Health care management of elderly cats, let your cats live longer! Cat aging is a slow and inevitable process. Aging is a physiological process in which metabolism is disrupted at the molecular and cellular levels over time. Ultimately, this leads to degeneration and death. Of course, cat aging is not only physical, but also has psychological changes, which will affect the cat's sleep and other quality of life. Therefore, all aspects of the cat's elderly health care management are very important.

I. Feeding and management of elderly cats

The lifespan of cats is similar to that of dogs, with an average age of about ten years. For pet cats, when they enter the age of 7, it means that it has begun to enter old age. The cat's body will slowly age in the future, and its body function will slowly decline. Therefore, special attention should be paid when feeding older cats. Especially in terms of diet, as an owner, it is necessary to know what is better for an elderly cat to eat.

But high-quality, easily digestible protein is more important than ever to support overall health. Premium geriatric cat food is concentrated in a variety of nutrients, high in quality, low in fat, protein and digestible carbohydrates to provide the energy your geriatric cat needs.

Vital minerals help strengthen their bones and joints, and vitamins and proteins help strengthen the immune system and prevent infectious diseases. Cat food for senior cats has a special formula for senior cats to adapt and meet the nutritional needs and eating habits of senior cats. Therefore, cats can eat a large meal without worrying about any nutritional deficiencies.

2. Healthcare

1. Digestive tract

Dental disease may affect food intake, and older cats have reduced digestibility of protein, fat, and starch. Providing a diet suitable for older or older healthy cats can significantly improve their quality of life and slow the aging process. Vitamin E can improve the digestibility of fats, and vitamin B12 has also been shown to help with protein and fat digestion. The benefits of better provision of antioxidants, essential fatty acids and prebiotics throughout the cat's life cycle are also now well recognized.  

2. Coat 

In addition to senile diseases such as chronic kidney disease In addition to skin and coat changes such as hyperthyroidism or hyperthyroidism, osteoarthritis can also impair a cat's grooming ability resulting in a messy appearance. In older cats, there may be white coats, hair loss, nail deformities, and brittle nails. In addition, older cats have progressively less elastic skin and may also experience changes in the sebaceous glands and pili muscles.    

3. Urinary Tract

Risk of Urinary Tract Infection in Older Cats increase because of their reduced ability to concentrate urine, not to mention the possible presence of other medical conditions such as chronic kidney disease and diabetes. Calcium oxalate stones are mostly seen in middle-aged to older cats. Chronic kidney disease is the leading cause of death in cats. Early diagnosis and treatment through screening tests is the best way to prolong the survival of affected cats. Appropriate dietary adjustments have been shown to be the best way to treat chronic kidney disease in cats. For cats with anorexia, a feeding tube (esophagostomy) can be used long-term.  

4. Endocrine system 

Diabetes is the most common endocrine disease in cats one. It is associated with obesity and is type II in 85%-95% of cases. Giving a proper diet may relieve the condition. There also appears to be an increase in hyperthyroidism in cats, and the diagnosis of the disease is based on a combination of clinical symptoms and elevated T4 values. Compared with dogs, hyperadrenalism in cats is less common and is usually pituitary-dependent but may also be iatrogenic (steroids). Adrenal insufficiency is a rare autoimmune disease, and hyperaldosteronism in cats is often caused by tumors.  

5. Cancer 

Like all other species, tumors in cats are Incidence increases with age (immunoaging). Environmental factors, such as exposure to sunlight in white cats, passive smoking, etc., play an important role in certain tumors (eg, squamous cell carcinoma). Guidelines to limit the risk of vaccine-induced fibrosarcoma have been implemented. Fortunately, recent major research advances in tumor diagnosis and treatment, as well as better methods of pain awareness management, mean cats with cancer can expect to live longer and more comfortable lives.

Three, quality of life 

Old cat Hearing loss occurs, and some cats gradually lose their hearing. The fur appears thin and dry, hair loss is severe, the body weakens, muscles atrophy, and the fluid between the joints begins to dry up, causing inflammation and discomfort. The lens of the eye becomes cloudy and slightly grayish-blue. The fur around the mouth, nose, and ears turns white or yellow. Attention should be paid to regular care and improvement of living conditions for elderly cats.

It is important to regularly assess a cat's quality of life during routine diagnosis. Some owners may overlook important signs of cat pain, and it is the role of the clinical veterinarian to ask questions. Cats are masters at hiding discomfort, disease, and pain, because showing weakness means it can be their Achilles' heel in the wild.  

Doctors should spend some time talking with owners about making life easier for older cats, and they tend to be creative. In this way, cats with arthritis, for example, may benefit from changes in their environment, such as slightly elevated food and water bowls, using a litter box with a lower rim, and making one that helps the cat pass Cat hole and make sure you can get to its favorite place with ramps and more. The owner may also move the furniture to make some changes if necessary.