Maintain
your cat's health and happiness as he ages. Be aware of common ailments
in older cats. Diagnosis and treatment of these problems will help your
cat maintain its quality of life. Hearing loss occurs often in aging cats.
Signs of hearing loss include chronic ear infections, disorientation, scratching
the ear, being startled easily, no response to your voice, and meowing
louder than normal. Dental disease also occurs more frequently as a cat
ages. Brushing and proper dental care can help alleviate this problem.
The infection caused by dental disease can travel throughout a cat's bloodstream
causing other more serious problems. Consequently, dental care is a very
important issue. Arthritis can also occur. This is usually triggered by
excessive wear on your cat's joint. Look for signs of stiffness, soreness,
pain and lack of mobility. Exercise and messaging your cat's joints can
be helpful. Senility or confusion is also an issue for older cats. Consult
your vet if your cat exhibits any of these symptoms. In many cases your
vet can either help alleviate the problem, or make your cat more comfortable
as he ages. |