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Cat Forum / Health and Behavior / February 2006What age is geriatric?
At what age would you call a cat a senior cat? We have a 10 year old that I'd love to continue to think of as a kitten. I was thinking though, it might be time for senior blood tests. Rhonda >At what age would you call a cat a senior cat? We have a 10 year old >that I'd love to continue to think of as a kitten. I was thinking >though, it might be time for senior blood tests. > >Rhonda Some of my cats who are nearly 10-11 are far more active and curious than the others who are half that age. Perry > At what age would you call a cat a senior cat? We have a 10 year old > that I'd love to continue to think of as a kitten. I was thinking > though, it might be time for senior blood tests. I think ten is a fair age to consider a cat "geriatric." I was in denial of any such thing with my first cat, though. We just don't like to think they are getting old. > > At what age would you call a cat a senior cat? We have a 10 year old > > that I'd love to continue to think of as a kitten. I was thinking [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > We just don't like to think they are getting old. I have to agree. I certainly haven't considered any of my 10 year old cats to be geriatric, but after Maynard developed symptoms so suddenly for liver failure, I have to review my thoughts of that. I may still think of them as healthy and young, but I think I would feel better getting the tests done. With Maynard, I did have bloodwork done the year before, and things were fine, but at age 18, I should have been doing it more often. At least twice a year. His lliver values were so off the chart that the bloodwork probably would have given us clues much sooner, and we could have extended his life. As it was, he didn't lose his appetite and act sick until after I took him to the vet. I was actually planning his 19th birthday party the night before since I was going to be at a cat show as a vendor on his birthday in two weeks. I figured I would put up a collage of photos and have a cake. I had no clue that he was even sick. He seemed so normal. Then I saw his yellow ears. I figured he was down to his last few months, and I would need to give him medication. I did not realize until the vet looked at him that I was down to my last 3 days with him. Kira is 11 and seems healthy enough, but I am going to do the senior panel at the next checkup. I don't expect to find anything, but I will feel better knowing that I am checking, and hopefully when something does come up, there will be time to treat it. > At what age would you call a cat a senior cat? We have a 10 year old > that I'd love to continue to think of as a kitten. I was thinking > though, it might be time for senior blood tests. > > Rhonda Depends on the clinic. At the feline specialty vet where I worked, we didn't reccomend geriatric panel until age 12, unless the guardian requested it. Many cats live past 15 - quite a few 20 or more. -L. Depends on the clinic. At the feline specialty vet where I worked, we > didn't reccomend geriatric panel until age 12, unless the guardian > requested it. Many cats live past 15 - quite a few 20 or more. My last cat lived to be 17. She didn't have any significant health problems until about the last 6 months of her life, when she developed chronic kidney failure. LAUREN See my cats: http://community.webshots.com/album/56955940rWhxAe > At what age would you call a cat a senior cat? We have a 10 year old > that I'd love to continue to think of as a kitten. I was thinking > though, it might be time for senior blood tests. According to a box of dried food I read once 8 is senior. I looked down at Isis and said "You're an old lady now" but she was too busy chasing her tail to notice....Since she lived to be over 16 from what it said on that box, she spent over half her life as a senior but she was still playful until a few days before she died Lesley Slave of the Fabulous Furballs > > At what age would you call a cat a senior cat? We have a 10 year old > > that I'd love to continue to think of as a kitten. I was thinking [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > on that box, she spent over half her life as a senior but she was still > playful until a few days before she died I actually tried Royal Canin food (more expensive than I was used to paying) because the package said a senior was 15+. Finally, a cat food maker that knows what a senior cat is. And they add glucosamine to the food and actually do something for a senior. I got a couple sample packets from the representitive at the cat show. Tried it with Maynard who was 18. He perked up. I knew he had arthtritis, and had been giving him glucoasmine which helped, but he got tired of the fish flavored tablets and wouldn't eat them every day. With the new kibble, I could see him walking faster, sometimes trotting, and taking the stairs better. The sample ran out, and he slowed down. I bought a bag of the food and he was better again. I was really impressed. They have changed the senior food to two types of "mature" - active and indoor. Basically for more active older cats and less active older cats. Both have glucosamine. Kira is only 11, but I decided to put her on the active mature. Rather than wait for her to be obvious in slowing down, I'd like to know that she is getting the extras for seniors. If this is like the dog food with the glucosamine in you really aren't giving them the optimum dose to do any real good. If you look at the content per serving compared to what they should get for optimum benefit it's not much. If you feed the food along with a supplement then it's much better but I wouldn't rely only on the food for the supplement. Celeste >> > At what age would you call a cat a senior cat? We have a 10 year old >> > that I'd love to continue to think of as a kitten. I was thinking [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] > on the active mature. Rather than wait for her to be obvious in slowing > down, I'd like to know that she is getting the extras for seniors. > If this is like the dog food with the glucosamine in you really aren't > giving them the optimum dose to do any real good. If you look at the > content per serving compared to what they should get for optimum benefit > it's not much. If you feed the food along with a supplement then it's much > better but I wouldn't rely only on the food for the supplement. I don't have the old tablets to compare it to, but the amount in the food is pretty good. And I noticed an obvious improvement when I started the new food, ran out, and started it again. Unless something else in the food did the job, then it has to be the glucosamine. Personally, he was doing as well as when he used to eat the daily tablets and a lot better than when he wasn't eating the tablets. You can believe what you want, but the senior food was a miracle for Maynard. I saw him trotting and showing some spunk again. And he was taking the stairs at normal speed. That food made the difference for him. And when I got Jay Jay, I got the Maine Coon food for him. With my regular food, he had very stinky poop (I'm surprised you all couldn't smell it across the country, it was so bad). Even the vet commented that usually poop doesn't smell that bad unless there is something wrong with the cat (and they didn't find anything). He was also gaining weight like crazy. He was chowing like crazy, inhaling the food. When I got the Maine Coon food, he ate slower (larger kibbles), and his poop stopped stinking so bad. Now, I only smell it if I walk by the litter box right after he went (he doesn't cover it). He doesn't produce stink bombs anymore. So, I am quite happy with the food. I have seen great results in two cats that needed improvements. So, I will keep Jay Jay on the Maine Coon food Kira on the active mature. > At what age would you call a cat a senior cat? > Rhonda I know what you mean, I am crazy about my kitten... (she's getting bigger, she's getting longer and lunkier) and meaner too! but sweeter to offset the meaness as for me personally, Im not going to "die" im just going to nasty away > At what age would you call a cat a senior cat? We have a 10 year old that > I'd love to continue to think of as a kitten. I was thinking though, it > might be time for senior blood tests. > > Rhonda Well, I have a 16-year-old who claims she's still a spring chicken! ;> Seriously, I don't think there's a magic number, I think it depends on the individual cat. But 10 years old would be a good time for a senior chick-up.  SignatureHugs, CatNipped See all my masters at: http://www.PossiblePlaces.com/CatNipped/ > > At what age would you call a cat a senior cat? We have a 10 year old that > > I'd love to continue to think of as a kitten. I was thinking though, it [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > individual cat. But 10 years old would be a good time for a senior > chick-up. I agree. But I remember being in deep denial that my first cat was getting old. She was 18 years old and I felt a little twinge of resentment when we walked in to a new vet's office and he said, "Oh, my, we have a senior citizen here!" To me she looked the same as ever, because I looked at her every day. But now, looking at pictures, I can see that she really had changed over time. We just don't want them to get old because we know what happens after that. > She was 18 years old and I felt a little twinge of resentment when we walked > in to a new vet's office and he said, "Oh, my, we have a senior citizen > here!" Did you think he meant you? :) SignatureWeb site: http://www.slywy.com/ Message board: http://www.slywy.com/phpBB2/ Journal: http://slywy.blogspot.com/ > > She was 18 years old and I felt a little twinge of resentment when we walked > > in to a new vet's office and he said, "Oh, my, we have a senior citizen > > here!" > > Did you think he meant you? :) :) No. I was offended on behalf of my kitty. > > > She was 18 years old and I felt a little twinge of resentment when we > walked [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > I was offended on behalf of my kitty. I know; just teasing. But really there is nothing wrong with being a "senior citizen." I keep saying that more and more the closer I get to being one. :) SignatureWeb site: http://www.slywy.com/ Message board: http://www.slywy.com/phpBB2/ Journal: http://slywy.blogspot.com/ > > > > She was 18 years old and I felt a little twinge of resentment when we > > walked [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > But really there is nothing wrong with being a "senior citizen." I keep > saying that more and more the closer I get to being one. :) I will feel honored if I make it that far! I hope to grow old gracefully, without acting like a lot of people seem to --trying to recapture lost youth in various silly ways. I don't buy into the "glorification of youth" part of this culture. I remember being 20-something. It was not all it's cracked up to be, although, it admittedly LOOKED better, heh! >> > > She was 18 years old and I felt a little twinge of resentment when we >> walked [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > But really there is nothing wrong with being a "senior citizen." I keep > saying that more and more the closer I get to being one. :) I'm looking forward to being a senior citizen!!! I'm still a long way off yet, but it looks fun from here! you get to boast about your kids, enjoy your grandkids, and have lots of cats and spend all day in the garden. I am tossing up whether I'll be a mad cat lady or a nice old grandma who's secretly a spy. no, but seriously, you've raised your kids, you get to stuff the grandkids full of chocolate then send them home, and you can work for your own pleasure and wealth, and not because little johnny wants to go to soccer club. > Web site: http://www.slywy.com/ > Message board: http://www.slywy.com/phpBB2/ > Journal: http://slywy.blogspot.com/ >>> > > She was 18 years old and I felt a little twinge of resentment when >>> > > we [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > work for your own pleasure and wealth, and not because little johnny wants > to go to soccer club. I am already there it ain't all the hype you think :-) >>>> > In article <43e221b1_3@x-privat.org>, "cybercat" >>>> > <boagrrl@hotmail.com> [quoted text clipped - 28 lines] > > I am already there it ain't all the hype you think :-) yeah, well I know there's down sides, I'm not that silly. i just prefer to view old age as not so bad instead of the AAARGHH!!! WRINKLES!! response our society advocates so strongly. >>>>> > In article <43e221b1_3@x-privat.org>, "cybercat" >>>>> > <boagrrl@hotmail.com> [quoted text clipped - 32 lines] > view old age as not so bad instead of the AAARGHH!!! WRINKLES!! response > our society advocates so strongly. Mine is AAARGHH!!! arthritis >>>>>> > In article <43e221b1_3@x-privat.org>, "cybercat" >>>>>> > <boagrrl@hotmail.com> [quoted text clipped - 35 lines] >> > Mine is AAARGHH!!! arthritis well, I'm in for that in not too many years anyway....bad joints run in my fambly, so it only gets worse from here! I mainly control it through diet at the mo, but there's not much that can be done. right now it's carpal tunnel too. > right now it's carpal tunnel too. If you can speak well enough to be understood by a stupid computer program, speech recognition (Dragon naturally speaking and a fast computer) is the cure for CPS, especially if you enjoy writing. Good luck. "John Doe" <jdoe@usenet.love.invalid> BEWARE HE IS A STALKER AND A TROLL BEWARE FOLLOWS YOU TO OTHER GROUPS AND INSULTS THEM AND POST BS ABOUT THEM HE NEEDS A TASTE OF HIS OWN MEDICINE Suddenly, without warning, meee exclaimed (03-Feb-06 2:11 AM): >>>>> She was 18 years old and I felt a little twinge of resentment when we >>> walked [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] >> Message board: http://www.slywy.com/phpBB2/ >> Journal: http://slywy.blogspot.com/ No kids here but I want to be the nice old lady who is the mad cat lady and is a spy :) (who would suspect?) Seriously, I think the secret to old age is having pets and horses. I read about (and have met) so many people who have horses and are active and riding well past their eighties. I want that to be me. What good's old age if you can't enjoy it? jmc > Suddenly, without warning, meee exclaimed (03-Feb-06 2:11 AM): >>> [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] > No kids here but I want to be the nice old lady who is the mad cat lady > and is a spy :) (who would suspect?) I know, that's the fun of it!! And being an old lady, you can 'borrow' your friends Grandkids. Older ladies seem to have a right to stop and coo over every little child. > Seriously, I think the secret to old age is having pets and horses. I > read about (and have met) so many people who have horses and are active > and riding well past their eighties. I want that to be me. What good's > old age if you can't enjoy it? > > jmc Oh, that's right!! I am 'saving' some things for when I get older...instead of being in a rush to do everything now, I am looking forward to the time when I won't have to 'behave' or worry about what people will say, because I'll be old and no-one will care. As Grandpa Simpson put it, 'I'm old, it's my right to complain' And horses will definitely be part of my old age!! > At what age would you call a cat a senior cat? We have a 10 year old > that I'd love to continue to think of as a kitten. I was thinking > though, it might be time for senior blood tests. > > Rhonda That's a very interesting question. Next is at what age does a cat pass from being a "senior" cat to a "geriatric" cat? From a medical point of view a big change in cats occurs around 6-7 years of age and then once again around 12-14. Cats under age 7 generally get into trouble with struvite stones, cats over age 6 generally get calcium oxalate stones. With that in mind altering urine pH output in senior cat foods makes some sense as it addresses the more common risk. Purina Pro Plan just introduced a 4th lifestage in cats - what they are calling 11+. So you have kitten up to one year, adult 1 to 7 years, mature adult 7 years to 11 years and Senior 11+. There is some good data on cats at age 12-14 having a whole new set of problems. Instead of weight gain at age 7, they are more likely to have weight loss problems. Steve Crane >> At what age would you call a cat a senior cat? We have a 10 year old >> that I'd love to continue to think of as a kitten. I was thinking [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > >Steve Crane I always viewed 10-15 as senior and 15 and on as geriatric. Perry > >> At what age would you call a cat a senior cat? We have a 10 year old > >> that I'd love to continue to think of as a kitten. I was thinking [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > > I always viewed 10-15 as senior and 15 and on as geriatric. That seems reasonable. > > At what age would you call a cat a senior cat? We have a 10 year old > > that I'd love to continue to think of as a kitten. I was thinking [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > > Steve Crane Our cat clinic starts doing geriatric panels at age 7. I personally don't consider our 8 year old cats geriatric, but I guess "mature adult" sounds better. We have two 8 year old cats and all of a sudden our vet bills got a lot higher, but it's worth it if anything turns up. I'd say by the age of ten, it probably is time to start getting geriatric panels done. As to whether to switch to senior foods, my concern is that with one of our cats it's always been hard to keep her weight up--she's very active and also finicky. I'm worried there are not enough calories in senior foods but on the other hand I don't want to make her more susceptible to urinary problems either. -Yngver >> > At what age would you call a cat a senior cat? We have a 10 year old >> > that I'd love to continue to think of as a kitten. I was thinking [quoted text clipped - 30 lines] >to make her more susceptible to urinary problems either. >-Yngver I don't know... maybe I'm in denial, but geriatric panels at age seven (or even 10) sounds ridiculous to me. Five of my cats are either ten or older, and only two of them seem older than a couple of years. Notice I said *seem* -- I don't know what's going on, but they play like kittens and are sleek as ever. Perry > >Our cat clinic starts doing geriatric panels at age 7. I personally > >don't consider our 8 year old cats geriatric, but I guess "mature [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > > Perry Well, it's hard for me to consider our 8 year old cats geriatric either, but I think it's fairly common now for vets to start recommending geriatric panels (blood and urine screen) at age 7. I was just glad they didn't start recommending twice yearly checkups--but maybe that comes at a later age. Years ago with my last cat, who lived to age 17, I don't think back then vets did routine screenings just due to the cat's being older. Actually if they had, my cat's liver problem probably would have been discovered sooner--although I'm not sure ultimately it would have prolonged her life. -Yngver >I don't know... maybe I'm in denial, but geriatric panels at age seven >(or even 10) sounds ridiculous to me. That's what I used to think too which is why when my vet suggested blood and urine testing at 7 I said no and waited till 9. My cat tested positive for early kidney disease! I had no idea, didn't notice any symtoms at all. So it could have already been there at 7 and I would have know if I had it done. Anna Thanks for all of the comments and opinions. Guess it's time to keep an eye on our Senior Kitten. She is our former feral who was an older kitten when caught. She stays mostly under the bed, even at 10 years old -- so I'm a bit concerned I'll miss health problems with her. She normally comes out at night and sleeps with me. It would probably be worth it to haul her out and get a blood test. Rhonda > At what age would you call a cat a senior cat? We have a 10 year old > that I'd love to continue to think of as a kitten. I was thinking > though, it might be time for senior blood tests. > > Rhonda Personally, that (10) is when I think of a cat as "older". Truly geriatric at maybe 12 - 14?? Even at that age, a cat may live for quite a few years in the geriatric age range. I *think* 8 is technically/officially considered to be geriatric, but I have a difficult time considering an 8 yr. old cat more than middle-aged. Cathy >At what age would you call a cat a senior cat? We have a 10 year old >that I'd love to continue to think of as a kitten. I was thinking >though, it might be time for senior blood tests. Definitely get blood and urine test. Cats are good at hiding illness. Mine tested positive for kidney disease at 9 and you'd never know she had it. Acted totally normal. Yes, they look young and act young on the outside but who knows what's going on on the inside. Anna |
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