Health

Were fortunate that many cats live well into their teens or even to 20 years of age or more. We generally define senior cats as any cat over 10 years of age. Geriatric cats can remain active and comfortable, but they are prone to certain health conditions. Being aware of these problems, reacting right away to changes, and providing recommended preventive care can all help keep your cat well into her later years.

Q Im alone and somewhat lonely, especially since Phoebe, my cat of 16 years, passed away a month ago. I miss her terribly. I have no children, just a couple of nieces I rarely see. My husband passed away a decade ago. Im 83, but in good health. Is it right for me to adopt a cat at my age? I asked my veterinarian, but he said it was my decision. I would be happy to accept an older cat, because I realize its unlikely I would outlive a kitten. I wouldnt want my new cat to fall on bad times because I passed away. Elizabeth, do you think I would be allowed to adopt?

Pumpkin is an excellent source of potassium—a mineral that is important for a variety of physiologic functions.

On average, the grain-free diets were lower in carbohydrates than the diets that contained grain, but there was a wide range in carb content across all of the foods. This means that if your cat needs a diet with fewer carbs, choosing a grain-free diet does not guarantee that the carbohydrate content will be lower than the food you are currently feeding.

The researchers want to compare DNA from ill cats to DNA from healthy cats, so they may learn to better diagnose and treat diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, renal disease, and diabetes.

My 11-year-old domestic shorthaired cat was just diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, and we are trying to decide the best way to treat him. Weve been told that he is otherwise healthy, and our veterinarian has told us about the possibility of radioiodine therapy, but were concerned about the effects of the radiation on him and our family.

Many cats show some signs of periodontal gum disease by three years of age. Reports indicate between 50 and 90 percent of all cats over four years of age will have some degree of dental disease.

Signs of ringworm in cats include lesions with hair loss around the face, head, or tail that may or may not itch.

Pumpkin is an excellent source of potassium-a mineral that is important for a variety of physiologic functions.

Feline lower urinary tract disease, or FLUTD, is a problem that cat owners everywhere dread. Litter box “accidents,” bloody urine, or a cat straining to urinate can all concern families. In some cases, this is an emergency—in others, a painful annoyance for you and your cat. In general, when a cat has urinary problems, it’s important to rule out any medical conditions before considering behavioral problems (to be covered in another issue). A common indication of…

Cats do not pant on a regular basis like dogs do. Feline panting can be either normal or due to underlying medical problems.

A study published in the Journal of Internal Veterinary Medicine compared the efficacy of low-dose radioiodine treatment for cats with hyperthyroidism to the standard dose.