Complete Care for Your Aging Cat

by Amy Shojai

  was semi feral when he arrived. That made him difficult to adopt, but he

  had a home for life at the shelter, says Linda Moore, a volunteer foster-

  mom for the shelter. “They only euthanize when it’s in the animal’s best

  interest,” she says.

  Nine years later, in August, he began having problems with circling

  behavior. When veterinary treatment for a possible ear infection hadn’t

  resolved the problem by October, the cat was referred to Purdue. “They

  couldn’t find anything either,” says Linda. When it got worse the next

  spring, he went back to Purdue for a more in-depth screening. “A CT-scan

  found a brain tumor. It was a quarter the size of his brain,” says Linda.

  Unfortunately, Purdue wasn’t able to offer treatment.

  “The shelter contacted a couple other vet schools, and Dr. Klopp got back

  in touch with them,” says Linda. Lisa Klopp, DVM, is an assistant

  professor of neurology and neurosurgery at the University of Il inois. “She

  thought she could do something for him.”

  That’s when Linda first heard about the cat. The shelter wanted him to go

  into a foster home until treatment could be scheduled, to avoid any

  possible exposure to il nesses he might pick up there. “I’d given them my

  name the previous fal to foster older cats, but I’d not heard from them until

  Sandy Robelia cal ed me,” says Linda. The situation seemed oddly

  coincidental, too, because Linda had only recently lost one of her own cats

  —solid black, named Natasha—to a brain tumor.

  Linda had misgivings about taking the sick cat at first. “I asked Sandy,

  How can take this guy and say I’l foster temporarily and then put him back

  in the shelter?—There is no way I can do that! But likewise, I also knew I

  couldn’t afford the bil .”

  The kitty came to live with her on Easter Sunday. He had several

  smal seizures that week but they were quite different than what she’d

  experienced with Natasha. “She’d have a grand mal seizure, then pretty

  much recover from it. He just looked like he was stretching. Then he’d lose

  control of his bladder, and real y couldn’t move for a couple days, so I’d

  have to hand feed him.”

  Once Dr. Klopp reviewed the records from Purdue, she wanted to

  see the cat right away. “She felt he was in imminent danger of

  hemorrhaging,” says Linda. “The tumor had grown down near the brain

  stem, and she didn’t know if she could get it al , or if it would be malignant.”

  Although the doctor was booked for the next three weeks, she moved

  him ahead of everybody else, and performed surgery the day after he was

  admitted. “We got the cal and Dr. Klopp was absolutely ecstatic,” says

  Linda. The tumor came out—al of it—in two pieces. Tests showed it was

  benign.

  Dr. Klopp became very attached to him while he was at the

  university hospital, and once he left ICU, he’d often be found sitting in her

  lap. “When we went down to pick him up she looked like she was ready to

  cry,” says Linda. “She was cal ing him Zoobie and he seemed to respond

  to that, so Zoobie is his name now.”

  The shelter footed the bil . “They sent out a special appeals letter after

  the surgery. It al happened so quickly they real y didn’t have the time

  before,” says Linda. “Within a month they had more than enough to cover

  Zoobie’s bil .”

  Linda took him back down for his six-week checkup. He was fine. But

  she had fal en in love with the cat, and couldn’t bring herself to take Zoobie

  back to the shelter. “I went ahead and adopted him.”

  Zoobie is by al estimates around 10 or 11 years old, but Linda says

  since his brain surgery, he acts like a three-year-old. “He goes rol icking

  around the house with my younger cats and everything amazes him. He

  loves playing with the cat dancer toy,” she says, “he just about goes

  berserk for that.”

  She was a bit concerned about him fitting in with the other animals. “He

  has no problem with the dog, or with the other cats, he’s just incredible,”

  she says. After ten years of shelter life, the black cat is starting his next

  decade with a permanent home, a new name and a family that loves him.

  Zoobie is making the most of it.

  Visit the Veterinarian: Well-Pet Exams

  No matter what her age is, your cat needs a veterinary exam at least

  once a year. Vaccinations used to be given automatical y each year, and

  the cat received a checkup at that time. More recently, many veterinarians

  believe annual vaccines aren’t necessary, but since cats age so much

  more quickly than people do, an annual “wel -pet exam” is essential to

  ensure she maintains good health. The veterinarian listens to the cat’s

  heart and lungs, checks her eyes, ears and teeth, examines her for

  parasites, and makes a note of any behavior changes you might have

  noticed that potential y indicate a problem.

  Because senior cats have fewer reserves and can become il so quickly,

  the wel -pet exam is even more important for them. Once they reach

  adulthood, each cat year equals about seven human years. Waiting 12

  months between checkups leaves them at risk for major health changes. A

  twice-yearly visit for cats over the age of eight makes more sense. That’s

  the equivalent to a middle-aged person getting a physical about every

  three years, says Dr. Tranquil i. “It makes al the sense in the world to get

  more aggressive with checkups, and have the veterinarian ask appropriate

  questions with regard to overal behavior changes.”

  Dr. Gengler says you should include a dental check. “You may not be

  able to do an in-depth exam until the animal’s asleep. But at least you can

  advise the owner that yes, there’s halitosis; yes, there’s gingivitis; and

  there’s calculus on the teeth so we need to get it off.”

  It’s always best to catch problems early and treat them right away to

  head off more serious problems. But your veterinarian has a hard time

  noticing subtle problems if she only sees your cat during a crisis. “The

  annual health check for older pets is imperative. It’s imperative that I put my

  hands on them, and feel them, listen to them. I talk to Mrs. Jones and say

  how are we doing?” says Dr. Marks. “I want to see the pet every year so

  I’ve seen him when he’s healthy. If something changes, I want to pick it up

  early.”

  The top health issues in aging cats include cancer, kidney problems,

  diabetes and hyperthyroidism. “As these animals get older, one starts

  looking at their liver, their intestinal track, their kidneys, at their heart, and

  various body systems, looking for those organs that could be failing,” says

  Johnny D. Hoskins, DVM, an internist, and a specialist in veterinary

  geriatrics. Geriatric screening tests help veterinarians go beyond the

  hands-on exam and examine the cat from the inside out.

  Monitoring Tests

  Evaluating the blood may uncover abnormalities that otherwise would

  not be found until it is too late for treatment to help. “I recommend routine

  blood work be done, and X-rays or ultrasound of the chest and abd
omen to

  make sure nothing’s going on that’s abnormal,” says Rhonda L. Schulman,

  DVM, an internist at University of Il inois. A simple test such as a urinalysis,

  which examines the content and volume of the urine, can alert the

  veterinarian to kidney disease, liver disease, hyperthyroidism, diabetes

  mel itus and other health problems.

  “We especial y encourage people with cats over 10 to see the vet twice

  a year,” says Dr. Little. “It’s a change from what we cal ed fire engine

  medicine, a reactive response to putting out the fire,” she says. “Being

  proactive requires a good working relationship with a veterinarian who is

  interested in senior care.”

  Ideal y, your cat should have a first screening test when she’s seven to

  ten years of age and in good health. “By the time they’re in double digits,

  it’s time to do some geriatric screening, especial y for chronic kidney

  disease in cats,” says Dr. Webster. What constitutes normal varies slightly

  between cats, and about 5 percent wil be outside what is considered a

  “normal” range, says Dr. Marks. Having a baseline test is particularly

  helpful to determine your cat’s normal range, as a comparison for the

  future.

  The health of a variety of organs can be determined by looking at

  specific factors in the blood. A complete blood count (CBC) measures the

  components that make up the blood. For instance, the hematocrit (HCT),

  or packed cel volume, is the ratio of red cel s to total blood volume. A

  lower than normal HCT indicates anemia, while an elevated HCT is an

  indication of dehydration, lung disease or of cardiomyopathy. The CBC

  also typical y measures the percentages of the white blood cel s. High or

  low numbers can indicate anything from infections or tissue damage, to

  cancer or autoimmune disorders.

  A biochemical profile measures the various chemicals, vitamins,

  minerals, enzymes and other compounds in the bloodstream. Blood urea

  nitrogen (BUN) is the byproduct of protein metabolism, and the BUN level

  is a good measure of kidney health.

  The liver does so many things that many diseases affect it. Therefore,

  the liver is a solid health barometer for the rest of the body. For instance,

  bile acids produced in the liver act to absorb fat, so abnormal blood levels

  of bile acids indicate liver problems. Enzymes produced by the liver are

  very sensitive, and the levels in the bloodstream wil go up if the liver is

  damaged, says Dr. Webster, but this can indicate other diseases.

  “Probably 80 percent of the time you’l find another disease cause of

  enzyme to go up.”

  _____________________________________________________________

  Blood Values

  Tests only screen for the possibility of a problem, says Dr. Marks. If a liver

  enzyme is elevated, more specific diagnostic evaluations, such as

  abdominal X-rays and ultrasound, are required to figure out the exact

  cause.

  Yet checking biochemical abnormalities alone ignores the total

  animal. When your cat feels great, but has an abnormal lab value on the

  blood work, Dr. Marks says you have a choice. You can aggressively

  pursue the cause with further diagnostics, or you can wait a month to

  repeat the test and, if the result is stil elevated, then go further. “I’m not

  real y a fan of saying we have to do all these tests on all pets over eight

  years old,” he says, but admits that’s the easiest way to catch those pets

  you worry about. It depends on the owner, the comfort level of the

  veterinarian, and especial y on the health of the individual cat.

  Enrich the Environment

  When your cat celebrates her seventh birthday, she hasn’t any idea, nor

  does she care, that she’s now a “senior” feline. Cats older than seven often

  have the constitution and attitude of much younger animals. There’s no

  reason she shouldn’t enjoy a rewarding and vital life wel into her teens.

  The key is to expect the best of her, and give her the best support

  possible. That includes good nutrition, exercise, grooming, home-life

  accommodations, and mental stimulation.

  Nutrition

  “There isn’t any one best food,” says Dr. Abood. A number of

  therapeutic diets address specific diseases, such as kidney failure, once

  the cat is diagnosed. Dr. Abood says that therapeutic diets are

  manufactured to have specific nutrient modifications, and that the diets for

  a given condition are pretty similar no matter who makes them. “When

  animals do better on one over the other, that’s an individual animal

  variation, that’s not a diet difference,” she says.

  Cats are notorious for hating change, and getting your feline to accept a

  new diet may take some time. It doesn’t matter how great the food is if she

  refuses to eat it. “If they don’t recognize it as food, it’s not going to do the

  job you want it to do.”

  When the older cat is in good condition, and has a high level of activity,

  why should you switch to a “senior” diet? Dr. Carey says a food change

  helps support the cat’s physical needs, which usual y change before

  obvious signs of aging appear. The newest senior-label diets are

  designed to support the cat during these normal but invisible changes of

  age so she maintains that kittenish behavior, rather than waiting until late in

  the game when obvious external signs develop. “There’s certainly been a

  proliferation of senior cat diets on the market,” says Dr. Little. “I think they

  can be beneficial.”

  Your choices are do-it-yourself diets or commercial products, says Gary

  Landsberg, DVM, a behaviorist at Doncaster Animal Clinic in Thornhil ,

  Ontario. Many pet owners want to feed natural or even raw food diets.

  “Getting ingredients that act as natural antioxidants is a good idea,” he

  says. Commercial pet food manufacturers also recognize the benefits of

  these ingredients, and employ veterinary nutrition scientists to design diets

  suited to cat needs. “They are the ones who are doing the research to

  enhance their food and make it better,” he says. “Cats are so prone to

  thyroid disease, kidney disease and diabetes, I think feeding the right

  amount of the premium food is going to make it easier on their organs in

  the long run. I don’t think there’s any evidence that raw meats are any

  better than cooked meats.”

  Homemade diets fal in the “therapeutic diet” category. If you plan to feed

  them, they should be designed by a veterinary nutritionist to ensure they’re

  right for your individual animal, says Dr. Wynn.

  Because the older pet’s metabolism changes so she typical y burns less

  energy, lower calories are at the heart of most senior diets, says Dr.

  LaFlamme. “A lot of them also have added antioxidants, or added protein,

  or added this or that,” she says. “But the real key is diets are formulated to

  be balanced based the energy content of the diet and the expected energy

  intake of the animal. So it’s real y important that the diet match the

  individual pet.” There’s no reason to offer your lap-sitting feline the

  equivalent of r
ocket fuel, but if she stil swings from the drapes, she’l need

  the extra calories to keep her healthy. “By the time cats reach 15 to 16

  years of age, about 30 percent are actual y underweight,” says Dr.

  Davenport.

  Here’s another example. Most regular adult maintenance diets promote

  an acidic urine to prevent struvite crystals. Yet this is not necessarily the

  best choice for an older cat, says Dr. LaFlamme, because an acidic urine

  promotes the formation of calcium oxalate stones. “That may be one

  reason that cat owners with an older cat might want to switch over to a

  senior cat food.”

  Senior diets typical y contain highly digestible ingredients to help cats

  whose digestive system may not be as efficient as when younger, says Dr.

  Hawley. “By manipulating the nutrients we have the ability to al ow them to

  better absorb things.” Other considerations may be added fiber to keep

  bowels healthy, or softer textures for cats suffering from dental disease.

  Your veterinarian can recommend a good senior cat product. Make sure

  the label says the food is “complete and balanced” in accordance with

  guidelines established by AAFCO (Association of Animal Feed Control

  Officials).

  Feeding For Health

  It is impossible to list al of the various cat foods available for mature cats,

  but you can start with the fol owing list to see if one or more fits your cat’s

  needs:

  Eukanuba Mature Care Formula

  IVD (Royal Canin) Select Care Mature Formula

  Purina Senior Cat Chow brand

  Science Diet Feline Senior

  Nutro Complete Care Senior

  Max Cat Senior

  Precise Feline Senior Formula

  Wysong Geriatrx

  Nutrigenomics

  Today, cutting edge studies are proving that age-old adage, “you

  are what you eat.” Nutrigenomics shows promise for preventing, slowing

  the progression of, treating or even reversing disease.

  Nutrigenomics studies how individual nutrients or combinations of

  nutrients affect health by altering the expression of genes, says Sal y

  Perea, DVM, a board-certified veterinary nutritionist in Davis, California.

  This science combines information from genetics, nutrition, physiology,

  pathology, molecular biology, bioinformatics, biocomputation, sociology,

  ethics, and other disciplines.