Complete Care for Your Aging Cat Read online

used to spend most of their time outside with little or no supervision.

  Consequently, they became victims of extremes of temperature, malice

  from disgruntled neighbors or other pets, exposure to disease and

  accidental injuries that cut their lives short.

  For example, cats of the past were typical y infested with a variety of

  disease-causing parasites, which also made them more susceptible to

  other il ness and less able to recover. They ate a mixed diet of table

  scraps, commercial canned food, and whatever wildlife they could catch.

  Viral diseases such as panleukopenia (cat distemper) and upper

  respiratory infections kil ed 50 percent or more of kittens before their first

  birthday. Repeated pregnancies without proper nutritional support

  also caused early death to the mother cats, and produced offspring that

  often were unable to survive past kittenhood. Roaming and squabbling

  over breeding issues resulted in debilitating fight injuries among adults,

  and if a cat’s behavior became a problem, he was put to death. Being hit

  by a car was also a top cause of early feline death. Even when cats

  survived, owners often were unable or unwil ing to treat the injuries, in part

  because cats were considered to be replaceable. Although a vaccine

  for cat distemper was available, in 1965, veterinarians saw fewer than 25

  percent of pet cats even once a year and most cats weren’t protected.

  Many cats died of feline leukemia virus (FeLV), which was first identified in

  1967, or from feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). There were no treatments

  or preventives available. People simply put the injured or sick cat to sleep,

  then got another pet and didn’t think much about it.

  Until the last decade, few cats lived long enough to suffer from “old cat”

  conditions such as arthritis, or hyperthyroidism. Those that did were rarely

  treated, either because owners weren’t interested, or the veterinary

  community hadn’t yet developed the ability to diagnosed and treat such

  things on a routine basis.

  Today, cats are living longer primarily because owners are more

  knowledgeable and take better care of them, says Steven L. Marks, BVSc,

  a surgeon and internist at Louisiana State University. Most pet cats live

  most of the time inside the house with their human family. Many cats are

  exclusively indoor pets. And if a behavior problem develops, instead of

  replacing the cat, owners seek help to correct the problem.

  Secondly, cats are living longer because better veterinary treatments

  now are available, and are routinely sought by owners. Cats routinely

  receive preventive medications to guard against deadly pests such as

  heartworms, intestinal parasites, ticks and fleas. Palatable and nutritious

  cat foods support the animal’s physical health to develop healthy bones,

  muscles and immune system during al life stages—kitten growth,

  reproduction, adult maintenance, and senior cats. Regular cat foods are

  now designed to prevent the most common type of urinary stone, and also

  contain the proper amounts of essential nutrients, such as taurine, which

  has virtual y eliminated a type of heart disease and blindness that used to

  affect cats.

  Advances in preventive medicine saved the lives of countless felines

  when highly effective vaccinations for upper respiratory diseases were

  developed in the mid-1970s. The 1980s saw the introduction of better

  tests and vaccines for FeLV and FIP. Once feline immunodeficiency virus

  (FIV) was identified in 1987, accurate tests helped prevent the spread of

  the deadly virus. The first preventive FIV vaccine, released in 2002, shows

  great promise for saving even more cat lives.

  Modern breeders study the science and genetics of reproduction to

  ensure that they produce healthy pedigreed animals that live longer.

  Spaying and neutering of pet cats at an early age has become the norm.

  This eliminates potential behavior problems as wel as health issues such

  as breast cancer, and helps to increase the lifespan of cats.

  Final y, cats are living longer because many pet owners choose to treat

  chronic conditions such as diabetes and hyperthyroidism, and are able

  and wil ing to offer a wide range of treatment and home care to keep aging

  cats healthy, happy and active. Rather than car accidents or viruses that

  cut lives short, modern cats more typical y succumb to diseases such as

  cancer, heart or kidney failure that tend to strike after age 10. Modern

  treatments help maintain the cat’s quality of life, and this better care

  translates into extra years of enjoyment people can share with their special

  cats.

  Extra years together mean the loving bond people share with cats

  becomes even stronger as time goes by. Older cats also offer benefits—

  steadiness, known behaviors and temperament, calm demeanor—which

  kittens take years to develop. For instance, children may grow up with a

  special cat who serves as a playmate; then as the cat ages, he evolves

  into a best friend and confidant during the child’s turbulent teenage years.

  A cat can be the comforting constant in families split apart by divorce,

  offering stress relief to both the adults and children involved.

  A cat accompanies his youthful owner to col ege, is a study buddy and

  party friend, and then travels down the aisle with him (sometimes literal y!)

  when the owner begins his new family. A graying older cat often “adopts”

  human babies as her own, and then serves as playmate or a furry security

  blanket to the infant. Aging cats can also give a new purpose and fil the

  void left in the household when children leave for col ege, or when a loved

  one’s death leaves the surviving spouse bereft.

  Using This Book

  An outstanding source of information about your aging cat’s needs is

  your veterinarian. Many times, though, he or she wil only have a limited

  amount of time available during visits to answer your questions. That’s why

  today’s cat owners educate themselves about feline needs and arrive at

  the veterinary office armed with information gathered from research on the

  Internet, other pet owners, magazines and books—such as Complete

  Care For Your Aging Cat.

  You are reading these pages because you cherish the relationship you

  share with your older cat—whether he’s an active seven-year-old, or a

  mel ow 17-year-old feline. Complete Care For Your Aging Cat not only

  offers great information about what physical and emotional changes may

  happen as your cat becomes a senior citizen, and how veterinary care can

  help, it also provides practical solutions to common problems, contact

  information for helpful products, educational and emotional support

  resources, and countless cost-saving home treatments.

  Owners of aging cats typical y are wil ing to provide the extra care that

  keeps pets happy and comfortable. Medical help is a big part of that.

  Because many people are interested in alternative care in their own lives,

  a discussion of the pros and cons of “holistic” and conventional “al opathic”

  medicine for cats is covered in the book. Both approaches offer great

  benefit
s

  for

  senior

  cats,

  and

  combination

  therapies—cal ed

  complementary medicine—may provide the greatest help.

  On the conventional side, veterinary specialists such as surgeons and

  oncologists usual y cost more, but they offer cutting-edge care that many

  cat owners are wil ing to fund in order to keep their cats feeling good. In

  fact, repeated surveys by the American Animal Hospital Association

  (AAHA) indicate more than 70 percent of pet owners would go into debt for

  their pet’s wel being. Yet cats get the short end of the veterinary stick.

  The American Veterinary Medical Association's 2007 U.S. Pet

  Ownership and Demographics Sourcebook published results from

  surveying 48,000 households. This information, compiled about every two

  years and shared with the United States census, reports that 36.6 percent

  of cat-owning households received no veterinarian care in 2006

  compared to 17.3 percent of dog households! The cost of treatment may

  be one reason, so I’ve included breakout information titled Bottom Line

  which estimate how much a given diagnosis and therapy might cost.

  It’s All About The Cat!

  The CATalyst Council was formed in 2008 to improve the status of cats

  and counter the trend of felines receiving less care than canine

  counterparts. This coalition of the veterinary community, academia,

  nonprofits, industry and animal welfare organizations includes the

  American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP), the American

  Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the Society of Animal Welfare

  Administrators (SAWA) and the American Animal Hospital Association

  (AAHA).

  More and more pet owners purchase health insurance for their cats

  because it can make treatments and care for chronic il nesses—even

  cutting-edge and alternative therapies—quite affordable for the average

  owner. A checklist for evaluating pet insurance is included to help you

  make informed decisions. Another potential cost-saving measure is home

  nursing care that also can keep your cat happier and more comfortable

  during convalescence. The most common nursing techniques are

  described to help you decide which might be a good option for your

  situation.

  Because of a lifetime of good care, many aging cats stay quite healthy

  throughout their golden years and won’t require anything but routine

  veterinary care for years and years. That makes it even more important for

  owners to know how to be good partners in their cat’s good health. After

  al , you live with your cat al year long, you know him best, and you wil be

  the first to recognize a problem and get help if something goes amiss.

  Complete Care For Your Aging Cat offers practical ways to ensure a

  high level of enjoyment and happiness for both you and your cat, as he

  continues to age. It’s important to understand how bones and muscles

  change with age, and that aging eyes and ears can influence behavior, for

  example. Senior cats often need help grooming themselves, and become

  less wil ing to walk up and down stairs. Providing a ramp, some comb

  time, and an extra litter box keeps everyone happy and prevents

  “accidents” that upset human and cat alike. Many owners of aging cats

  wil ingly rearrange their schedules to accommodate their pet—coming

  home for lunch to give a pil or special meal for the cat, for example. After

  al , it’s what we do for our friends.

  There are so many easy, simple and inexpensive ways for you to keep

  an aging cat happy and healthy! This book provides guidelines to create

  your own “health report card” to keep track of normal versus warning signs,

  and learn when you can treat problems at home and when a veterinary visit

  is needed. It also includes al the latest research about how pet owners can

  maintain old-cat physical health by choosing the right nutrition, providing

  safe and effective exercise, using easy grooming tips, and making positive

  changes to the cat’s home environment. Old cats may lose their sense of

  smel so that food is less appealing. Zapping the food in the microwave for

  10 seconds may be al that’s necessary to stimulate their flagging appetite.

  As a cat ages, his social standing among the other pets in the

  household may change. That can be due to health issues, changes in his

  activity level or reduced ability to hear and see. You can help him adjust to

  his new position and any physical limitations by using many of the tips

  offered in this book. Keeping the kitty soul healthy is equal y important to

  quality of life, so you’l get ideas of ways to enrich your cat’s emotional and

  mental health.

  Throughout the book you’l find breakout information with specific tips to

  help aging cats. For example, Comfort Zone offers product suggestions

  that are particularly applicable to the wel being of senior cats. Look

  especial y for Golden Moments, heartwarming stories of real cats and

  their people who are continuing to enjoy life while dealing with old pet

  concerns. Read how Zepp got a new kidney, Casey beat cancer, Rudy stil

  “sees” what’s important, and how Midgie’s legacy of love lives on. If you’re

  like me, you’l become a bit misty reading these inspirational stories that

  honor the love we share for our own cats.

  A frank discussion of quality of life issues—your own and the cat’s—is

  also covered. Every pet partnership is different, and it’s important for you

  to be sensitive to your family and to your cat, as to when is the best time to

  end his life. Grief is a normal part of losing a special cat. I’ve suggested

  ways to validate grief, help yourself and your children through this process,

  and honor the memory of a special pet.

  Don’t forget to take a look at the resources in the appendix, which

  include veterinary associations, subscription Email lists related to specific

  senior cat concerns, and contact information for the products mentioned

  earlier in the book. There’s also a list of must-have home remedies, a

  glossary of terms, and information about the experts who were interviewed

  for this book. The credentials of the experts quoted in each chapter are

  mentioned there only briefly, and further information about where to find

  them is found in the appendix. Unless otherwise noted, al the “Dr.”

  designations in the book refer to veterinarians. You or your veterinarian

  can contact these experts through the university or clinic with which they’re

  associated to see if your cat might benefit from their help.

  I hope you’l find this book to be a valuable resource for senior feline

  care that wil benefit you, your cat, and your veterinarian. More than

  anything, Complete Care For Your Aging Cat is a celebration of the

  lifetime of love we share with our special pets. Today, pet owners have

  more and better options than ever before to ensure that they enjoy their

  cat’s glorious golden years.

  PART ONE—HOW CATS AGE

  CHAPTER 1--DEFINING “OLD”

  What is considered “old” for a cat? The question of what is old is

  co
mplicated by the impact of genetics, environment, and individual

  characteristics. Consider human beings: one person may act, look and

  feel “old” at 65 while another 65-year-old remains an active athlete with a

  youthful attitude and appearance. The same is true for our cats.

  “I think that actual y varies a lot, and it’s getting older every year,”

  says Rhonda Schulman, DVM, an internist at the University of Il inois. “It

  used to be that eight was the major cutoff for the cat that was geriatric.

  Now we’re moving to the point that’s a prolonged middle age.” According

  to Guinness World Records, the oldest cat on record was Creme Puff

  owned by Jake Perry of Austin, Texas. Cream Puff was born August 3,

  1967 and stil living at the age of 37 in 2004.

  In general, we consider cats to be middle aged at seven to eleven

  years old, and geriatric thereafter. A good definition of old age for an

  animal is the last 25 percent of their lifespan, says Sarah K. Abood, DVM

  a clinical nutritionist at Michigan State University. However, since we can’t

  predict what an individual cat’s lifespan wil be, the beginning of old age is

  a bit arbitrary. Certain families of cats may be longer lived than others, in

  the same way that some human families enjoy a much greater longevity

  than others. The lifespan of your cat’s parents and grandparents is a good

  predictor of how long you can expect your cat to live. People who share

  their lives with pedigreed cats may be able to access this information

  through the cat’s breeder.

  Longevity of unknown heritage cats is much more difficult to predict.

  Even when felines are “part” Siamese or Persian, for example, these

  felines may inherit the very worst, or the very best, from the parents. The

  majority of pet cats are domestic shorthair or domestic longhair kitties of

  mixed ancestry, and the products of unplanned breeding. That by itself

  points to a poorer-than-average level of health for the parents, which in turn

  would be passed on to the kittens. Siblings within the same litter may have

  different fathers, and can vary greatly in looks, behavior, and health. When

  al is said and done, one should expect the random-bred cat-next-door kitty

  to be neither more nor less healthy than their pedigreed ancestors—as

  long as they al receive the same level of care and attention.

  “If you get a kitten, it is very likely you wil have this cat for the next fifteen