Senior Cat

Like people, cats are living longer. This is great news! We all treasure the companionship we share with our cats. We hope to provide them with the longest, happiest lives possible.

How old is your Cat?

Cat’s Age	Equivalent Human’s Age	Cat’s Age	Equivalent Human’s Age
5	30	15	80
6	35	16	85
7	40	17	90
8	45	18	95
9	50	19	100
10	55	20	105
11	60	21	110
12	65	22	115
13	70	23	120
14	75	24	125
Adult	Senior		Super Senior

Caring for your cat means more than treating problems as they arise. Preventive care is the most important component of healthcare in all of the life stages. At seven years cats are considered seniors. At this life stage changes in physical condition and behavior inevitably occur.

What signs should I watch for in my senior cat?

• Change in water consumption (especially an increase)	• Vomiting or diarrhea
• Change in appetite	• Change in weight
• Lethargy or depression	• Bad breath or difficulty eating
• Change in urine production (especially an increase)	• Lumps or bumps on the skin
• Constipation	• Lapse in grooming habits
• Change in litter box habits	• Stiffness or trouble jumping
• Change in attitude (irritability/antisocial behavior)

What can my veterinarian do?

Murrayhill Veterinary Hospital recommends a Senior Wellness Program for all cats over seven years of age. the noninvasive tests in the program help us care for your senior in the program help us care for your senior cat in two ways. First, this program can identify possible health problems before they become life threatening. Early testing and detection of medical problems allows for a more favorable outcome, or prognosis, and more cost-effective options. Second, these tests will provide a baseline with which your veterinarian can measure changes should your cat become ill in the future.

Medical needs of senior cats

Test	Frequency		Reason
	Senior	Super Senior
Doctor Exam	Every 6 months	Every 4 months	Detect early signs of disease such as periodontal disease, obesity, heart disease, cataracts, arthritis, and cancer
Blood Tests	Annually	Every 6 months	Identify liver, kidney, pancreatic and thyroid disease, anemia, and cancer
Urinalysis	Every 6 months	Every 4 months	Identify kidney disease and failure, infections, and diabetes
Blood Pressure	Annually	Every 4 months	High blood pressure may lead to strokes, eye, or kidney disease
Tonometry	Annually	Annually	Screening for glaucoma
Baseline X-Rays/ECG	Annually	Annually	Detects heart and lung disease, arrhythmias, enlarged organs, and cancer

The Goal of Senior Care

The goal of senior care is simple. We want to help you maintain the highest quality of life for your cat and thereby enhance the bond that we all share. Together, we can make the senior years the most rewarding years for you and your cat to share with each other.