Your Older Cat: A Complete Guide to Nutrition, Natural Health Remedies, and Veterinary Care [Paperback]

Susan Easterly (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 2, 2002

"

Safe preventive care for a long and healthy life"

You probably feel that you know everything your cat needs -- plenty of food, frequent naps, and lots of love! Cats heal quickly and take excellent care of themselves, but as they age, they do need owners to pay special attention to their health and behavior. Creating a balanced diet, encouraging regular exercise, and providing good health care will ensure that your cat enjoys every one of his nine lives.

"Your Older Cat" shows how to extend your cat's active years and explains the special health issues for an aging cat. Divided into five sections, this practical guide discusses:

HOW TO RECOGNIZE THE ONSET OF OLD AGE

READING YOUR CAT FOR SIGNS OF ILLNESS

BECOMING A PARTNER IN YOUR CAT'S HEALTH CARE -- FROM

VETERINARY CARE TO PET HEALTH INSURANCE

PREVENTION 101: TIPS ON DIET, GROOMING, NUTRITIONAL

SUPPLEMENTS, AND EXERCISE

AFFORDABLE AND EFFECTIVE NATURAL TREATMENTS FOR AGING CATS, INCLUDING ACUPUNCTURE, MASSAGE, HERBS, AND HOMEOPATHY

Plus, readers will find handsome color photos, informative sidebars for quick reference, and an extensive resource section.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Susan Easterly is an award-winning pet writer and contributing editor to Cat Fancy magazine. She has contributed to five books on pet care and has written hundreds of pet articles. She lives in Newberg, Oregon, with her family and six pets, two of whom are older cats.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Chapter One: The Aging Process

Cats age better than we do. They don't worry about wrinkles or fret over thinning hair. Perhaps in their quiet wisdom they realize aging is a natural process and not a disease. Cats are individuals and, just like people, age in their own ways. Setting a date for old age can be arbitrary and even a bit controversial. In general, veterinarians consider a seven-year-old cat is old; rather, he's at a midlife benchmark. Seven is the age when metabolic changes begin to surface in mature cats, with noticeable physical changes occurring somewhere between 7 and 10 years. Most cats are considered elderly at age 12, but, again, the label can be misleading. The average feline life lasts about 15 to 18 years, but cats who live well into their 20s are no longer considered rare or unusual.

Lifestyle, environment, and whether a cat is spayed or neutered, along with the general wear and tear of daily life, all play a part in the aging process. We may know people who seem younger than their age, and others who look older than their years. Similarly, a stray cat who has endured a hard life may appear older than a pampered housecat who ages gracefully. The same factors that contribute to human longevity -- including a well-balanced diet, moderate exercise, and weight control -- also can extend a cat's life. A cat who eats nutritious meals, maintains a normal weight, plays, and lives in a healthy environment can enjoy an active life long after she is considered "old." This is especially true when human companions recognize and respond to their cat's changing health needs.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

The aging process occurs gradually, so it's easy to overlook signs of change. Now, before problems begin, is a good time to pay attention to your cat's normal patterns. Gauge his sleeping, eating, and playing habits. Make mental notes of your cat's physical appearance and behavior. Better yet, write your observations down and store them in your cat's health file. Someday Your veterinarian will thank you for the feline history notes. In addition, you can do a few simple things on a daily or weekly basis to keep tabs on your senior cat's general health. The Cornell Feline Health Center and the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) recommend performing a mini health exam as an extension of the way you normally interact with your cat.

While stroking your cat, check his skin for odd lumps, bumps, sores, and dryness.

Brush your older cat's fur to remove loose hair, assist grooming, and to stimulate blood circulation and sebaceous gland secretions. Is his fur shiny and soft, or dry and lackluster?

If she cooperates (try scratching her chin), check your cat's teeth and gums by gently raising her upper lips with your thumb or forefinger. Gums should be pink. Red gums, tartar (a thick coating on your cat's teeth), bad breath, or a broken tooth warrant a vet's attention.

Look in his ears and examine his ear canals. Healthy ears are clean and odorless.

Monitor your cat's weight. Run your hands gently over her ribs. Do they feel bony? Try weighing her monthly on a scale sensitive enough to detect small changes. (You can use a kitchen baking scale with a large capacity bowl for very small or slender cats of 7 rounds or less; or weigh yourself on your scale and then hold your cat, weigh again, and subtract the difference.) If there's a significant variation -- a pound or more -- contact your veterinarian.

Face him. Are his eyes clear and bright? Any discharge from the eyes or nose indicates a health problem.

AGE OR ILLNESS?

Just like older people, cats tend to sleep longer, eat and drink less, and tire more easily as the years pass. They may experience changes in sight, smell, and taste, and be more sensitive to stress. Vision and hearing may deteriorate. Never assume, though, that changes you notice in your senior cat are simply due to old age and can be ignored. While aging is a normal process, illness is not. Only your veterinarian can tell the difference, and sometimes even she may have a tough time distinguishing between the two. If you notice any physical or behavioral changes, alert your veterinarian.

Unfortunately, cats hide disease well. This normal protective mechanism is an inheritance from their wild ancestors. Cats will hide signs of illness that make them appear weak, even from human companions they know and trust. Cats with chronic disease can look healthy until the illness becomes very serious. Luckily, many common feline diseases are treatable if caught early enough. Do not dismiss significant changes in appetite, weight, elimination, or water intake, even if your cat seems fine. Other red flags are changes in behavior, hearing, walking, or breathing. Early detection especially benefits older cats, whose age-related susceptibility to bodily changes can make them vulnerable to disease within a short time.

PREVENTION IS THE BEST MEDICINE

The AAFP and the Academy of Feline Medicine (AFM) have developed senior care guidelines to promote optimal health in older cats by setting minimal standards of care for cats with and without clinical signs of disease. The guidelines recommend initiating a preventive health-care program for cats between 7 and 11 years of age, one that should continue for the duration of the cat's life. Older cats also should receive a thorough physical exam every six months, a recent departure from traditional care standards.

During the half-yearly checkup, you can expect your veterinarian to assess your cat's general physical condition and weight. A complete medical and behavioral history will he gathered, along with a thorough physical evaluating every organ system. The results will then be compared to previous evaluations. At least once a year certain tests -- including blood tests, urinalysis, and fecal exam -- will be suggested.

Prevention -- and early detection -- is the key. Catching and treating disorders early, as well as monitoring ongoing medical conditions, is the aim of veterinarians who want to keep your older cat healthy.

Copyright © 2002 by Packaged Goods

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Fireside (July 2, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743224558
• ISBN-13: 978-0743224550
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #429,243 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book for Caring Cat Owners, November 13, 2003

By 

Linda K. Hardie (Reno, NV) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Your Older Cat: A Complete Guide to Nutrition, Natural Health Remedies, and Veterinary Care (Paperback)

This is a great book for caring cat owners. It starts out explaining the aging process in cats, which is NOT as simple as the "seven cat years for one human year" formula we used to hear. There's information about preventative care, first aid, age-related problems, and - of course - the final decision you may have to make for your cat. There's even information about grief and mourning, both yours and that of other cats you may have.

"Your Older Cat" is full of photos, charts, graphs, sidebars, and other materials that make this an easily accessible book. Cats are not complainers, and if you have trouble figuring out when your cat is in pain, Easterly's book will help.

This is not some thick, academic tome. It's a well-written, easily-read book you can turn to when you're worried. Or you can pick it up and enjoy the beautiful photos of cats. There's also a great resource section, with books, magazines, videos, and organizations listed.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gets right to the point, October 13, 2005

By 

Doug Cox (Long Beach, CA USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Your Older Cat: A Complete Guide to Nutrition, Natural Health Remedies, and Veterinary Care (Paperback)

Easterly isn't just a sensitive and knowledgeable writer. She's certainly that, but instead of offering up merely entertaining anecdotes and wistful musings, she gets into the helpful details straightaway. The book is slim and beautifully designed, and the photos and illustrations are easy on the eyes, all of which lends an effective visual frame to Easterly's excellent data and advice.

This isn't a cute-kitty book. Those who are committed companions of older felines will find a wealth of compassionately practical and useful information in this terrific book. Highly recommended.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A terrific & moving book., June 20, 2006

By 

Lynn Wrobleski - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Your Older Cat: A Complete Guide to Nutrition, Natural Health Remedies, and Veterinary Care (Paperback)

Not only is this book full of vital information & guidlines, it emphatically displays this author's true love & respect for cats. It's full of beautiful & touching pictures of cats. It is also very orgzanized in its format. I liked this author so much that I am ordering another one of her books. This is the best book I have read on cats, yet.