonstrate behaviors which may seem as if they don’t know where they are, i.e., howling, pacing, etc.  Whereas this may be a form of kitty “Alzheimer’s”, it can mean that there’s a different medical issue going on.  If this continues, it’s a good idea to make an appointment with your veterinarian.

Risk of Disease

Although you may think that your cat is extremely healthy and always has been, like humans, the risk of disease and health related problems increases substantially as they age. Due to the fact that your cat ages so much more quickly than we do, it is time to begin monitoring them more closely after age 8, and if at all possible, increase their physical examinations by your veterinarian to twice per year.  An older cat seeing the veterinarian only once per year, compares to you or I only seeing our doctor once every 3-5 years.  Not a good idea.

The objective is to help you maintain a high quality of life for your cat(s) during their senior years.  To achieve this, your veterinarian may have established certain diagnostic guidelines that are contained within their “senior” wellness plans, or examinations. Such things as blood pressures, intraocular pressures, certain blood work, etc. should be a given for all cats over the age of 8, and of course, for some other kitties that seem to be aging a little more quickly also (certain breeds, etc.).

Cheryl Waterman is the Hospital Administrator at the Cat Clinic of Johnson County and a long-time cat lover. She has been with the Clinic for the past 13 years, and in 2007 received Certification in Veterinary Practice Management (CVPM) designation. She is a member of the Veterinary Hospital Managers Association and the American Animal Hospital Association. You can contact her directed at the Cat Clinic of Johnson County, (913) 541-0478.