| With good veterinary care, an indoor | | | | pace through the house yowling loudly for |
| lifestyle, cooperative genes and a pinch of | | | | some unidentifiable need. Such behavior |
| luck, cats can sometimes live to the age of | | | | changes have long been dismissed as normal |
| twenty years or more. Aging, however, brings | | | | aging; there is evidence, however, that the |
| with it both physical and behavioral changes | | | | degree of physical change in old brains |
| which, if ignored, may challenge even the | | | | corresponds with the degree of impairment, |
| most well-meaning of human companions. | | | | and that some animals age more successfully |
| | | | than others. |
| As cats grow old, their bodies change | | | | |
| internally as well as externally. Almost all | | | | How can you best prepare for the changes your |
| body systems are affected by aging. Lifelong | | | | cat may experience as she ages? First, talk |
| activity leads to joint inflammation or | | | | to your veterinarian about his or her |
| osteoarthritis, which can stiffen and slow | | | | particular program for older pets. Many |
| cats as it does humans. Important | | | | veterinary hospitals already have in place a |
| physiological functions taken for granted | | | | senior pet program to accommodate their large |
| over the course of a decade may start to slow | | | | population of aging patients (and, of course, |
| or malfunction. Kidney disease is a common | | | | the higher the quality of veterinary |
| affliction of old cats, as is hyperthyroidism | | | | medicine, the larger this population will |
| (an oversecretion of thyroid hormone due to | | | | grow!). At some point, screening tests for |
| cancer of the thyroid gland). Each of the | | | | blood chemistry (including kidney function), |
| senses deteriorates eventually, leading to | | | | urine, heart and thyroid function are |
| impaired vision, hearing, and abilities to | | | | advisable, as well as close monitoring of |
| taste and smell (which may, in turn, result | | | | body weight and condition. Depending upon |
| in decreased appetite). | | | | your individual needs, your veterinarian may |
| | | | suggest more frequent visits (for example, |
| While the physiological changes of older cats | | | | two or three times rather than once per |
| can often be detected through blood and urine | | | | year). In addition to physically measurable |
| analyses and other quantitative tests, | | | | changes, be sure to discuss behavior changes |
| behavioral changes may be difficult to | | | | including litter box habits, appetite and any |
| measure. The brain is paradoxically both the | | | | signs of confusion or irritability. |
| most complicated and the most poorly | | | | Establishing a baseline (for example, at the |
| understood of all body systems. Like any | | | | age of 9 or 10 years) for both physical and |
| other part of the body, it is susceptible to | | | | behavioral health is an ideal way to keep |
| the long-term deterioration of aging. Recent | | | | track of the changes that may appear in time. |
| recognition of cognitive impairment in old | | | | |
| dogs and cats has led to an increased | | | | Given the physical limitations that accompany |
| understanding of this surprisingly common | | | | aging, it is often helpful to make simple |
| problem. Cats, like dogs, people and other | | | | accommodations before they are needed. An |
| animals, begin to show some degree of memory | | | | additional litter box or two, perhaps close |
| loss and disorientation as they grow old. | | | | to your cats preferred resting area, is |
| | | | usually appreciated and used. Extra grooming |
| Although there are individual differences, | | | | can compensate for tired bones and stiff |
| elderly cats can seem confused and can show | | | | joints. A soft bed on the floor may be more |
| that confusion or cognitive impairment in | | | | accessible than that old perch on the sofa |
| characteristic ways. Many cats, for example, | | | | back. With some care and attention, your cat |
| will begin to urinate or defecate outside the | | | | can age happily and with the same quality of |
| litter box. They may jump off their owners | | | | life she has always known. |
| laps rather than sit for petting, or might | | | | |