Senior Cats

Looking after your senior cat (11 – 14 years)

Senior cats are at an age when health conditions associated with later life can take hold. We can work in partnership with you to keep your cat happy and comfortable for longer. Many age-related conditions are treatable so don’t simply put any changes in your cat down to ‘old age’ and ignore them! Early medical intervention and treatment is an important part of looking after your senior cat and can ultimately reduce veterinary costs rather than increasing them.

Problems such as a hyperactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism), high blood pressure, kidney disease, diabetes and cancer are more likely to occur at this stage. Cats can also suffer from the equivalent of senile dementia, although signs can be confused with other diseases, so it is important to establish a proper diagnosis. Older cats with failing kidneys may not drink sufficiently and can become dehydrated and constipated. They may spend less time grooming, leading to coat and skin problems or brittle overgrown claws, and may eat less because their sense of smell is not so acute, or they have teeth or gum problems. Arthritis is also common in the senior group.

Feeding and weight

Up to this point, you may have been concerned with your cat not putting on weight, and it’s true that in the early senior years obesity can peak. However, as your cat gets older, weight loss can be more of a concern. Regular weight checks with body condition score evaluation (a scale of 1 – 0 where 1 is most underweight, 9 is most overweight and 5 is just right) will help to pick up any problems early. You should be feeding your cat a complete food suitable for senior cats at this point, to help with their digestion.

Adult Cat Diet. Oxford Cat Clinic - Cat Only Vets in Botley & Marston.

Vaccinations

Keeping up with vaccinations is an important part of looking after your senior cat, as they continue to protect them against many serious viral infections – and your cat’s ability to fight these off reduces as they get older. Your cat should receive booster vaccinations at intervals recommended on your vet. If you intend to board them in a cattery, you’ll need to provide evidence of certain annual vaccinations. And if you have cat insurance, regular vaccinations are often a statutory requirement.

Worm and flea treatment

All cats should be treated regularly for fleas – these can transmit disease and cause irritation to cats and their owners. If left untreated, your home may become infested. Clearing such an infestation can take many months once the fleas start breeding. Your vet will advise if you need to treat your cat for ticks dependent on the area you live and your cat’s lifestyle. Your cat should also be treated for roundworms and tapeworms regularly – how often will be determined by your vet, but usually between every three months and every month. Like fleas, worms can spread disease and make your cat feel unwell.

A risk assessment is really important when determining what flea and worm products your cat should be receiving. Without you can easily be under or even over treating. Over treating can be damaging to both the environment and your pocket!

Cat worm and flea treatment. Oxford Cat Clinic - Cat Only Vets in Botley & Marston.

mature Cat Dental Care. Oxford Cat Clinic - Cat Only Vets in Botley & Marston.

Looking after your cat’s teeth

The older your cat, the more likely they are to suffer from dental problems, as a lifetime’s build-up of plaque leads to disease and pain. The best way to avoid this is to brush your cat’s teeth regularly – however the best time to begin this is when they are a kitten, but many cats accept this at later life stages. If your cat is refusing food, or begins to eat and then stops, you should get their teeth checked for decay and disease.

Blood pressure checks

Like us, cats can suffer from high blood pressure (hypertension) as they age. Left untreated it can cause damage to the eyes, kidneys, heart and brain. It’s easy to take your cat’s blood pressure – an inflatable cuff is placed around their leg or tail, very similar to the human procedure on the arm. We recommend taking your senior cat’s blood pressure at least once per year.

Blood and urine testing

Routine blood and urine testing is a good way detecting early signs of health problems that are relatively common in older cats, such as kidney disease, liver disease and diabetes. We recommend routine twice annual testing for your senior cat. It is easier than you might think to collect urine from your cat, and your vet will show you how to do this.

How we can help you support your senior cat

If you’re worried that your cat is ill or their behaviour has changed, then you can book an appointment with one of our specialist vets. With older cats, preventative care is crucial, and we run a ‘Silver Tails’ clinic to check the health of your senior or super senior cat. The first step is to register your cat with us, and you can do this below.

Cat Life Stages - How to look after your Senior Cat. Oxford Cat Clinic.

Special Services for Senior Cats

We also provide cat-focused dental care, vaccinations, flea and worm treatment and six-monthly check-ups. These can be booked individually, or as part of the Cat’s Whiskers Health Plan. The plan covers most regular treatments and gives you 10% off all other drugs and spreads the cost of your cat’s care over easy to manage monthly payments. Your senior cat may also benefit from our other nurse-led clinics, including:

If you have any questions or concerns about looking after your senior cat, feel free to call us to speak with one of the team.

01865 243000 (Botley Clinic) | 01865 950700 (Marston Clinic)

Need to see a vet in Oxford?

If your cat is ill, or you are concerned that they are just not quite right, then book to see one of our cat-specialist vets. If you’re not registered with us, then you can register here or give us a ring on 01865 243000.

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