Complete Care for Your Aging Cat

by Amy Shojai

  “The mere presence of a specific genetic trait only indicates a potential for

  disease,” says Todd Towel , DVM, board-certified veterinary nutritionist

  and Senior Manager, Scientific Communications at Hil ’s Pet Nutrition, Inc.

  Researchers have identified more than 240 genetic diseases in cats.

  While genetic diseases cause significant problems, the vast majority of

  diseases that affect a cat’s health and longevity are more complicated.

  Just because your cat has a bad gene doesn’t necessarily mean she’l get

  sick.

  Think of genetic traits as a hand of cards dealt to you by your

  parents. No two individuals play identical cards the same way. “Lots of

  environmental factors can change how those cards—genetic traits--get

  played,” says Dr. Towel .

  Environment influences how genes are turned on and off, or turned

  up or down—whether the cat suffers severe, slight or no disease at al .

  How genes are expressed changes constantly, says Dr. Towel ,

  sometimes minute-to-minute or day-to-day, and even over longer periods

  of your lifespan.

  “Your body can adapt and adjust even at the molecular level to the

  environment that it finds itself in,” she says. “Of the environmental factors

  that we encounter on a daily basis, diet has arguably the most important

  influence on both health and disease.”

  “Nutrigenomics is revolutionary in that it doesn’t look at the cards

  you’re dealt, but how those cards are played (expressed),” says Dr. Towel .

  “Although genes are critical for determining predilections, nutrition

  modifies the extent to which different genes are expressed. Simply put,

  genes load the gun but environment pul s the trigger.”

  “When a gene is expressed, the DNA opens up and a copy—cal ed

  mRNA--is made,” says Dr. Perea. The mRNA is essential y the code for

  the protein or hormone of interest, and this code is used by other systems

  in the cel to synthesize the protein. Nutrigenomics evaluates how specific

  nutrients effect gene expression by measuring the mRNA for proteins or

  hormones of interest.

  Nutrients act like dietary signals. These signals influence gene and

  protein expression, and metabolite production, creating a specific pattern.

  Resulting patterns can be viewed as “dietary signatures” which can be

  studied in healthy and diseased populations. By recognizing what

  constitutes a healthy dietary signal, researchers can adjust nutrients fed to

  unhealthy pets while monitoring unhealthy dietary signals to measure

  improvement, and learn how to better formulate diets.

  Human medicine has great interest in applying nutrigenomic

  science to such health issues as aging, cancer, and more. Veterinarians

  have an advantage, since it’s easier to control what animals eat during

  nutritional trials. Several commercial diets already use nutrigenomic

  principles, with more on the horizon.

  The University of Il inois recently completed a study sponsored by

  Natura Pet Products to evaluate the effect of a high protein versus a high

  carbohydrate diet on the expression of different metabolic genes in cats, in

  utero through nine months of age. Among other things, it showed that

  kittens fed a high protein diet developed significantly higher mRNA levels

  for the insulin receptor gene, says Dr. Perea. “It is unclear how this affects

  the cat’s overal health, but it may help to shed light on how high protein

  foods can be beneficial for cats with diabetes mel itus, and how diet

  impacts development.”

  Scientists at Hil ’s Pet Nutrition have identified genomic differences

  in a number of areas including those associated with arthritis, aging, and

  obesity in dogs. A specific omega-3 fatty acid cal ed eicosapentaenoic

  acid (EPA) has been shown to “switch off” an enzyme that causes cartilage

  degradation. After eating the EPA diet for a month, 82 percent of the dogs

  no longer limped and had increased range of motion.

  “This is an exciting area in osteoarthritis particularly in cats,” says

  Dr. Towel . “It may wel be a disease that is more of a chronic inflammatory

  condition throughout the body.” She believes a nutrogenomic diet

  addressing feline arthritis could have positive benefits for cats.

  Nutrigenomics goes beyond addressing a specific health issue. It

  helps re-program the way genes are expressed. “We know which genes

  are differential y set and how they’re expressed in overweight animals

  because we’ve seen how they are in lean animals,” says Dr. Towel . Obese

  animal’s genes are expressed to preferential y store excess energy as fat.

  “That’s one of the genes that’s been turned on, and doesn’t get turned off.

  Lean individuals burn those calories rather than store them, and use fat as

  an energy source.”

  The dogs fed the standard food remained fat storers, but the group

  fed the experimental neutrigenomic-designed food more closely

  resembled lean dogs—they’d been transformed into fat burners. The “fat

  storer” gene wasn’t shut off, but it was dialed down. Nutrigenomics may not

  be able to completely prevent a disease, but could significantly delay the

  onset of a condition and modulate its severity so it would be very

  manageable.

  “Although this technology is stil in its infancy, future veterinarians wil

  be able to identify animals that have gene expression profiles that put them

  at risk for a variety of disease conditions, long before conventional

  diagnostic tools detect changes,” says Dr. Towel . “Once these changes

  are detected, veterinarians wil be able to offer specific nutritional

  recommendations designed to alter those genomic changes to better

  reflect a healthy state.”

  Exercise

  Twenty minutes of aerobic exercise twice a day helps keep cats of

  al ages physical y fit, mental y alert—and out of trouble. A tired cat is a

  wel -behaved cat! But most old felines tend to slow down and may have

  stiff or painful joints that make them reluctant to move their furry tails. It

  takes more effort to get her moving at al , let alone to generate the same

  activity level as when she was a youngster.

  Simple movement gives her a much needed healthy edge, though.

  Muscles that aren’t used atrophy. Muscle mass is the buffer a cat needs to

  maintain health and recover from injury or disease, and so muscle loss can

  have risky consequences.

  As for the joints, they help feed themselves by spreading nutrients with

  the pumping action of their movement. A reduction in movement al ows the

  joints to get rusty, become less efficient, and can speed the progression of

  arthritis. Painful arthritis, in turn, makes the cat reluctant to move—and

  reduced exercise can lead to gaining weight. In a vicious cycle, obesity

  puts more strain on the already painful joints, and also predisposes her to

  diabetes mel itus.

  As she ages, your cat may not be physical y capable of maintaining the

  same level of exercise she enjoyed as a youthful athlete. Painful joints

  aren’t helped by the concussive action of leaps and jumps after flying

&nb
sp; feather toys, so you may need to careful y control her exercise. Rather than

  a race across the linoleum, entice her to fol ow you around the house or up

  and down stairs by dragging a feather lure. Cats are masters of the stretch

  and bend, and natural y practice feline yoga. Try hiding toys or treats in

  places she’l have to expend energy to reach—on the top of a step stool,

  for example, or behind a sofa cushion. If she’s trained to walk on a halter

  and leash, tempt her with a garden strol to hunt for crickets or butterflies.

  Find games your cat already enjoys, such as chasing the sheets as you

  make the bed, and make them part of a daily aerobic workout. The best

  idea is to maintain a level of aerobic exercise your cat enjoys, so you don’t

  have to fight her every step of the way.

  Establish a daily routine for your cat—ten to twenty minutes every

  morning and evening is a good target, and is much better than one long

  marathon session on weekends. Don’t wait for her to ask you. At the

  scheduled time, take the leash to her, wake her from a nap if necessary,

  and get her up and moving. Cats are champion sleepers and won’t need

  an excuse to steal an extra forty winks. With regular exercise, your aging

  cat wil feel better, act younger, and remain healthier for much longer.

  When you can do it together, it also enhances the bond you share.

  Physical Therapy

  “Physical therapy especial y for geriatrics is absolutely essential,” says

  Dr. Beebe. This includes cold packs to decrease pain and swel ing. Heat

  therapy decreases pain, increases circulation and healing, relaxes skeletal

  muscles, reduces muscle spasm and decreases joint stiffness. Exercise

  helps improve balance, coordination, endurance, and flexibility. Massage

  increases blood flow and removes lymphatic drainage from injured tissues.

  Supportive devices range from braces that help protect a nerve-damaged

  leg, to wheeled carts that cradle the rear end of a paralyzed cat and al ow

  her to stil get around.

  Overweight felines, those suffering from arthritis, or recovering from

  surgery also benefit from rehabilitation or physical therapy. Your

  veterinarian may suggest a program to help slim your cat so she regains

  mobility. Weight loss wil also reduce strain on painful joints. In addition,

  physical therapy can provide mental stimulation that improves her quality of

  life. Muscle that’s lost through disuse wil never be regained so don’t delay

  getting your cat back on her feet, and back into life.

  Start slow, and gradual y build up the duration of exercise. Try setting the

  food bowl thirty inches away so she must move to eat. At first, reward her

  just for trying. If she stops and refuses to go on—listen to her. Give her a

  break, let her rest, and then urge her on.

  Enticing blind cats to exercise is particularly chal enging. “Sometimes we’l

  do passive range of motion,” says Dr. Cook. That at least keeps the

  muscles and joints flexible. For instance, the cat recovering from a stroke

  may have very weak rear quarters, and the simple support of the owner

  slipping a towel underneath her bel y provides enough balance to get her

  moving. “You can kind of wheelbarrow them, or do dancing with them, so

  you work the front legs and then the hind legs,” he suggests, but be very

  careful not to overdo. Some blind cats wil fol ow their noses for a smel y

  treat, says Dr. Cook. Get creative in tempting her to move.

  “I think massage is so critical. They real y feel better when you work

  them,” says Dr. Wynn. Massage can be an acquired taste, though, and it

  wil likely take repeated sessions before your cat accepts massage at your

  hands.

  Many large veterinary practices now have a massage therapist or

  physical therapy specialist to work with clients and their animals. Massage

  targets the muscles and tendons. Injury to these tissues causes a release

  of chemicals that prompt inflammation, pain, spasms, abnormal

  contractions and tightness of the muscles and tendons. That makes it even

  more painful to move. Massage applies varying pressure to these areas to

  increase blood circulation. “Basical y you’re looking for sore spots, and you

  work at the level of pressure that the animal can tolerate, so you don’t

  cause pain,” says Dr. Wynn. That helps nourish the tissue, relieve pain and

  promote healing. It is particularly helpful for animals recovering from il ness,

  injury or surgery.

  Different techniques work best for different purposes, and some require

  special training so you don’t accidental y injure your cat. Keep massage

  treatments to 10 or 15-minute sessions. Once a day is plenty, says Dr.

  Wynn. Listen to your cat and she’l tel you when she’s had enough.

  Maryjean Bal ner’s book “Cat Massage” provides details and she’s

  shared some of her photos to il ustrate some of the techniques. Firm, even-

  pressured palm strokes are cal ed effleurage. This technique helps the cat

  relax when you stroke slowly from the head to the tail, and down the legs to

  the feet. Use effleurage to begin and progress to fingertip massage. Use

  the flat of your extended fingers, held close together, and rub in a circular

  pattern with enough pressure to move muscle beneath the skin.

  Petrissage uses a deeper technique that kneads the muscle to relax the

  tissue, promote blood flow, and stimulate the lymph system and a release

  of toxins. Cats must be ful y relaxed for this massage technique to be

  beneficial. Fingers grasp, and gently squeeze, rol and compress the

  muscle beside the bone, in a bread-kneading motion. Finish each session

  with the effleurage technique—a head-to-tail petting session that leaves

  her purring for more.

  Comfort Zone

  Cats may be more wil ing to try to move around if they aren’t frustrated by

  inaccessibility. Provide ramps or steps so they don’t have to make giant

  leaps that achy joints can’t manage. A hassock or simple cardboard box

  may work, and commercial products also are available.

  C & D Pet Products provides carpeted Pet Steps in various sizes—

  single, double, triple, quadruple steps and more.

  Pet Classics offers ramps, feeders, and steps designed for elderly

  or disabled cats.

  Grooming

  Fur care is important to your aging cat’s emotional health, and also

  benefits her physical wel being. Cats spend up to fifty percent of their time

  awake engaged in some grooming activity. Aged cats that become

  physical y unable to stretch and twist due to arthritis or obesity may be

  unable to reach al the important places. You wil need to help her stay

  clean.

  The skin is the outer reflection of inner health. Keeping the fur clean,

  combed, and tangle-free prevents fleas, ticks, and fungus infections such

  as ringworm. Feces or urine trapped in the fur is a breeding ground for

  bacteria and can cause painful inflammation when not removed.

  A grooming session also doubles as a home health check for any stray

  lumps, bumps, or sores that hide beneath the fur coat. Early detection

  offers the best chance for diagnosing and treating tumors, for examp
le.

  Besides that, al -over petting can be a feel-good massage or petting

  session that reminds your cat how wonderful you are.

  Good grooming also includes checking the eyes, ears and teeth. Cats

  with flat faces and large eyes, such as Persians, are more prone to eye

  problems. “They are more prone to exposure keratitis,” says Dr. Davidson.

  “That means their eyes stick out so far, and their eyelids don’t blink across

  their eye appropriately, so their cornea dries out.” If the cornea dries out,

  it’s more prone to developing ulcers. “It’s helpful to use artificial tears in

  these kitties to keep the eyes more moist. They can be the same type as

  purchased in human pharmacies.”

  Persians and Himalayans in particular get a condition cal ed corneal

  sequestrum. “That’s a black plaque that develops on the cornea that has to

  be treated either medical y or surgical y,” says Dr. Davidson.

  Keep hair trimmed away or combed away. Excessive tearing needs

  evaluation by the veterinarian. “Tears are salty and they wil cause irritation

  on the skin,” she says. For eyes that tear more readily, use a clean cloth

  and warm water on the skin and eye wash inside the eye.

  Don’t forget to peek inside your cat’s ears at least once a week. Cats

  don’t tend to have nearly as many ear problems as drop-eared dogs

  because the air is able to circulate and keep the ears dry. Cats with very

  furry ears and folded-eared Scottish Fold cats are more prone to infections

  because bacteria likes moist, warm places to grow. Keep the fur trimmed

  around the ears.

  Oral disease is a common problem in aging cats, says Dr. Gengler. “It’s

  as important to teach that young animal about dental care at home as it is

  to teach them about a litter box,” says Dr. Gengler. Brush her teeth every

  day or as often as you can, or provide products such as dental diets or

  chlorhexidine rinses to help control periodontal disease. “There are a

  number of different products that are available. You can make amazing

  strides toward health and long, quality lifespan by brushing their teeth.”.

  Accommodations

  You need to take into account the special needs your cat may face

  during her golden years. Adjustments to her environment may be

  necessary to protect her from injury, or help maintain the status quo and