Complete Care for Your Aging Cat - Amy Shojai [38]
The skin is the outer reflection of inner health. Keeping the fur clean, combed, and tangle-free prevents fleas, ticks, and fungus infections such as ringworm. Feces or urine trapped in the fur is a breeding ground for bacteria and can cause painful inflammation when not removed.
A grooming session also doubles as a home health check for any stray lumps, bumps, or sores that hide beneath the fur coat. Early detection offers the best chance for diagnosing and treating tumors, for example. Besides that, all-over petting can be a feel-good massage or petting session that reminds your cat how wonderful you are.
Good grooming also includes checking the eyes, ears and teeth. Cats with flat faces and large eyes, such as Persians, are more prone to eye problems. “They are more prone to exposure keratitis,” says Dr. Davidson. “That means their eyes stick out so far, and their eyelids don’t blink across their eye appropriately, so their cornea dries out.” If the cornea dries out, it’s more prone to developing ulcers. “It’s helpful to use artificial tears in these kitties to keep the eyes more moist. They can be the same type as purchased in human pharmacies.”
Persians and Himalayans in particular get a condition called corneal sequestrum. “That’s a black plaque that develops on the cornea that has to be treated either medically or surgically,” says Dr. Davidson.
Keep hair trimmed away or combed away. Excessive tearing needs evaluation by the veterinarian. “Tears are salty and they will cause irritation on the skin,” she says. For eyes that tear more readily, use a clean cloth and warm water on the skin and eye wash inside the eye.
Don’t forget to peek inside your cat’s ears at least once a week. Cats don’t tend to have nearly as many ear problems as drop-eared dogs because the air is able to circulate and keep the ears dry. Cats with very furry ears and folded-eared Scottish Fold cats are more prone to infections because bacteria likes moist, warm places to grow. Keep the fur trimmed around the ears.
Oral disease is a common problem in aging cats, says Dr. Gengler. “It’s as important to teach that young animal about dental care at home as it is to teach them about a litter box,” says Dr. Gengler. Brush her teeth every day or as often as you can, or provide products such as dental diets or chlorhexidine rinses to help control periodontal disease. “There are a number of different products that are available. You can make amazing strides toward health and long, quality lifespan by brushing their teeth.”.
Accommodations
You need to take into account the special needs your cat may face during her golden years. Adjustments to her environment may be necessary to protect her from injury, or help maintain the status quo and keep her emotionally healthy. Accommodations vary from pet to pet. Think of what’s most important to your cat, and make changes that help her continue to enjoy life in as normal a fashion as possible.
If she loses her sight, any change to the surroundings could throw her off balance—literally. Cats mentally map the house and navigate by memory, and rearranging the furniture leaves her without a compass. “Make the house safer for the cat,” says Melisa Bain, DVM, a lecturer at University of California-Davis. “If the cat’s blind, block off the stairs.” Blindness may put her at risk for missing a leap from chair to table, becoming trapped in out-of-the-way rooms, burning in the fireplace or drowning in the hot tub. People are often distressed at their pet’s loss of hearing or sight, says Dr. Strain, but that doesn’t mean the pet suffers. “You just have to protect them from dangers they no longer detect,” he says.
Cats with creaky joints or weakened muscles need help to continue their normal routine, because they aren’t as flexible or able to manage leaps. “Add extra litter boxes so the cat doesn