Keeping the Kitten in your Cat

Did you know that more than 2 million cats in Britain are aged eight years or more and are now classified as 'senior cats'? Thanks to better nutrition and veterinary care, our cats' nine lives just keep getting longer. It is not uncommon for cats to live to the ripe old age of 16 years, with increasing numbers now living into their twenties.

Older cats often remain remarkably fit, showing few outward signs of ageing. Nevertheless, they do tend to slow down a little and like to spend more time indoors living a more sedate life. Change to internal organs is an integral part of the ageing process and the liver and kidneys may become less efficient. The immune system may also gradually deteriorate making it more difficult for senior cats to fight off infection. However, with a balanced diet, a bit of love and a lot of attention, your cat can enjoy a long and happy old age.

What can you do?
There are many small things you can do in everyday life to help keep the kitten in your cat. Some older cats may require special diets, and others regular veterinary treatment. This means that you need to be more vigilant, giving your feline companion regular health checks to make his life as happy and healthy as possible.

The first thing to note is that although all cats should benefit from a routine veterinary check once a year, older cats should really be seen by the vet every six months. Many veterinary surgeries run geriatric clinics, recognising the need to give ageing pets a little extra time and attention. In addition, you can give your cat a thorough once-over every week; catching any early signs of ill health will ensure that any problems which may arise can be tackled quickly and controlled before reaching a serious stage.

Judging weight gain, controlling appetite
After the age of two, a cat's bodyweight should stay fairly constant so watch out for signs of weight increase or definite weight loss. A diet which maintains a normal bodyweight is best for increased longevity.

Check your cat's weight by running your hand along his rib cage: if the ribs are hidden by rolls of fat, your cat is overweight, whereas if you can count each individual rib your cat is underweight.

Since metabolism sometimes slows down with age some cats may become overweight in their advanced years, particularly those leading less active lives, and obesity can therefore be a problem. If your cat is weighed on its regular visits to the vet any increase will be quickly detected. Once your cat is overweight (that is, more than 15 per cent over his ideal bodyweight) he is at greater risk of ill-health and numerous other potential ailments and infections. Therefore, to help control your cat's weight, encourage him to remain active through exercise and play.

Ageing cats tend to lose weight very quickly when ill or if they have an overactive thyroid gland. Consult your vet if your cat is underweight, even if he seems to be lively and eating well.

If your cat shows signs of losing his appetite, it is important that you encourage him to eat by gentle coaxing. If he has a lack of appetite, and otherwise seems quite well, try warming his food up very slightly to release more of the aromas as the sense of smell and taste deteriorates with age.

If his appetite still does not improve check your cat's teeth, gums and tongue as dental problems are a common cause of discomfort and loss of appetite in older cats. Bad breath and inflamed gums suggest that your cat needs a dental check up from your vet. If there is an ulcer on the tongue it may indicate dental disease or underlying kidney problems.

Senior diets - specially tailored for older cats
Because senior cats find it increasingly difficult to digest protein and other nutrients, and can have difficulty getting sufficient energy out of their food, their nutritional requirements start to change with age. Cats are true carnivores so a food offering a high quality protein will help ensure that your cat gets the most out of his diet by delivering the correct amount of amino acids (protein building blocks).

To help with the smooth functioning of the kidneys reduced levels of the mineral phosphorus are beneficial. Therefore, a feeding regimen with controlled levels of phosphorus is advisable for your ageing companion.

Foods with specially tailored levels of minerals and vitamins for senior cats are also recommended. A higher intake of certain key vitamins, such as vitamin E, can increase natural defences, helping ageing cats to fight infection and maintain a healthy body.

To ensure your much-cherished ageing rascal gets the most out of his nine lives, specially formulated senior cat foods are now available.

Look what the cat brought in...

Millions of wild animals are estimated to fall prey to the hunting activities of Britain's pet cats every year, according to a survey carried out by the Mammal Society. The survey, entitled 'Look what the cat brought in', analysed the kill or capture rates of 986 cats living in 618 households in th UK over a five-month period between 01 April and 31 August 1997. From the figures received it was calculated that the average annual catch per cat was 40 victims. Britain's population of 9 million cats is estimated to have brought home up to 113 million mammals, 40 million birds and eight million reptiles and amphibians during the period of the survey.

A recent report summarising the survey's findings says that, generally, two year-old cats kill the most animals, with kill rates tending to decline as cats get older and slower. However, some of the very biggest killers are the 'grizzled and really experienced eight and nine year olds'.

The Mammal Society suggests that there are eight ways in which cat owners can help British wildlife:

• Keep pet cats in at night.
• Put a bell on the cat's collar to warn potential victims
• Feed birds in the garden. Apparently putting out food attracts more birds to the garden and the more birds there are, the more likely they are to notice a cat approaching and fly off.

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