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Pet Tracks
THE GERIATRIC CAT
Jan Jaeger
Along-time family friend was here this past week, and during her visit we had many trips down memory lane. Since our pets are part of our family lore, fond reminiscences included our cats as kittens and other life events where they have been involved. But I found that, where my cats' ages are concerned, my memory is not too reliable.
Blessedly, our personal cats have been with us a long time. So long, in fact, I had to search through my records to determine how old they really are. Jezebel, the black kitty, will be 20 years old next spring, or 96 in human years. Jetti, our Tortoiseshell, at a year younger, will then be 92. Venerable ladies, to be sure.
Our newest arrival, Nantucket cat Miz Edna, the cat who came to dinner and never left, is also hard to figure. She arrived on our doorstep sometime after we moved into this house 15 years ago, but we had no way of knowing her age. The guestimate was about a year old, which means she is well settled into the senior cat category, in fact, another geriatric, although she looks and behaves much younger.
Part of my inability to focus on cat age is that, in my experience, the feline aging process is much less dramatic than for a dog, so the years tend to slip by unnoticed. Suddenly, one day you observe some changes in behavior, ability or appearance.
It occurs to me that although my Jezebel still gets up on the bed to sleep next to me, she has recently stopped jumping up on the bathroom counter for her drink of water, she sleeps a great deal and the former happy wanderer limits her trips outside to brief naps in the warm sunshine. Jetti, who was treated for kidney issues a while back, seems revitalized. She has a gleam in her eye and delights in being close to her humans; however, she no longer jumps up on the bed, opting instead for her cozy bed on the floor. Both are short haired, but their coats now tend to mat and clump, shed more and lack natural luster. Litter box use is at an all time high.
Of course, some of these changes are the natural and inevitable byproducts of aging. Or they can signal serious disease, and a trip to the vet can help with early diagnosis and treatment. In any case, geriatric kitties can be healthy and happy if we know what to look for and how to take care of them.
With age, cats can lose the ability to digest and absorb fat, so this might be a time to change diet or feed more frequently. Kidney problems often result from natural changes in the kidney, but other health problems can also contribute to kidney disease. Increased intake of water and increased urination are the most obvious signs of kidney disease, but your veterinarian can determine the extent of the problem through tests. Special diets and medications can often control or minimize the effects of a loss of kidney function. For some time now, I have been offering my cats a dollop of canned food with their dry kibble to add more liquid into their diet, topped off with a spritz of salmon oil.
Jezebel has acquired one or two white whiskers, but otherwise, she has not shown any of the facial graying that often betrays an older pet. Her once glossy coat has become dull and by more frequent brushing, I try to encourage the natural oils and control the prodigious shedding. Aging makes the skin less elastic and thinner, so good nutrition and regular brushing will stimulate the oil glands to lubricate both skin and coat.
Cats are masters at enduring pain and if your senior cat is stiff and sore, shows loss of muscle mass and tone or suffers from arthritis, you might schedule a vet visit to see if any anti-inflammatory or pain medications can help. Do not self-prescribe any overthe counter medications for your cat; cats have a much lower tolerance to pain medications than humans or dogs. Gently flexing or massaging joints and muscles every day can stimulate circulation and make you both feel good.
It is not uncommon for an elderly cat to eliminate inappropriately outside the litter box. There are a number of medical problems that can be responsible for this change in behavior, but it could also be due to stress or physical limitations. The very deep litter boxes popular for clumping litters might be too difficult for a cat with joint pain or arthritis to access. If you have multiple levels in your home, consider adding more litter boxes and choose ones with lower sides. An older cat will have increased need for the litter box so clean it frequently.
Hearing loss, often associated with aging, might be difficult to detect in your older cat, particularly if there are other pets in the household that give visual clues to what is going on. Vision changes, cataracts, glaucoma or other eye diseases can also impair your older cat. Behavioral changes, such as aggression toward people or other pets in the household, might be an indication of pain from chronic aches or a fearful reaction to stimuli when lacking acute hearing or vision.
Enjoy your more fragile kitty in her later years, understand the limitations of your older pet and consult with your vet for ways to provide a good quality
of life. I
Jan Jaeger is owner of Geronimo's, Ltd., Nantucket's pet supply and gift shop, and is a member of DWAA and CWA (Dog and Cat Writer's Associations of America). Her pets at home are Junior, a Chesapeake Bay Retriever and three cats. At the shop are the cats, Messrs. Fish and Chips, Flower bunny, Willie guinea pig and two budgies. Send e-mail to jan@geronimos.com.
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