Having an elderly cat can be such a pleasure knowing their loyalty to you as their caregiver. They can also throw you for a loop with some disturbing health problems that you may not know to look for. New challenges await you as your cat's owner when it comes to managing your furry friend's health care needs. Some of the most commonly seen health issues that arise in elderly cats are diabetes, arthritis, and constipation.
Fact is, elderly cats are not as active as younger cats. They are done growing and don't typically need to fight to claim their territory. Since older cats know when they have a good thing going, they typically will want to eat like they are much younger than they actually are. They are not using as much energy to burn the calories but they will continue to eat as if they were kittens or young adults. Because of this, older cats that are prone to becoming constipated should have a high fiber, low calorie diet. Keeping them active and encouraging them to play will help keep their digestive system moving along making it easier to expend waste. Another thing that can block an elderly cat's digestive system is hairballs. Keeping your elderly feline companion brushed regularly regardless of how much fur they have will have alleviate this problem of ingesting fur and blocking up their digestive system.
If you think your elderly cat is constipated, call their vet before giving them any medicine, especially home remedies. While many veterinarians are not opposed to treating constipation with home remedies, they may want to see your cat and have them checked out to make sure there are no other health issues causing constipation. Some of the most popular home remedies include giving your elderly cat a teaspoon of wheat bran or two teaspoons of Metamucil added to wet cat food.
As cats get older, they will become prone to stiff or inflamed joints. Elderly cats that have feline arthritis tend to feel similar things to humans with arthritis. Just like humans, cats can develop arthritis for many different reasons. Any cat that has arthritis needs to seek medical attention on a regular basis to be correctly diagnosed and treated with appropriate medication. Some things you can try to help your elderly cat are keeping their bed near a warm area in the house. Some pet stores may even carry self-warming cat beds. Giving your cat this extra warmth helps them the most right when they first wake up. Another thing you can do to help your arthritic cat is to make sure the litter box pan can be easily stepped into and out of. Keep it in a place that is easily accessible for your cat so they don't have to go up and down many sets of stairs to get to it.
Elderly cats can eat themselves into diabetes in addition to constipation. This is mostly seen in overweight cats. In addition to diabetes, elderly cats may also develop heart problems or Cushing's disease along with the diabetes. Diabetes in cats can't be cured but it can be managed through proper diet, medication, or insulin shots.
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