What is a geriatric cat? Veterinarians usually consider geriatric cats to be over 12 years of age. Many factors can cause a cat to appear geriatric sooner. The first big one is obesity. We have a huge problem in our indoor cat population with obesity. The Garfield concept which began in 1978 was embraced and many thought it was cute to have these big overweight cats. This is far from the truth. Obese cats can start showing geriatric signs as young as 5 years of age related to joint problems, diabetes, heart conditions, respiratory issues, etc. A fat cat does not equal a happy cat. Do not let marketing tell you anything different.
Nutrition is responsible for obesity only in that many people free feed their cats. This is not a good idea. How would you look if every day you were presented with an all-you-can-eat buffet. Can some cats stay skinny being free fed? Maybe a small percentage but usually there is another health reason why they eat less. They may have gingivitis. They may have an aversion to something in the food they eat. All cats should be offered just a certain amount of food each day. If you have multiple cats, then just make certain to only put out a certain amount of food daily and when it is gone there is no more. I encourage people to feed at night so they will not wake you in the early morning expecting their food. Also consider using automatic feeders. This has helped many of my clients avoid being harassed by their cats as they get close to feeding time.
Kittens eat double what an adult cat eats. Senior cats often eat less so we need to consider senior foods that give the proper nutrients for that age group. It is challenging when you have cats of different ages. Realize that if you are feeding a kitten adult cat food they will not have proper muscle and bone development which could lead to other health issues when older. Clients comment that their parents had lots of cats outside and they all ate the same thing and did just fine. I respond by saying did they live 15-20 years? The average life span of a cat in the 1970’s was 7-9 years. Let’s not go backwards with our aging felines. What can we do to help them live longer and be healthier during those senior years.
My basic recommendation is ½ cup of dry cat food per adult cat per day. This is a starting point. If your adult cat is in and out and playing all day with the dog, then we need to adjust the volume as needed. Most cats leave food at each meal. Stop adding the extra volume and only give what they eat in a day. If you change to a different cat food that can alter your volume of food. You must keep track of kilocalories/cup of each diet that you are feeding so you know what they need in a day. If you notice they are getting thicker over the rib cage and losing the waistline behind the ribs, it is time to adjust. They should feel the same as an adult cat as they do as a kitten over the ribs. If you notice your cat is leaving food for more than 24 hours and usually, they eat it all, do not delay in seeking veterinary care. Often people wait and cats can start to turn their liver cells to fat cells when not eating for 2-3 days. This is called Hepatic Lipidosis and can be challenging to treat. Cats are good at hiding their illnesses. Instinctively they do not want to show they are ill. They will avoid interaction with other pets. They will sleep more. They will not groom themselves. They will sit hunched up or move slowly. They will eat less or not eat at all. They will drink more water and pee larger volumes of urine in the box. This is not a good thing. Changes like this need to be addressed. We have many ways to help with the different geriatric diseases we see in senior cats.
The most common diseases are diabetes mellitus in obese cats that gradually get skinny. Many will drink more and pee more as well. Usually have a great appetite but may be vomiting food more frequently. Hyperthyroidism in senior cats comes with a great appetite. They never miss a meal. They drink lots of water and have large urine clumps in the litter box. They continue to lose weight even though they eat all the time. Renal (kidney) disease shows weight loss, drinking lots of water and larger amounts of urine like the other two diseases mentioned. The difference is kidney cats will have days they eat well and days that they don’t eat. They have an on and off appetite. Some will vomit bile or food or both. This shows another reason not to free feed cats. You never know who is eating and how much to monitor their health issues.
In 2022 a new product was introduced to help our senior cats with osteoarthritis (OA). We have been limited in the past with OA medications for cats. Many products for dogs cause health issues when given to cats at lower dosages or for extended periods. This injection is like the dog Librela injection, but it is only for cats. It is called Solecia. It is given monthly for OA pain relief in cats. We have used it in many aging felines and people have seen a dramatic improvement in their activity when given monthly. It is a commitment to come to the clinic each month for the injection, but I assure you your cat will thank you.
Royal Canin has a Feline Senior +12 diet for cats that has helped many elderly cats. Never underestimate the improvement that can be seen just by improving the quality of the diet. If you are wondering whether to change diets on your already finicky cat, certainly reach out to your veterinarian. Do not trust online sources with this information. Our cats need as much veterinary care as dogs do. Unfortunately, many families do not bring their cats for routine exams and immunizations. We see the cats when a crisis happens. Often treating them during and after that event can be difficult. Please have your cat seen each year so weight and health can be monitored year after year. This will allow some health conditions to be caught earlier and hopefully treated more successfully.
Oral care is another geriatric concern. Since cats do not eat a lot of food and are not fond of having their teeth brushed we see tarter and staining of adult teeth. We have broken teeth on occasion. It is difficult to get a cat to chew on hard surfaces to protect their teeth and gums. You can brush a cat’s teeth with cat toothpaste. It must start when they are small kittens. We encourage the same thing with nail trimming to let them understand this is a part of life. I am amazed at how good their teeth look if someone is committed to brushing their teeth at least 3-4 times a week. We can do oral cleaning and polishing under sedation for any cat that is having issues with their teeth.
Some things to consider if you have a senior cat in your home. They struggle grooming themselves for a variety of reasons as they get older. Be certain to brush them more frequently to help remove excess hair and dander. Consider locations of litter boxes and whether the stairs are an obstacle for them to use the boxes easily. Consider use of canned food to give more calories and moisture in their daily diet. Many senior cats are losing weight and so they can get cold easily. Find ways to keep them warm. Vision and hearing are often impaired as they age. Be aware they may not be able to move out of your way like they did before so watch for them before stepping backwards
Hoping that you can use these helpful hints to get your cat to live a longer healthier life. Don’t ignore symptoms of weight loss, increase drinking or increase peeing. Those 3 things are a flag that something is happening. We would love to see them before it becomes a crisis. Cats need veterinarians too. Get an annual check up so when things start to change for your cat, your veterinarian can assist you in a plan that is best for your cat’s long-term health. The oldest cat I have seen was 24 years of age. Maybe your cat could break that record.
