Cats often keep themselves and not alert owners when they are feeling ill or uncomfortable. As they approach their senior years, cats can suffer from age-related ailments just like the rest of the population. Here are a few of the top ways for astute owners to recognize again changes in their cats:
Changes in vision
If you begin to notice changes in the appearance of your cat’s eye color, pupil size, cloudiness of the cornea or blinking then it would be recommended you schedule a veterinary examination. As cats age ocular conditions, such as glaucoma, cataracts or even cancer of the eye can occur. Furthermore, systemic changes such as hypertension can be apparent through ocular changes.
Changes in mobility
You may start to notice your senior cat having more difficulty jumping up on the furniture or onto their favorite spot by the windows. Arthritis can be observed in aging cats when their joints and cartilage begin to degenerate. Cat owners will often observe stiffness, lameness or even difficulty entering and leaving the litterbox. Veterinarians can suggest medications to help slow down the progression of arthritis and alleviate discomfort in your cats.
Changes in litterbox usage
It is important for cat owners to keep a close eye on their cat’s litterbox usage. If you begin to notice your cat is making more frequent trips to the litterbox or that you are cleaning dirty litter more frequently it may be time to schedule a veterinary visit. Increased urination often goes hand in hand with increased drinking. The two together can indicate an underlying medical condition, such as diabetes, kidney disease or hyperthyroidism. Older cats are more predisposed to these conditions, specifically kidney disease. Early detection of any of these disease is important for treatment options and for slower the progression of the disease.
Changes in mouth odor
Many pet owners love the opportunity to snuggle and be in close contact with their favorite feline. A change in mouth odor may be the first change we notice upon these close encounters and can be an indicator of significant periodontal disease. The odor from the mouth, referred to as halitosis, can be one sign that your aging cat is having issues with their teeth and gums. Heavy tartar, plaque, gingivitis, root abscesses and tooth resorption are all alarming dental concerns that can make it painful and difficult for your cat to live a normal life. In addition to halitosis, many pet owners may observe increased drooling, weight loss and cats showing discomfort when chewing hard food. It is important to have your veterinarian examine your cat’s teeth to determine whether a dental cleaning will be beneficial for your cat’s current condition.
Changes in skin or fur appearance
Many pet owners may start to feel certain lumps and bumps as their cats age. These alterations in your cat’s skin and tissues should be examined by your veterinarian and observed for changes in size and consistency. There are various types of masses that can develop in our animals from benign, fatty masses (lipomas) to malignant, cancerous masses, such as squamous cell carcinoma or mast cell tumors. For any concerning masses your veterinarian may recommend a fine needle aspirate, which means they use a needle to take a sample of cells from within the mass and evaluate it under the microscope to further identify the type of mass. Another procedure for identification of possible cancerous masses is a biopsy. In this procedure a portion of the mass or the entire mass is removed and evaluated by a pathologist for determining a diagnosis. It is important that when you are petting your favorite feline you are also checking for any changes in their skin or coat that could alert you to potential problems.