Many people remark that cats are like people in some ways, and vice versa. Well, this is very accurate, actually. Cats are very much like humans, in many ways, including some of the ailments we seem to acquire in our older age.
In this article, we will talk about some of the health issues our feline friends go through, that, as you will see, are very similar to what we go through as humans as we age.
Our hope is that you can read about some of these ailments, and help to prevent them with your cat, as there are ways for your pet to avoid having to go through these things.
Feline Arthritis
Arthritis is a common disease in older cats resulting from cartilage deterioration which is responsible for protecting bones joints from rubbing against each other.
Frequent injury and obesity can put pressure on the joints causing arthritis. Symptoms of this condition include limping, pain, swollen joints and infrequent grooming.
Adding supplements to your cat’s diet like omega-3 can reduce inflammation. In serious cases, medications like the non-steroidal anti-inflammatories help in treating the pain.
Chronic Kidney / Renal Failure
Chronic Kidney Failure is a disease usually found in older cats where the kidneys are not able to remove all of the waste products from the blood.
Symptoms include increases in thirst and water consumption, occasional vomiting, loss of weight and appetite, and poor condition of the cat’s coat.
Common methods of treating chronic kidney failure include providing a constant supply of clean fresh water and feeding the cats wet food. No cure exists for chronic kidney failure.
Feline Dental Disease
Dental disease is one of the most commonly occurring diseases in cats, especially for felines older than two years.
Signs of a dental disease include bad breath, loss of appetite and weight loss. Some common dental diseases that occur in cats are:
Plaque
A cat’s saliva contains mineral salts and tartar buildup occurs due to them. Often the tartar affected tooth ends up falling out or needed to be pulled by the vet.
Dental Resorption
Nearly 60% cats suffer from this disease. The chances increases with age of the cat. Dental resorption is marked by the appearance of inflammation in the tissues next to the tooth.
Gingivitis
It is detected by appearance of redness around the tooth. Gingivitis causes bleeding and sore gums. It can even cause loss of tooth.
This disease must be urgently attended to because if it is left untreated, it can lead to a systemic infection or an infection of the heart muscle
Prevention of dental diseases can be accomplished by adhering to the following:
• Brushing teeth with toothpaste weekly
• Feeding the cat with dry food
• Going to the vet to get your cat’s regular dental checkups done. A cleaning may be required periodically
What have you run into with your older cat? If you have witnessed any diseases not listed here, please share your story in the comments. We would love to hear from you!
