Dental disease and periodontal disease are among the most common conditions in senior cats, which is tragic, because they can be so easily prevented. Not only can dental disease wreak havoc with your cat's mouth, but the infection can also be carried through the blood stream, causing infections in other organs, such as the kidneys or the heart. The most common form of dental disease in cats is tartar build-up, which causes irritation to the gums, gingivitis, and cavities, usually next to the gum line.
Warning Signs:
- Swollen, red gums
- Loss of appetite, due to pain when eating
- Change in eating habits (chewing on one side, gulping food)
- Bad breath
- Visible cavities or cracks along the gum line
- Receding gums
- Drooling
- Pawing at mouth
- Facial swelling
- Regular Brushing
Ideally, your cat's teeth should be brushed daily, using either a piece of gauze on your finger or a toothbrush designed for cats, along with toothpaste formulated for pets. Don't use regular toothpaste, as it can cause stomach distress when swallowed. - Tartar-control Food
Ask your veterinarian if a special tartar-control food would be appropriate for your cat. - Annual Professional Tooth Cleaning and Dental Exam
Scaling usually requires anaesthesia, and your veterinarian will recommend a blood test prior to use of anaesthetics. - Dental Extraction
Once cavities are present, extraction is usually indicated for pain relief. This procedure will also require anaesthetics.
Older cats often suffer some degree of hearing loss for various reasons.
A deaf cat may become frightened, stressed, and/or aggressive, and requires a particular degree of care. Our Shannon was quite deaf in his final years and startled easily. For this reason, I tried not to walk up quickly when he was not expecting me.
Ear mites and excessive ear wax buildup can both be contributory factors to hearing loss, so it is important to do a regular examination of your cat's ears, including cleaning them when necessary. Your veterinarian can also prescribe a commercial earwax remover to be applied monthly.
Warning Signs:
- Failure to respond when spoken to or called
- Cat is easily startled
- Very loud meowing
- Signs of dizziness or disorientation
- Shaking head or clawing at ear can be indicative of ear infection or mites.
- Pus or other drainage from ear
- Unpleasant odor about ears
- Pink or scaly areas at the tips of the ears (in white cats or cats with light colored ears). Can be the beginning of a skin cancer common to white cats.
- Regular Examination & Cleaning
- Check your cat's ears once a week for signs of mites or dirty ears. Clean as indicated.
- See your veterinarian at first indication of any of the warning signs.
- Keep white cats out of the sun.
Senility or Disorientation Very old cats sometimes exhibit signs of senility, and possibly can even be subject to Alzheimer's Disease. Symptoms vary, but include restlessness, wandering aimlessly, and apparent momentary lack of recognition of their caregiving human. These cats will also exhibit depression and perhaps even stop grooming or using the litter box.
Any and all of these symptoms can come and go as the cat has "Good Days" and "Bad Days". Treatment can range from selegiline (Anipryl RX), as recommended by Dr. Mike Richards to the homeopathic Rescue Remedy drops, accompanied by plenty of loving hugs and attention.
Reduced Vision or Blindness
Because cats have such finely-honed senses of scent, touch, and hearing, it is often difficult to know when an aging cat's vision becomes compromised. Often the first sign is observing a cat bumping into a piece of furniture. One of the most common causes for sudden blindness in cats is hypertension (high blood pressure), which often accompanies Hyperthyroidism, Diabetes, and kidney failure. Sudden blindness is an emergency situation, and the cat should be seen immediately by a veterinarian - an emergency vet clinic if observed after-hours. For more information on vision loss, read Disease Profile: Eye Problems and Blindness.
This is the conclusion of Part 1 of a 3-part series on Nurturing Your Senior Cat.
The Senior Cat Series
- Part 1: Optimizing his Health and Well-Being
- Part 2: Diseases That Target Older Cats
- Part 3: The Comfort Factor
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