Complete Care for Your Aging Cat - Amy Shojai [36]
“Although this technology is still in its infancy, future veterinarians will be able to identify animals that have gene expression profiles that put them at risk for a variety of disease conditions, long before conventional diagnostic tools detect changes,” says Dr. Towell. “Once these changes are detected, veterinarians will be able to offer specific nutritional recommendations designed to alter those genomic changes to better reflect a healthy state.”
Exercise
Twenty minutes of aerobic exercise twice a day helps keep cats of all ages physically fit, mentally alert—and out of trouble. A tired cat is a well-behaved cat! But most old felines tend to slow down and may have stiff or painful joints that make them reluctant to move their furry tails. It takes more effort to get her moving at all, let alone to generate the same activity level as when she was a youngster.
Simple movement gives her a much needed healthy edge, though. Muscles that aren’t used atrophy. Muscle mass is the buffer a cat needs to maintain health and recover from injury or disease, and so muscle loss can have risky consequences.
As for the joints, they help feed themselves by spreading nutrients with the pumping action of their movement. A reduction in movement allows the joints to get rusty, become less efficient, and can speed the progression of arthritis. Painful arthritis, in turn, makes the cat reluctant to move—and reduced exercise can lead to gaining weight. In a vicious cycle, obesity puts more strain on the already painful joints, and also predisposes her to diabetes mellitus.
As she ages, your cat may not be physically capable of maintaining the same level of exercise she enjoyed as a youthful athlete. Painful joints aren’t helped by the concussive action of leaps and jumps after flying feather toys, so you may need to carefully control her exercise. Rather than a race across the linoleum, entice her to follow you around the house or up and down stairs by dragging a feather lure. Cats are masters of the stretch and bend, and naturally practice feline yoga. Try hiding toys or treats in places she’ll have to expend energy to reach—on the top of a step stool, for example, or behind a sofa cushion. If she’s trained to walk on a halter and leash, tempt her with a garden stroll to hunt for crickets or butterflies. Find games your cat already enjoys, such as chasing the sheets as you make the bed, and make them part of a daily aerobic workout. The best idea is to maintain a level of aerobic exercise your cat enjoys, so you don’t have to fight her every step of the way.
Establish a daily routine for your cat—ten to twenty minutes every morning and evening is a good target, and is much better than one long marathon session on weekends. Don’t wait for her to ask you. At the scheduled time, take the leash to her, wake her from a nap if necessary, and get her up and moving. Cats are champion sleepers and won’t need an excuse to steal an extra forty winks. With regular exercise, your aging cat will feel better, act younger, and remain healthier for much longer. When you can do it together, it also enhances the bond you share.
Physical Therapy
“Physical therapy especially for geriatrics is absolutely essential,” says Dr. Beebe. This includes cold packs to decrease pain and swelling. Heat therapy decreases pain, increases circulation and healing, relaxes skeletal muscles, reduces muscle spasm and decreases joint stiffness. Exercise helps improve balance, coordination, endurance, and flexibility. Massage increases blood flow and removes lymphatic drainage from injured tissues. Supportive devices range from braces that help protect a nerve-damaged leg, to wheeled carts that cradle the rear end of a paralyzed cat and allow her to still get around.
Overweight felines, those suffering from arthritis, or recovering from surgery also benefit from rehabilitation or physical therapy. Your veterinarian may suggest a program to help slim your