The ageing process increases susceptibility to
certain disease. An older body is less good at
repairing damage or repairs are incomplete or
faulty. This results in degeneration. Some organs
start to malfunction due to accumulated wear and
tear or to cellular changes so diseases due to
degeneration and dysfunction become more common as
cats age. The age at which degeneration begins and
the rate of degeneration is mostly genetically
determined, but is influenced by the environment
and slowed by early detection and medical
treatment.
However observant you are, cats are good at
hiding symptoms and may be very sick by the time
you notice anything and see the vet. You might
wonder why this is. It is an evolutionary survival
trait - a sick cat attracts the attention of a
larger predator; hiding symptoms may be great in
the wild, but presents a problem in the home where
early detection means treatment is more likely to
be successful. There are many excellent cat care
books (many are well illustrated) detailing feline
ailments. You can also do a web search, email an
on-line vet or phone your regular vet. This
section concentrates on conditions more common in
older cats.
Kidney
Failure
The kidneys filter the blood and remove
metabolic waste products which are excreted in the
urine. If these waste products (e.g. urea) are not
removed, blood toxin levels rise making your cat
ill. The kidneys are usually the first organs to
wear out. Kidney disease is ultimately fatal;
early diagnosis can slow its progress. Some breeds
are susceptible to kidney problems e.g. hereditary
polycystic kidney disease (PKD). Due to the wear
and tear of a lifetime of service, the kidneys
wear out. Chronic nephritis (inflamed kidneys)
resulting in scarred and shrunken kidneys, is the
most common cause of chronic kidney failure in
older cats.
Chronic kidney disease (Chronic Renal Failure,
CRF) is a progressive, fatal condition as kidney
function progressively decreases and don't filter
the blood properly. At the same time, protein is
lost through the kidneys and can be detected in
the urine. Supportive treatment (special diet,
dialysis, drug treatment) can extend your cat's
life and give good quality of life for several
months but he will lose too much kidney function
to survive. He may show no symptoms until only 30%
kidney function is left and his blood urea levels
are extremely high.
Symptoms of kidney failure
include poor appetite, weight loss, increased or
excessive thirst, increased urination, bad breath,
mouth ulcers and vomiting. If he goes outdoors he
may show an unusual preference for drinking
greenish standing water or pond water. In the
later stages he may suffer seizures or coma as
toxins accumulate and circulate in the blood and
affect his brain. Death due to blood toxicity is
slow and usually unpleasant as other organs are
being poisoned.
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