Cat Health and the Problems of Aging

Cats are suscetible to many of the same age related health issues as us humans. These include stiffening joints and arthritis, tooth decay, deafness, incontinence and the loss of their ability to taste and smell. A common ailment that can bring about the end of a cat's life is kidney failure. Another is strokes. Cats will often experience a whole series of strokes up until the final one that results in death.

Signs that your cat is experiencing age related health issues will include a reducing inclination to adventure outdoors, chasing birds and staying out all night, much like humans. You may notice changes in your cat's eating habits and you should pay attention to dental health as many cats develop horrendously bad breath as their teeth decay and fall out as they age.

Incontinence is another common issue. But this can be managed using cat diapers, but you may experience some difficulty in persuading your moggie that wearing them is actually beneficial.

Good Cat Health Care

As cats get older its important that they are given regular health checks by a qualified vet. The vet will inspect the cats mouth, ask for details of the cats eating habits and stick a thermometer up the cats rectum. Your vet will advise you on the best way to take care of your cat as it shuffles toward the end of its life.

How to Feed an Aging Cat

Diet is an important factor that can significantly affect your cats health, its ability to withstand the effects of aging and keep its teeth healthy. A varied diet that includes a healthy mixture of dry and wet food is recommended. And cats must always have access to a plentiful supply of clean water. This is particularly important in warm homes with central heating and cats can quickly become unhealthily dehydrated in these environments. And be certain to include a few of your cats favourite treats in the diet as getting to a ripe old age means that these are well deserved.

Putting Cats to Sleep

It is the authors opinion that pet ownership is a responsibility and this includes caring for pets into their old age. Many people think that once an animal is beginning to show the signs of age its then time to inject them with a poison and get a replacement. This should not be the case. The only circumstances under which it is humane to take an animals life is if that animal is suffering and that suffering cannot be alleviated.

So look after your cat or cats well and they will live long and happy lives. Look out for the signs of aging and be sure to get your cats checked by a vet regularly.

The same goes for cats. Just like us, they sometimes have minor sneezing fits. And just like us, sneezing is sometimes an indicator that they need treatment.

In summer cats love to explore outdoors. Because their sense of smell is their most important way of finding out about the world, they spend a lot of time sniffing! If you have a lawn and cut your grass regularly, it's easy for cats to get tiny slivers of grass up their noses.

If your cat is snuffling and sneezing, obviously trying to dislodge a blockage, don't leave it too long before asking your vet to check. If you leave grass in there it can eventually cause infection, which can affect their hearing, sight and sense of smell if it's ignored.

If you go on holiday and leave your puss in a cattery, you might find they come home with a nasty sneeze. In this case they may well have caught something from a fellow moggie, an airborne virus or bacterium.

Just like people, very young and old cats are particularly susceptible to sneezing fits and infections. Keep an extra special eye on sneezing in older and young cats and if it persists or gets worse, ask your vet for a diagnosis. If you know your cat well, you'll be able to distinguish when they're just a bit uncomfortable and when they're genuinely poorly.

Some cats, again just liker humans, become allergic or sensitive to household products like air fresheners and cleaning stuff. To identify what's causing the problem, stop using cleaning fluids or whatever one by one to identify which one's causing the problem, and use an alternative.

As cats get older they're also prone to tooth abscesses, which can also cause sneezing and inflammation. If you've ever had toothache you'll know how awful it is, so if your cat's face looks swollen or they're obviously in pain from the mouth, see your vet straight away. An antibiotic injection or pill usually does the trick.

Last but not least, extra-furry cats are more likely to breathe in bits of fur or suffer irritation from their own coats, with some breeds more prone than others.

As a general rule if your cat starts sneezing, don't panic. Keep a careful eye on him or her and if it's still happening a few days later or they're looking worse, seek expert help.

If you find a cat that has been injured in an road accident you may need to wrap the animal in something like a jacket or a towel in order to be able to pick it up safely without risking further injury. Its important to immediately take the cat to a vet. Inevitably these events occur at times when vets aren’t open or aren’t nearby. You may need to consult your local telephone listings to find out where the nearest emergency vet is located.

Take the cat to the vet and explain where it was found and circumstances in which you found the animal. You will be required to leave your personal details but don’t worry, this is just a formality.

If you live near a busy road and you keep cats its important for them and for the road users that you keep your cats away from the highway. Most cats develop a sensible fear of traffic and will keep away from noisy cars. But they can sometimes panic, especially when young, and this is when they may run into the path of a vehicle.

Sneezing in cats, as in humans, is generally caused by nasal irritation which can be caused by a variety of things, including blades of grass. Dust and pollen are more common causes along with infections. Here are some of the most common causes of cat sneezing:

• Foreign bodies causing nasal irritation
• Smoke
• Dust and pollen
• Allergies
• Infections
• Dental Abscess
• Nasal cancer

Again like humans cats can catch colds which are upper respiratory infections and these will make them sneeze.

Diagnosis

When diagnosing the possible causes of persistent sneezing look for nasal discharge. This will need to be inspected closely to identify the nature of the discharge and what it contains. If there is ocular discharge as well as sneezing and the animal is not eating then the likely cause is respiratory infection.

If the cat is pawing at their head and nose then the most likely cause is a foreign object such as a seed or leaf. But if the cat shows signs of scratching, especially around the head, then allergies may be the cause. This can often occur, as in humans, at certain specific times of year when certain types of pollen are prevalent.

If sneezing discharge contains blood then the cat may have a fungal infection or even nasal cancer. You will need to take your cat to the vet for a full examination. The vet may possibly call for one or more of the following procedures:

• Cytology - microscopic examination of nasal secretions
• Bacterial culture of nasal secretions
• Biopsy of the nasal tissue
• Rhinoscopy - examination of the nasal passages using an endoscope.
• X-ray or CT scan to detect dental abscess or cancer. This will require general anaesthetic.
• Fungal serology

In order to treat cat sneezing effectively it is necessary to identify the cause. If the cause has been determined to be a foreign body it must be removed. If caused by an allergy then it is best to keep the animal away from the irritant.

Viral infections are best prevented by means of vaccination. If the animal has a bacterial infection then antibiotics may be prescribed. Fungal infections can be very effectively treated with anti fungal drugs.

If in doubt always consult a veterinary professional.