Senior Care

There are several stages of a cat’s life. A mature cat is between 7-10 years, a senior cat is between 11-14 years and a geriatric cat is more than 14 years old. Signs of ageing include weight loss, a decrease in activity and grooming, behaviour changes (such as accidents outside the litter box), changes in eating and drinking and difficulty jumping up.

A physical exam is always recommended. Our veterinarians will thoroughly examine all systems (sensory, cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, neurological and urogenital). Based on their physical examination further tests such as bloodwork, urinalysis and radiographs may be recommended to determine the cause of the weight loss.

There are several interventions that owners can make to keep older cats happy. They include senior diets, interactive toys to help keep them active, easy access to litter boxes and food and water dishes.

Some common health issues are kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, diabetes, obesity, poor mobility, and osteoarthritis.

Behavioural issues can be a result of health problems such as hyperthyroidism but can also be due to cognitive dysfunction.