Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Properly Caring For Senior Cats

By Moses Wright

Aging cats experience physical changes. Advanced aging can cause minor changes or cat diseases. When caring for senior cats, the cat owner should be aware of normal physical changes and report any significant or sudden changes to the veterinarian.

Aging causes normal, gradual physical changes. Dehydration is a concern for aging cats because they become less sensitive to the first drive as they age. Cats may become more sensitive to heat or cold because aging decreases their ability to regulate their body temperatures.

Many older cats experience changes in the acuity of their senses. The senior cat's sense of sight or hearing may decline gradually as the cat ages. Sudden or drastic changes should be reported to the veterinarian since sudden or extreme changes can be signs of cat diseases.

Older cats are prone to developing age-related cat diseases and infections. Arthritis is a condition that that is more common in senior cats. Arthritis can cause inflammation of the joints which can be painful.

Senior cats often develop changes in their mouths. Common problems that affect the cat's mouth are mouth ulcers, dental disease, and tooth loss.

Many cat owners of senior cats are concerned about cancer. Sores that won't heal and growths or bumps can be signs of cat cancer. A cat should be examined by a veterinarian as soon as possible if the cat owner notices any possible signs of cat cancer.

Caring for senior cats is different than caring for the cat when it was younger. A diet that is lower in calories can benefit a senior cat, because older cats are less active and therefore useless calories. Therefore, the cat may gain weight if fed the same food as that you see when it was younger and more active. Obesity is a serious concern for older cats sense of the city can make the cat susceptible to diabetes mellitus and arthritis.

Aging cats need regular veterinary checkups more frequently than they did as young adults. Veterinarians use these checkups to screen for age-related cat diseases.

Because senior cats become less active, cat owners should initiate play frequently. Many senior cat owners do not realize that active play is essential for senior cats to retain muscle strength and to get exercise that can benefit several cat health conditions like arthritis.

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