As cats age, their bodies change. They may encounter slight changes or develop serious cat illness or disease. Caring for senior cats can involve special care for age-related changes and medical conditions.
Aging causes normal, gradual physical changes. Dehydration is a concern for older 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 aging cats lose acuity of their senses. A senior cat may not be able to see or hear as well as it used to when it was young. Even though gradual changes in the cat's senses are normal, any sudden or drastic changes should be checked by a veterinarian since they can be signs of disease or illness.
Infection and certain cat diseases can be partially caused by the advanced age of the cats. Senior cats may develop inflammation of the joints which is known as arthritis. Arthritis can be a painful condition which may require veterinary treatment and may be treated with pain relief medication, diet, and exercise.
Older cats often develop changes in their mouths. Common problems that affect the cat's mouth are mouth ulcers, dental disease, and tooth loss.
Cat cancer is a common concern for cat owners of senior cats. Signs of cat cancer include the growth of bumps or sores that will not heal. If a cat owner suspects that the senior cat has cancer, the cat owners should have the cat examined by a veterinarian.
Caring for senior cats addresses necessary changes to cat care. A cat's diet may need to be adjusted to match an aging cat's decreased activity level. Senior cats can gain weight if they are fed the same food as they ate and early adulthood due to excess calories that are not burned through active play.
Older cats need to be taken to the veterinarian more frequently for regular checkups. This is important because it allows the veterinarian to screen for age-related cat diseases.
Senior cats naturally become less active which can be detrimental to the cats health. Without active play, cats can lose muscle strength and not receive proper exercise. Therefore, cat owners of senior cats should initiate play often. - 29953
Aging causes normal, gradual physical changes. Dehydration is a concern for older 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 aging cats lose acuity of their senses. A senior cat may not be able to see or hear as well as it used to when it was young. Even though gradual changes in the cat's senses are normal, any sudden or drastic changes should be checked by a veterinarian since they can be signs of disease or illness.
Infection and certain cat diseases can be partially caused by the advanced age of the cats. Senior cats may develop inflammation of the joints which is known as arthritis. Arthritis can be a painful condition which may require veterinary treatment and may be treated with pain relief medication, diet, and exercise.
Older cats often develop changes in their mouths. Common problems that affect the cat's mouth are mouth ulcers, dental disease, and tooth loss.
Cat cancer is a common concern for cat owners of senior cats. Signs of cat cancer include the growth of bumps or sores that will not heal. If a cat owner suspects that the senior cat has cancer, the cat owners should have the cat examined by a veterinarian.
Caring for senior cats addresses necessary changes to cat care. A cat's diet may need to be adjusted to match an aging cat's decreased activity level. Senior cats can gain weight if they are fed the same food as they ate and early adulthood due to excess calories that are not burned through active play.
Older cats need to be taken to the veterinarian more frequently for regular checkups. This is important because it allows the veterinarian to screen for age-related cat diseases.
Senior cats naturally become less active which can be detrimental to the cats health. Without active play, cats can lose muscle strength and not receive proper exercise. Therefore, cat owners of senior cats should initiate play often. - 29953
About the Author:
Moses Wright has been a pet lover since young. He started this site to provide pet lovers with free pet advice and tips on homemade pet food.
