What are the considerations at different life stages?
Every cat is unique but certain health problems tend to arise in certain life stages. Some of these are highlighted in the following sections. The information here is by no means exhaustive, but it gives an idea of when certain problems more commonly occur, and what your vet may be looking out for during routine checks.
For further information on many of these problems please see the information on our main web site – www.icatcare.org
Mature (7 to 10 years) cats
At 7 years of age and above, although many cats still look youthful and remain playful, there is an increasing risk of ‘older cat’ age-related problems developing. Typical examples of these diseases include diabetes, kidney disease, high blood pressure, hyperthyroidism and cancer.
Close monitoring is important, focusing on common signs of disease in oldercats such as poor coat condition, lethargy, weight loss, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, change in appetite or thirst, changes in urination, and reduced activity.
Obesity also peaks in Mature and Senior cats, so extra care needs to be taken with feeding. Changes in bodyweight can easily go unnoticed over time and can be especially difficult to recognise in longer-haired cats. This emphasises the importance of regular weighing of cats and monitoring of their body condition score.