Feline Aging vs. Human Aging
Cats usually live longer than most dogs and it is no longer unusual for them to live until 20 or beyond. How long an individual cat will live depends on many factors such as genetics, whether kept indoors or not, type of diet and of course the appropriate veterinary care he/she receives.
The rule of thumb is that at about age 7, a cat is considered to be middle-aged. At age 10 and above, a cat is considered to be mature. Over 15-17 they qualify as a geriatric kitty.
Many changes can take place in a fairly short period of time. That is why the American Veterinary Medical Association as well as the American Association of Feline Practitioners now recommend twice yearly physical exams plus appropriate blood work on all cats who are 7-8 years old or above.
Arlington Cat Clinic recommends a physical exam every 6 months for our geriatric cats, including:
- Blood pressure
- Urinalysis
- Complete blood count
- Blood profile/thyroid function test
What does an Annual Exam Include?
An annual exam includes an evaluation of the overall appearance of the cat – weight, demeanor, respiration, hair coat.
- Eyes – clear, discharge, redness, discoloration of the iris, pupil size
- Ears – cleanliness, ear mites, yeast, wax, growths
- Nose – discharge, congestion
- Mouth/throat – inflammation, condition of teeth, growths
- Heart and lungs – irregularities, abnormal rate, murmurs, abnormal lung sounds
- Neck – palpate for thyroid tumors, lymph node size
- Abdomen – palpate for liver and kidney size, masses, consistency of stool, size of bladder. May be impossible in obese cats
- Skin – fleas, hair thickness, scabs, irregularities in skin (growths), dryness, matting
- Weight – thin, ideal or overweight. Weight changes are subtle and usually not noticed by the owner until drastic changes have occurred.