Complete Care for Your Aging Cat

by Amy Shojai

  contract are beneficial to some cats. But if dietary

  management and drug therapy aren't helpful, the colon may

  be beyond help. In those cases, surgery seeks to correct the

  cat's "plumbing" by removing the sick portion of the large

  intestine. The rectum is left intact, and reattached to the

  smal intestine to create a functional bowel.

  “The surgery is cal ed a sub-total colectomy, and cats

  do great with it,” says Dr. Shaw. “They have short-term

  diarrhea right afterwards, but once their intestines get used

  to it they actual y have no problem beyond that.” The surgery

  can restore near normal bowel function in some affected

  cats.

  Severe constipation, referred to as obstipation, lasts many

  days at a time. The large mass of hard waste that col ects

  stretches the rectum to gigantic proportions. This condition

  is cal ed mega-colon. “This is a degeneration of the muscle

  in the colon such that it is no longer able to contract and

  move things along, whereas the part of the colon that is

  responsible for sucking water out stil works,” says Dr.

  Burrows. “The stool in the colon just stays there and gets

  harder and drier and bigger and bigger until it’s impossible

  to eliminate.”

  Senior Symptoms

  Occasional constipation in older cats isn’t considered a

  serious problem. Prolonged or repeated episodes can point

  to more dangerous condition cal ed obstipation. Signs of

  constipation include:

  · Absence of stool in the litter box

  · Straining in the litter box without passing stool

  · Passing hard, dry stools accompanied by dark brown

  liquid

  · Painful swol en abdomen

  · Failure to defecate for two or more days,

  accompanied by vomiting and/or anorexia

  Treatment

  Mild cases of constipation can be treated with a

  commercial cat laxative such as Laxatone from a pet

  products store. “I would not general y recommend the hairbal

  medicine for cats unless there was an actual documented

  problem,” says Sarah K. Abood, DVM, a clinical nutritionist

  at Michigan State. The stimulant laxatives can interfere with

  normal bowel function if overused, so don’t make a habit of

  relying on these products.

  You can instead use one teaspoonful mineral oil per five

  pounds of pet, or a half to two tablespoons of non-medicated

  petroleum jel y, such as Vaseline. Mix the oil or jel y into the

  food—most pets relish the oily taste, and it lubricates

  everything on the inside and helps it move through because

  it won’t be digested. If the cat won’t eat the doctored diet, try

  spreading the oil or jel y on his paw so he swal ows it when

  he licks himself. The laxative should work within 24 hours.

  Dr. Abood believes preventing constipation is much better

  than treating it once the condition develops. One simple

  solution is addressing environmental issues. “Make sure that

  water and food are accessible on a regular basis, animals

  don’t have to go through a maze to get it, and don’t have to

  wait an extra 8 to 12 hours,” she says. “It comes down to

  good animal husbandry habits—regular exercise and regular

  meals.” Avoid missing or delaying meals, and stick to a

  regular schedule.

  Feeding For Health

  Regular exercise, lots of water, daily grooming, and the

  proper diet goes a long way toward control ing hairbal s that

  cause constipation. Some commercial foods are designed

  to reduce hairbal s, and if your cat has chronic problems, one

  of these may be a good option. Hairbal formulas include:

  Eukanuba Adult Hairbal Relief Formula

  Science Diet Hairbal Control Formula

  Nutro Max Cat Hairbal Management

  Cases of obstipation and mega-colon must be

  diagnosed by the veterinarian, and general y they cannot be

  treated at home, says Dr. Burrows. “They need help. They

  need medication, enemas, and laxatives.” Some cats need

  to be sedated in order to remove a fecal bal that’s grown too

  large to pass through the pelvis. These cats wil need

  medical management for the rest of their lives.

  A drug cal ed cisapride (Propulsid) helps the colon to

  better contract. It has been removed from the human market

  due to health risks, but these do not apply to cats. “We stil

  use it if we can get hold of it,” says Dr. Burrows.

  Compounding pharmacies are currently the best source for

  obtaining cisapride. Lactulose also is often prescribed to

  help soften stools, and is particularly helpful because it not

  only promotes intestinal contractions but also draws water

  into the large intestine.

  When medical management using drugs, laxatives, and

  diet aren’t effective, some cats require surgery. The

  malfunctioning colon is removed in a procedure cal ed a

  subtotal colectomy. “You cut it out and join the [farthest] part

  of the smal intestine to the rectum, and that part of the smal

  intestine then takes over the storage function. Cats tolerate

  that very wel ,” says Dr. Burrows.

  The surgery is used mostly as a last resort but can restore

  the cat to near normal function. The feces usual y wil stay

  soft with a cow pie consistency for the rest of the cat’s life.

  Nurse Alert!

  When the laxative doesn’t work in 24 hours, an impaction

  requires an enema. If your cat has chronic constipation or

  obstipation problems, your veterinarian may suggest you

  learn how to do this at home. However, cats that struggle

  during the enema may be injured by the applicator if

  mishandled. You know your cat best, and if he’l object, you

  should make a trip to the veterinarian. Warning: Human

  enemas typical y contain phosphates and are deadly to cats.

  Use only preparations recommended to you by your

  veterinarian. Warm tap water (about 105 degrees or so),

  one ounce per pound, is the safest option and very effective.

  Put the cat on an absorbent towel, or in the bathtub—in

  case the enema works very quickly.

  Any standard enema applicator works for most pets.

  Veterinarians often use red rubber tubing with a large

  syringe at one end to inject the fluid. But a turkey

  baster or empty contact lens solution bottle wil also

  work.

  Lubricate the tip with Vaseline or K-Y jel y, and gently

  insert it into the rectum one to two inches.

  Then depress the syringe, squeeze the bottle

  applicator, or the bulb of the turkey baster to infuse the

  liquid into the rectum.

  Age-Defying Tips

  Using basic common sense wil keep your cat regular for al

  his life. Begin these steps during kittenhood, and adjust as

  the cat matures.

  · Groom your cat regularly. Hair you comb or brush off

  won’t end up swal owed by the cat, and that wil reduce the

  chance for hairbal s—the number one cause of constipation.

  · If your cat has repeated problems with hairbal s

  despite g
ood grooming practices, consider feeding him a

  commercial hairbal diet. These typical y include added fiber

  that helps move hair out of the system.

  · Infrequent problems with hairbal s can be managed

  with home remedies. Mix one-half to one teaspoonful of

  unflavored Metamucil in canned food to add extra fiber.

  · Many cats relish canned pumpkin as a treat, and this

  natural high-fiber food is a great laxative. Garnish the regular

  diet once or twice a week with one to two teaspoons.

  · At age seven or thereabouts, make the transition to a

  “senior stage” diet formulation. These tend to have a bit

  more fiber to take care of the older cat’s tendency toward

  irregularity.

  · Encourage the cat to stay active al his life. That helps

  keep him a healthy weight, and exercise is a natural laxative

  that keeps his insides moving properly.

  · “Lots of times a simple case of constipation is

  because an animal didn’t have access to water,” says Dr.

  Abood. Cats tend to be finicky about water so watch the cat

  for a cue about what he likes—fresh or standing water, bowl

  or dribbling faucet.

  DEAFNESS

  In simplest terms, deafness means the cat doesn’t

  recognize or respond to sound stimuli. Hearing connects

  cats to their world, including their owners, and deafness

  causes a constel ation of behavior changes, says Dr. Strain.

  “It may be a gradual change so the owner may be unaware

  of that for some time.”

  Cats may be born deaf, or lose their hearing earlier in life.

  Some cats, especial y white cats with blue eyes, are born

  with a condition that causes the cochlea, deep inside the

  inner ear, to degenerate and results in deafness at an early

  age. Chronic ear infections such as ear mite infestation can

  damage the hearing organs and cause deafness.

  Drugs such as gentamicin sulfate (an antibiotic) can

  produce hearing loss because they’re toxic to the nerve cel s

  of the ear, says Dr. Strain. There are almost two hundred

  medications that can be toxic to hearing. “Those drugs

  usual y have to be given systemical y [swal owed or injected]

  rather than topical y as eardrops, to produce this effect,”

  says Dr. Strain. He says drops are normal y not a problem.

  Age-related hearing loss, cal ed presbycusis, is the most

  common form and is a progressive condition that affects al

  cats to some degree as they age. It can develop rapidly or

  be slow and gradual. Basical y, the tiny bones of the middle

  ear tend to lose their mobility and ability to vibrate and

  transmit sound. Also, the nerves of the cochlea degenerate

  over time. The cochlea is a fluid-fil ed tube coiled like a snail

  shel deep inside the ear where hearing actual y takes place.

  Toxic reactions and sound trauma can also increase the rate

  of the normal process of presbycusis.

  Senior Symptoms

  Behavior changes are the most common symptoms of

  hearing loss.

  Increased sleeping

  Increased meowing or yowling

  Voice that sounds strident or “odd”

  Is more easily startled

  Increased biting or hissing

  Accommodation

  Hearing aids have been developed experimental y for

  dogs but to date have not been offered to any extent in cats.

  A more economical and effective option is simply making

  environmental accommodations for the deaf cat, which wil

  help maintain the bond you share.

  “The increased reliance on other sensory modalities wil

  offset that loss a little bit,” says Dr. Strain. Deaf cats typical y

  depend more on sight and can learn to respond to visual

  signals. For example, cats often learn to respond to the

  porch light flashing on and off, rather than being cal ed to

  come in. You can use a flashlight rather than your voice to

  get your deaf cat’s attention. Although they can’t hear, deaf

  cats can stil feel vibration, so a slammed door or stomped

  foot may also work as a signal. It’s particularly important to

  give the deaf pets some sort of warning of your presence to

  avoid a startle/bite reflex. “If they’re startled, sometimes

  they’l reflexively bite before they have time to recognize that

  this is not real y a threat,” says Dr. Strain.

  Some cats lose hearing only in certain ranges. Certain

  felines wil stil detect high-pitched “dog whistles.” In homes

  that have multiple pets, animals with hearing loss often cue

  off the behavior of other animals in the household. “If one

  animal suddenly gets up and starts barking, the deaf one wil

  get up and move around, too,” says Dr. Strain.

  Besides quality of life concerns, deafness becomes a

  safety issue for cats. If they don’t hear the car coming, for

  example, they aren’t able to avoid the danger. It’s safest for

  deaf cats to stay inside.

  Comfort Zone

  Getting the attention of a deaf cat can be done by

  stamping your foot, or by tossing a soft stuffed toy or

  beanbag into their line of sight. Many cats enjoy

  playing with the red dot of a laser light and can learn to

  respond to these signals.

  Remote-control vibrating col ars may be helpful. The

  cat learns to respond to the vibration to come inside or

  run for the dinner instead of the sound of the can

  opener. Commercial products cost about $115 from

  Doctors Foster and Smith pet supply. Instructions to

  make a homemade vibrating col ar using a Radio

  Shack remote control car are available on Dr. Strain’s

  website.

  A “pet locator” is helpful when your cat can’t hear you,

  and you can’t find him. Attach a pendant to the cat’s

  col ar that emits a tone a light when the hand-held

  transmitter is activated. Some deaf cats may “feel” the

  sound vibration, too, and the product is helpful for

  training purposes. That helps locate the cat whenever

  he goes out of sight. A “key finder” product should work

  wel for this purpose.

  DENTAL DISEASE

  Unlike people, cats don’t rely on chewing to process their

  food. They are more likely to bite off or pick up mouth-size

  portions and swal ow them whole. That means they don’t

  benefit from the scrubbing or detergent action of chewing

  food the way people do. Also, wet diets stick to the teeth

  more readily than dry foods.

  Cats develop dental disease no matter what form of food

  they are fed. In fact, al animals commonly suffer from

  periodontal disease, or problems of the mouth, teeth and

  gums. Seventy-five percent of cats develop some form of the

  disease by the time they reach two years old, says Dr.

  Gengler.

  The risks for periodontal disease increase 20 percent

  each year of a pet’s life, according to data released by

  Banfield Applied Research and Knowledge in early 2010.

  Dr. Jeffrey Klausner, Banfield’s chief medical officer, says

  these data corroborate a very strong link between the


  presence of periodontal disease and heart disease. “The

  worse the periodontal disease was, the stronger the link

  between endocarditis and cardiomyopathy,” says Dr.

  Klausner. Even though periodontal disease may not be

  associated with mortality, it reduces the pet’s quality of life.

  Senior Symptoms

  Teeth often are ignored because cats are so stoic owners

  may not notice he’s having any problems. “Usual y in the

  early stages anyway, animals wil eat through the pain

  because the self-preservation instinct is so strong,” says Bil

  Gengler, DVM, a dentist at University of Wisconsin What you

  wil see includes:

  Redness of the gums

  Receding gum line

  Strong offensive odor

  Bleeding on toothbrush

  Broken, loose, or missing teeth

  Sneezing

  Nasal discharge

  Chronic eye problems

  Periodontal disease is a group of disorders that

  affect the teeth, oral bones, and the gums. Bacterium grows

  on the tooth surface, which creates plaque and bad breath.

  When plaque isn’t removed, it mineralizes into tartar, which

  forms hard yel ow or brown deposits. The bacteria releases

  enzymes that attack the cat’s gums and cause gingivitis

  enzymes that attack the cat’s gums and cause gingivitis

  (inflammation of the gums), gum recession, loose or lost

  teeth, and pain.

  Cats can develop a severe inflammation of the gingival

  tissues, cal ed gingival stomatitis. Maine Coons are prone to

  the condition, but it appears to be more common in Oriental-

  type cats such as Siamese, Burmese and Abyssinians.

  Stomatitis resulting from an excessive immune response

  often is associated with food al ergies or with early infections

  of calicivirus (an upper respiratory agent). Infection with

  Bartonella (a blood parasite) as wel as bacteria produced

  by dental plaque also is implicated.

  Cats are also prone to a condition cal ed Feline

  Tooth Resorption (TRs), odontoclastic destruction of feline

  teeth classified as either type 1 or type 2. With type 1

  lesions, there is no replacement by bone, whereas with type

  2 there is replacement of the lost root structure by bone.

  There are five types of resorptive lesions,” says Dr.

  Holstrom. Type 1 or 2 can potential y be treated, he says.

  “Types 3 and 4 and 5 are usual y past doing anything for