Signs Your Cat is Getting Old

Cats start showing their age once they reach double digits, despite having "nine lives."  From cat years to human years, an 11-year-old cat is in his 60s and in  senior years, which means the health risks  are higher, and your cat is most likely experiencing some pain due to old  age.

Source: PetMD

Every cat ages differently, from mobility to   mental cognition. Every cat owner wants to give their best to their dear feline friend. Taking care of a senior cat can be challenging. But with proper care and love, you can be sure these signs of aging wont impact your cat's overall happiness.

Here are some signs that your cat is getting old:

Weight Fluctuations

Losing 1-2 lbs is not necessarily concerning aspect of aging. To some cats, this could only mean slimming down from their weight of early adulthood.

Weight loss in senior cat can be attributed to different factors:

• Muscle loss – Many senior cats, especially those with arthritis are prone to muscle loss. They may feel more boney to the touch. But as long as you keep providing them with a nutritious diet, this muscle loss should not cause your cat any severe issues.

• Increased caloric needs – when cats enter their senior years, their body changes and some require more calories to function daily. To keep up with their body’s needs, you may need to increase their daily consumption.

• Side effects of illness – some of the common problems of aging cats are diabetes, heart disease, and kidney disease. One of the side effects of these include weight loss. 

Weight loss can be associated to high-risk health problems and natural aging which makes it difficult to know when to seek professional help. It is always a good reason to take your cat to the vet whenever you notice significant changes in his behavior. 

On the other hand, a slowing metabolism may also be what is causing the weight gain. There are cat food specially made for senior cats which have lower calories and  protein, but providing enough calories without causing excess weight gain. 

Fur Problems

As cats age, you may notice some changes in their fur. Their fur will lose a bit of luster and may get a little thinner. Here are other causes of fur problems in senior cats:

• Decreased grooming – most older cats are less interested in grooming. Whether it’s from physical or cognitive issues, it’s common to notice your senior cat spending a little bit less time grooming themselves. Sometimes the opposite - which is overgrooming may also indicate some health issues which is why it’s also important to know the signs of over grooming.

• Dental issues – you may notice your cat’s fur is looking a bit greasy, it could be due to several dental issues that causes their saliva to be less effective at cleaning their fur. They may be taking adequate time to clean, but like mopping the floor with dirty water, it may not get the job done.

• Mobility issues – discomfort may interfere with your cat’s grooming. If it’s painful for your senior cat to bend and flex, they may avoid cleaning certain areas. It can be from arthritis or osteoporosis—which are also common issues in older cats.

It’s best to consult with your vet if you notice a lack of shine in your senior cat’s coat as this could be linked to obesity and diabetes.

Less Energy and Mobility

As cats age, they usually have decreased energy and mobility. That means you may notice your cat showing these behaviors:

• Increased napping
• Shows less interest in toys
• Avoiding the stairs or jumping

These tips may help out your elder cat with their mobility issues:

• Cat stairs and ramps – A set of cat stairs leading to your bed or their condo can make it easier for a senior cat to get to the elevations they're used to without putting extra strain to their joints.

• Extra comfort – consider investing in a quality cat bed and extra blankets for your aging cat. This could be what they need for a comfortable restful sleep.

• Closer litter boxes – to avoid unfortunate accidents, you can make things a little easier on your senior cat by providing litter boxes on every floor of your home. That way your cat can avoid some stairs when it’s time to do their business.

Vision Change

As cats age, their senses become dull and one of these senses is vision. Unfortunately there is no plausible treatment to correct this. 

Some of these vision problems are:

• Cataracts – cataracts form when the transparent lens of the eyes become clouded, thus light is unable to pass through. This may cause difficulty on your aging cat in navigating. Eventually, cataracts may cause blindness, although the condition can be reversed through surgery.

• Retinal detachment – common causes of this is diabetes, high  blood pressure, or glaucoma. Sometimes physical trauma may also lead to retinal detachment. Retinal detachment may lead to permanent vision loss. 

• Blindness - some causes of blindness are feline immunodeficiency virus, feline leukemia virus, and feline infectious peritonitis virus. These can result in serious blindness on cats of any age.

Behavioral Changes

Cats are known to be moody and weird in a cute way. You most likely have an idea about your cat's "normal behaviour." Still, behavior changes are common in elderly cats, some of these are:

• Aggression
• Excessive sleeping
• Hiding in strange places

Your Kitty's regular routine may suddenly change. They may groom themselves a little bit more than usual or take their naps in places different from their usual locations. Behavioral changes in older cats may be the result of issues such as:

• Cognitive decline – like us humans, our brains age as  we do. It's the same with cats. Confusion or anxiety in cats may be a result of this condition. 

• Underlying health issues – when cats are suffering from untreated illness they often hide or avoid human interactions. Chronic pain or kidney failure may be the reason your cat is acting differently.

If your cat’s behavior is causing them anxiety or you cannot pinpoint what is wrong, it may be good to talk to your vet to see if your cat has underlying health issues. 

Digestion Problems

It becomes more difficult for cats for their body to digest proteins and fats as they age, sometimes requiring dietary change to avoid severe weight loss. Senior cats may have increased vomiting or diarrhea, which are likely the result of any of the following:

• Kidney disease – kidney disease is very common in older cats. If left untreated, this can cause nausea and digestion issues. This is due to their blood is not properly filtered off waste products and phosphates.

• Chronic small intestinal disease - commonly caused by chronic inflammation or even cancer. It is more difficult to be noticed by pet owners since most cats suffering from this still maintain a healthy appetite. Some symptoms of chronic small intestine disease that you may observe are frequent vomiting and weight loss. 

• Hyperthyroidism – overactive thyroid may cause diarrhea, vomiting, and several other serious side effects. This condition is common among senior cats and can be diagnosed through routine veterinary screenings. Once detected, it can be treated through medication, diet, or surgery.

Your cat may likely show one of these common issues as he age. Older cats can also develop incontinence too. Keep an eye on your cat’s appetite and check what you clean off their litter so you can monitor their digestive health. It is always best to treat health issues when detected early.

Kidney Disease in Cats Part 2

Diet
The Protein Controversy
You may have heard that restricting protein is recommended for cats in kidney failure. Although this has been the “standard” treatment for decades, as far as cats are concerned, it has always been–and remains–very controversial. Restricted protein does not prevent kidney failure in a healthy cat. Some experts also suggest that protein has no effect on the ultimate progression of renal disease. Research also shows that even very high protein diets do not make renal failure worse in cats (although high protein does worsen the disease in dogs and humans). (One pet food maker recently completed a study it claims shows that its restricted-protein diet increases lifespan in CRF cats.
However, because the study has not yet been published, it is impossible to evaluate the data, which is contradicted by other research. The real culprit is actually phosphorus, which meat contains in large amounts. Decreasing phosphorus intake (by restricting protein) can help some cats feel better, so it may be worth a try in a symptomatic cat.
Some studies have suggested that excessive restriction of protein may actually cause further damage to the kidneys and other organs, because there is not enough protein for normal body maintenance and repair. Experts say that these diets are not appropriate until the BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen) is at least double what it should be normally (about 60-80 mg/dl).
Furthermore, there is one big problem with using the protein-restricted commercial diets: many cats don't like them, and won't eat them. Obviously, it does little good to provide a special diet if the cat is going to starve to death! Experts emphasize that it is much more important to feed the cat what he likes and will eat, and maintain weight and body condition, than to be overly concerned about protein content. (Please note that if you add any other protein source to the diet, it will completely negate any possible beneficial effect from the low-phosphorus renal diet. It is useless to feed both a renal diet and a normal protein food or meat-based treats at the same time.)
Let me say this again, because it is the single most important thing to know about CRF: feed the cat anything she will eat! IF THE CAT WON'T EAT IT, IT WON'T HELP THE CAT! Weight loss is your cat's worst enemy in this disease; so let the cat eat what she wants!
Because water balance is so crucial, it is best to feed a high-moisture diet to help keep the cat hydrated; do not feed only dry food. Feeding mostly or only canned food, even though it is high in phosphorus and protein, provides the moisture and calories that these cats need, in a very palatable form that most cats will happily eat. You can also get low-phosphorus renal diets in canned form. Dry cat food causes dehydration even in healthy cats, and is not appropriate for  CRF cats (unless, of course, it's the only food he will eat!).
The best thing you can do is feed a home-prepared diet; but only if the cat will eat it! If the cat has never eaten homemade food, or does not have a hearty appetite, this is not a good time to make this switch! There are several good books on home cooking for animals, such as Dr. Pitcairn's Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats, by Richard Pitcairn, DVM, and Susan Pitcairn. (Rodale Press. ISBN 075962432.) They discuss why a diet made from fresh, raw foods is important, and provide recipes, including a special recipe specifically designed for animals with kidney disease. Another excellent book is Home-Prepared Dog and Cat Diets: the Healthful Alternative by Donald R. Strombeck, DVM. (Iowa State University Press. ISBN 0813821495.) If you choose to use Dr. Strombeck's recipes, I suggest substituting 1 capsule of taurine (250 mg) for the canned clams, since clams do not contain enough taurine for proper maintenance.
Special Nutrition for Chronic Renal Failure
Several nutritional supplements may be helpful for cats with kidney disease. Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to be beneficial in CRF. Antioxidants are also important. Both of these are contained in the highly digestible algae, Biosuperfood. A nutritional supplement called "Renafood" from Standard Process, is a good renal detoxifier and helps to maximize kidney function in cats. Give one or two a day. Most cats eat them readily if they are crushed into the
food. Call Standard Process at             1-800-558-8740       to find a distributor in your area. Remember, though, that the basic diet is the most important factor in your cat's health, and no supplement will make up for poor quality nutrition. For more info on feeding, choosing a good food, and switching to a better diet, see the many nutrition articles in our Library.

Supplemental Fluids
Your veterinarian can give your cat subcutaneous fluids in the clinic, or teach you how to give them at home. This is the least intrusive and most beneficial treatment you can give your cat. Cats in chronic renal failure drink a lot of water, but they cannot drink enough to compensate for the loss of water through the kidneys. Subcutaneous fluids are an excellent way to help keep the toxins flushed out of the bloodstream and make the cat feel much better. If the cat is sick or not eating, it may be necessary to hospitalize it for a few days for intravenous fluid therapy, followed by subcutaneous fluids at home as needed.  A semi-permanent "port" that can be inserted in the cat's skin has taken much of the hassle out of this procedure; talk to your vet about having this installed. It is best to have this procedure done by a veterinarian who has lots of experience with these ports since there can be many complications.

Holistic Veterinary Care
While no treatment can create new kidney cells when scar tissue has already formed, homeopathy, herbs, flower essences or acupuncture may be able to help your cat feel better and live a better quality of life. Click on this link for a directory of holistic veterinary practitioners by state.

Other Resources

The Feline CRF Information Center is an incredible website devoted to cats in renal failure. You can find out just about everything there is to know about this disease here, as well as explore a host of excellent links to other feline health sites. You can also sign up for their email list, which can be a great resource and support for guardians of CRF cats.

What is the prognosis?
Once sufficient damage has been done to the kidneys to cause CRF, the compensatory changes and adaptations that occur to try to maintain normal kidney function usually eventually fail and progressive kidney damage occurs. The disease is usually therefore progressive over time and will eventually lead to the need for euthanasia. However the rate of progression of renal disease varies considerably between individuals and appropriate support and treatment can both increase the quality of life of affected cats and also potentially slow down the progression of the disease.

Pet Loss Support
Ultimately, fighting CRF is a losing battle, and may carry a great emotional cost to the family.
Losing a beloved cat to CRF is just as traumatic as losing a human family member, but friends and
family don’t always understand. There are many resources to help you through the difficult times and
tough decisions you will have to make for your cat, and to support you afterward. Many of these are
listed on the Feline CRF pet loss support page.