The Special Needs Of Old Cats Caring For Your Elderly Feline. For. some reason, Google defaults to this page for Cushing's Disease. For that subject, you really need to go. Ron Hines. DVM Ph. D Lots. of my articles are plagiarized and altered on the web to market products. There are never ads running or anything for sale. Try to stay with the ones. URL. box or find all my articles at ACC.
Many. veterinarians believe that about a third of a pet’s potential. As it’s. species’ maximum age limits of life approaches, that genetic. That still leaves you with. There is not much. United States, but it. Actually a one- year- old. A two- year- old. After that. cat years drop in relation to human years so that by ten years of. By the time. a cat reaches fifteen it is nearer in cat- years to a seventy- three. My oldest feline patient was twenty- three years old. We. don’t really know why cats are living longer. Heart Care The heart is the most important organ in your pet's body, and factors such as age or weight may affect its function. Define esophagus: medical : the tube that leads from the mouth through the throat to the stomach. At Royal Canin, we make the most precise and effective nutrition for cats and dogs based on size, age, lifestyle, breed and to address specific needs. Pet food manufacturers. But I believe that keeping more cats safely. What. Should I Feed My Elderly Cat ? Cats. thrive on diets that are high in moisture (canned. Pet food manufacturers. National Research Council in formulating. National brands are quite similar in their. Cats do not, by nature, thrive on carbohydrates. Don’t. feed your cat generic or house brand because their low price dictates. Mid or average priced cat foods. I. don’t recommend that you feed niche, high- cost, brands sold. Internet either because the small. If a problem does. FDA to. be alerted promptly. Products produced by small companies are also. They also tend to sit on the store shelves longer. By your. pet foods where you buy your own food, after all, you already trust. Should. I Feed My Elderly Cat Canned Or Dry Food ? Over. the years, most veterinarians, including me, recommended dry cat chows. Vets noticed that cats on dry kibble. Dry cat kibble also lacks can- liner chemicals that some. A). It doesn't smell like. It is economical and, theoretically. However, it is quite. Most dry cat foods are much higher in. Some veterinarians associate the high. Many dry cat foods have been sprayed with. This fat can become rancid and unhealthy. Some veterinarians associate. Dry cat foods are also more susceptible. Canned. cat food, like dry chows comes in low, medium and premium formulas. If you feed. them, stay with premium brands and feed a wide variety of flavors. Cats tend to prefer the taste and smell of pungent fish- based. But it has been my experience and that of other vets. It. is true that cats tend to prefer canned diets and eat more of it. But you can. control that by feeding no more that it takes for your pet to maintain. If. you have the time and inclination, you can always prepare a home cooked. There is more information on that here. Regardless. what food you decide to feed, make changes in your elderly cat’s. Most cats are nibblers and intermittent feeders. They. like to take a few munches, do something else for a while, and then. This is not a problem with dry kibble cat chows, but canned. So canned foods are best offered. Kidney and Urinary Tract Issues Another important advantage of canned or moist diets over dry chows is that cats have a tendency to drink insufficient water to compensate for a dry chow or kibble diet. The signs of dehydration, as in humans, can be nebulous (vague) and only significant over time . More severe dehydration can accompany any disease in which apathy or reduced mobility occurs. If you do decide to feed your cat a dry diet, adding warm water to it prior to feeding is wise. However, if you do that, the possible increased dental issues need to be thought about too. That’s. because nobody actually knows what change in their diet formula, if. But. all major pet food companies feel compelled to offer one. Based. on what we we know about older humans (7. Perhaps. that is due to their reduced sense of smell and taste, decreased intestinal. Several of these . Be careful about. You can read a study that. The Company has one of the best group of animal. World. Yet, the difference between their Senior. Adult formulas are insignificant. Their “Vibrant Maturity. In their Senior formula, they doubled the amount. E anti- oxidant and increased the amount of glucosamine. According to the. So although there is certainly no harm. If you believe in the protective power of. If your cat needs added fiber because. Their increased. glucosamine might help old cats that have arthritis. But the amount. they consume will be less than with many joint supplements. But there is not much science to back up the slight. Many older cats tend to be too chubby until they. After that, many become too thin. Some. gain or loose too much weight somewhat earlier or later. Overweight. cats need a diet formula that is less caloric while underweight cats. Old cats tend to be lean. But if your cat is chubby, adding water to its diet helps keep it trim and active. Up to 3. 0- 4. 0% water can be added to dry cat foods. Would A Vitamin Or Other Supplement Help My Elderly Cat ? If. you are feeding a nationally marketed major brand of canned or dry. AAFCO. or NRC standards), you do not need to add vitamins or. If you feel your cat might benefit from anti- oxidants, Omega- 3. Is. My Old Cat Too Fat? The most common problems I see in. Fat. cats are also less inclined to groom themselves well. It. is often said that overweight elderly cats are more prone to arthritis. If. your cat does not have a sluggish thyroid or an overactive adrenal. F T- 4, Cushing’s. So you have. three choices : feed the cat a less fattening diet, feed the cat less. Reducing. your old cat’s weight through increased exercise can be beneficial. You can purchase a laser pointer, add cat furniture. But it will almost never be sufficient in getting your. You will also have to make diet. Feeding. a less caloric diet may be all you need to do. Some owners find that. Other cats require diets that are less caloric because. Most of these feline weight loss diets. Another great way to reduce the caloric content of your cat’s. Since cats. are not, by nature, grazers, you will have to experiment to see which. Make these. additions or changes slowly. Any diet change often brings on a a few. Your. cat’s weight loss must be gradual. Cats that abruptly reduce. If you are using a new, lower caloric diet, follow the directions. When changing. your pet’s diet, always do so gradually. Some higher- fiber low- cal. Is. It Important If my Cat Does Not Drink Plenty Of Water. Elderly cats are more prone to dehydration and fatigue than younger. They are less likely to get up and seek out water and many. Another. potential problem veterinarians discuss is chronic dehydration. This. is thought to occur when cats subsist primarily on dry cat food. Cats. do not appear to ever drink sufficient water to compensate for the. Cats. that consume insufficient water could, conceivably, be more susceptible. FUS) and. perhaps, kidney disease as well. At this time, it is entirely speculation. Feeding. a canned or fresh home cooked diet avoids this worry. If your elderly. cat is weak, scatter multiple water dishes around the house that have. It is a problem in longer haired cats in particular. Sometimes, the skin under these mats is quite inflamed. Have a mobile. groomer do it in your home. Frequent brushing also prevents cats from. Be. sure to check your pet’s claws as well. They overgrow in inactive. Elderly cats rarely if ever require a complete bath. You can. almost always clean them sufficiently with a soft wash cloth, infant- safe. Your. Old Cat’s Kidneys CRF (Chronic Renal Failure, CKD)When. As. cats age, there is a slow but steady decrease in the weight of their. Cats are born with a certain. Cats are born with extra reserves of glomeruli. Any stress that causes these. Diet. and lifestyle can be risks for early kidney failure in cats. And, as I mentioned. The. most common signs of CRF that owners observe are weight loss and increased. The most common signs that veterinarians find are increased. BUN). and creatinine in the pets blood, a decrease in blood potassium and. However, the problem is stealthy. Examination. of your cat’s urine for abnormal protein leakage is sometimes. The most sensitive tests currently. Heska. and the Urine Protein Creatinine (Urine P: C). Ratio offered by Idexx. However, it is not clear if this test actually predicts which cats. It happens to us too (ref). Keeping your cat well. Another. is the addition of antioxidants to its diet. Fish oils, containing. Several pet food companies market. Hills Prescription. K/d, Purina NF, etc). Protein in those diets is of higher. Some organ or system inevitably fails in all of us. There are. veterinarians that are suspicious that common vaccinations most cats. Your. Cat’s Creature Comforts. Making. small modifications to your home and household routine can make life. They also greatly appreciate a life free. A. soft bed, in a quite, accessible location will be much appreciated. Many. old cats appreciate added warmth on cold days. Either set your home. Use shallow bowls with low. Purchase. several easy- entry litter boxes. Warmed. canned cat foods with pungent odor and a bit of added water encourages. No. introduction of new pets – especially new cats. A. gentle, house call veterinarian to avoid stressful trips to the vet. Loss. Of Litterbox Training – Soiling The House. This. is a common problem in older cats. The first thing to do is separate. Some cats loose litter box. These three causes occur in roughly equal numbers. When. removing inter- cat stress, other stressors, and dietary and home modifications. When. an underlying disease has been ruled out, you will find my general. What. Health Problems Are Common In Older Cats ? As. I mentioned earlier, your cat’s kidneys are quite sensitive. High on the list are. In my experience, cancers of cats are often more aggressive. I see in dogs. These health problems often appear between. By the age of 1. 2 they are common. It is also. common for oldsters to have more than one problem going on at a time. When your veterinarian runns blood tests on your older cat.
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