| A cat is considered to be a senior when they are 10 | | | | weight loss, a yellowing of the eyes or skin, vomiting, |
| years old. The diseases that are common for these | | | | and an abdomen that swells. |
| older cats are diabetes, chronic kidney failure, | | | | Kidney disease is common to older cats. As the |
| hyperthyroidism, high blood pressure, and cancers. | | | | kidneys filter the blood and regulate water in the cat's |
| Early detection is essential to the survival of an older | | | | body while creating waste products, kidney disease will |
| cat from any of these diseases. Routine veterinary | | | | allow a toxic build-up in the cat's body which will quickly |
| care is vital for detection and for prevention. Yearly | | | | kill it. The warning signs are weight loss, excessive |
| checkups are advised as these can pick up on a | | | | thirst and urination, vomiting and also a loss of appetite, |
| problem before it becomes something major and | | | | which contributes to the weight loss. |
| therefore possibly expensive. | | | | Hyperthyroidism is also another disease that is |
| Many of the diseases that are fatal for cats are | | | | common to older cats. This is caused by a |
| preventable if cats have received proper vaccinations | | | | hyperactive thyroid which produces too many thyroid |
| when needed. For cat vaccines to be effective, they | | | | hormones. Warning signs are again weight loss, |
| must be given in a series of injections. This is typically | | | | increased thirst and increased urination, an increase in |
| started at around age 6 to 8 weeks, again at around | | | | hyperactivity, appetite, vomiting and diarrhea. Your vet |
| 12 weeks of age and then at 16 weeks of age. After | | | | may wish to remove the thyroid or perhaps treat the |
| the first series of kitten shots the adult cat needs a | | | | problem with medication. The treatment will depend on |
| yearly dose of vaccinations that are appropriate for | | | | your cat's age and level of general health. If left |
| your cat. If you have an outdoor cat your cat will need | | | | untreated it can cause death. |
| to include the leukemia vaccine and the feline aids | | | | Feline hypertension or high blood pressure can be seen |
| vaccine. | | | | in cats of all ages and is often associated with other |
| Feline diabetes mellitus, like in the human form, has type | | | | diseases such as kidney disease, heart diseases and |
| 1 and type 2. Warning signs for this disease are | | | | hyperthyroidism. It is often called the silent killer in |
| excessive thirst or excessive urination, loss of weight, | | | | people and this can apply to cats as well. What might |
| vomiting, loss of appetite, weakness, poor skin, poor | | | | appear are the symptoms of the underlying disease |
| coat condition, breathing problems, and dehydration. | | | | that is causing the high blood pressure. Your vet can |
| Hepatic lipidosis, otherwise known as the fatty liver | | | | monitor blood pressure with specialized equipment. If |
| disease, is seen in older cats that are overweight or | | | | your cat already has other diseases the vet is more |
| obese. Fats build up in the liver until it can no longer | | | | than likely already monitoring them and will pick up on |
| function. If left untreated, this can be fatal. It is also the | | | | any feline hypertension. Warning signs are a rapid |
| most common liver disease in cats. Cats can also get | | | | heart rate or a heart murmur, the cat will have dilated |
| this disease if they develop anorexia. Warning signs | | | | pupils and the pupils do not respond to light shined in |
| for this disease are loss of appetite, listlessness, rapid | | | | them, and also sudden blindness. |