Advances in veterinary medicine have significantly increased the lifespan of many cats. Better research and the development of proper diets, along with improved treatments for emerging and chronic diseases, have made it not so uncommon for cats to live to 17 years of age—and well beyond. By becoming aware of special concerns and health problems in older cats, you can help ensure your cat continues to thrive well into their senior years.
The old standby for comparing a cat’s age to a human’s age is that each cat year equals seven human years. In reality, cats’ early development takes about two years, making a two-year-old cat approximately the equivalent of a 21-year-old person. After that, each calendar year of life is roughly equivalent to four cat years. For example, an 8-year-old cat is like a 45-year-old human, a 14-year-old cat is about 69 years old, and a 20-year-old cat is actually 94 in cat years. The age at which a cat is considered geriatric varies, but most agree it’s between 8 and 10 years old.
Importance of Regular Veterinary Check-ups
Annual exams with your veterinarian are essential for keeping your pet healthy at any age. Especially with older cats, physical exams every six months can help catch problems before they become serious. Remember, every calendar year is equivalent to four cat years—so if your cat only visits the vet once a year, it’s like your 75-year-old parent only seeing a doctor every four years, which we all know isn’t a good idea!
Bi-annual physical exams with your veterinarian can assess all aspects of your cat’s health. By weighing your cat, your veterinarian can track their physical condition and note if they start losing or gaining weight. Significant weight loss or gain in older cats is often the first sign of a health issue, followed by changes in appetite, water consumption, stool consistency, frequency of feces, or an increase in urination or difficulty urinating. If your older cat shows any of these symptoms, regardless of when their last exam was, it’s crucial for your veterinarian to assess your pet.
The most common health problems in older cats include hyperthyroidism, renal disease and failure, diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, and dental disease. Fortunately, these conditions can often be managed with current veterinary medicine, allowing affected cats to live longer, healthier lives.
Renal (kidney) disease and failure are among the leading causes of death in cats. While kidney failure is common in older cats, early detection and management allow many cats with renal failure to live well beyond their initial diagnosis. The kidneys filter the blood, separate waste products, and expel them through urine. When parts of the kidneys stop functioning, waste products accumulate in the body, leading to symptoms like weight loss, decreased appetite, depression, increased thirst and urination, and dehydration.
Because the kidneys can function normally until at least 70% of their capacity is lost, symptoms of kidney disease often appear only after severe damage has occurred. Routine blood work and urine analysis can detect kidney disease early, allowing for preventive measures. Special diets can help lessen the workload on the kidneys and support their function. Even in later stages, changes in diet and administering daily fluids under the skin can help extend kidney function, allowing many cats to live for months or even years with this assistance.
Diabetes is becoming increasingly common in cats. In a healthy animal, the pancreas produces insulin, a hormone that allows the body to use the glucose from food for energy. In diabetic cats, either insufficient insulin is produced, or the body becomes resistant to it, preventing cells from absorbing glucose properly. As a result, the body starves for energy, and the first sign of diabetes is usually a ravenous appetite as the cat tries to compensate. The excess glucose in the blood causes the kidneys to work overtime, leading to increased thirst and urination.
Diabetic cats can often be managed with a combination of diet changes and insulin injections. Specially formulated low-carbohydrate diets can help reduce the need for insulin, making blood sugar regulation easier. With proper care, diabetic cats can live just as long as healthy cats.
A common condition in older cats, hyperthyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland becomes overactive. The thyroid produces hormones that control metabolism, but when production increases, it can cause a variety of problems. Affected cats typically lose a significant amount of weight despite having an increased appetite. Other symptoms include increased thirst and urination, vomiting, diarrhea, a rapid heartbeat, high blood pressure, and behavior changes. Hyperthyroidism can be diagnosed through blood tests and is typically controlled with daily medication, allowing cats to live normal lives with this condition.
Other common health issues in older cats include inflammatory bowel disease (increased inflammatory cells in the intestinal lining, leading to poor nutrient absorption, vomiting, diarrhea, and even cancer) and dental disease.
For any cat in their golden years, paying close attention to their physical appearance, behavior, and habits can help you spot potential health problems early, before they become serious. Additionally, bi-annual health exams with your veterinarian will ensure your cat has every opportunity to live a long, healthy life.
