Cats get arthritis too!

Cleo curled up with daughter Cinta

Sixteen year old Burmese Cleo was  slow to jump down off the kitchen bench when caught out last week. She poured herself down the side, landed with a thud and looked stunned for a moment before moving off.
When we X-rayed her elbows we were horrified to find that she had severe osteoarthritis. She had been covering it up - as cats do - for a long time before we noticed she was having trouble.
We then noticed that she is also reluctant to jump very high. She uses chairs to get onto tables and has stopped leaping up to sit in the sun on the windowsill. Her painful knees make her hesitate before jumping and she then scrambles up rather than jumping. Unwilling to miss the electric blanket at night she pulls herself up on to the bed.
We've set up boxes as steps onto her feed bench and the bed. We also play gently with her by trailing ribbons and batting balls to strengthen her muscles. To reduce the strain on her joints we've restricted her food and watched her weight.
She makes sure that she sleeps in a warm, well-cushioned sleeping area - our bed!
This winter she is also on pain medication and is doing remarkably well.

Older head of the house

Eighteen year old Andy Mitchell is a frequent visitor to Hall Vet Surgery. He has a few little troubles that need attention so that he can get on with his home duties as head of the house.
A few years ago his owners noticed that he was getting stiff and having trouble jumping up on the window sill to check the yard. Because he is not a fan of pills he has a medication rubbed on his ears to ease the pain in his joints. Guard duty is a lot easier now.
Since he fled his last home a decade or so ago he has had intermittent bouts of flu. Often this happens during times of stress - as defined by Andy. His carers manage this by bathing his eyes and nose, giving him lots of TLC and with antibiotics when necessary.
A few years ago his carers noticed that he was vomiting more and more and losing a bit of weight. His vet diagnosed food intolerance or inflammatory bowel disease. A special diet for sensitive stomachs keeps the carpet clean.
A mild heart murmur has never worried him, but today we found that his blood pressure is up a bit - and that worried us. He may have to go on medication to bring it down because high blood pressure damages cats' eyes, kidneys and other organs.  
Andy Mitchell is a typical older cat - multiple little problems that when managed well let him live the life he enjoys.

Watching her weight

Beautiful British Blue Tess is looking to the future. She is just entering her more senior years and is trying to get some extra grams off her waist line. She hopes to avoid nasties like diabetes, arthritis and heart disease by getting her weight down.
She still has a fat pad swinging from her belly under that soft thick coat. Another 200gm weight loss should do the trick.
Good luck Tess!

Animal herbalist

Cats who prefer herbal treatments or have chronic problems will be pleased to hear that animal herbalist Nicki Froescheis has moved to Canberra. Nicki has European postgraduate training in herbal treatment for pets.
Nicki says that herbal treatment is useful for chronic diseases such as arthritis, bladder inflammation, palliative treatment for cancers, immune disorders, dementia and skin diseases as well as many other problems. Herbs are not much help in life threatening conditions or problems which come on suddenly.
Nicki assesses each individual patient and tailors the herb formula accordingly. Appointments can be made with Nicki on 0404 127 973 and she will arrange to meet you at Hall Vet Surgery.

Last chance to book for Cat information night

All dressed up and ready to go!

Only three weeks until our Cat information night! Seats are running out fast. If you haven't already registered phone reception today.
Our first speaker will put cat behaviour under the microscope. Ever wondered why cats rub their faces on everything? Or why some rip lounges to pieces? Or why some cats take to spraying urine all over the house? We'll learn why, and how to reduce this unwelcome behaviour.
Then we hear about a new diet for easing aching joints and reducing discomfort from arthritis.
I'll be talking about making a trip to the vet with your feline a more pleasant experience for you both. I'll also help you to recognise signs of illness and pain more easily.
Last of all we'll discuss how we can help you make the lives of your beloved cats as long and comfortable as possible.
Look forward to seeing you on the 21st September at Hall Pavilion!

Cat retirement condominium

Nicholas on heating pad in fleece lined bed... he has elbow arthritis and demands comfort.







Tabby is the quiet achiever.  She also has a heating pad but even though she is older does not have the arthritis troubles that Nicholas suffers.  Perhaps because she is more of a home body and doesn't jump fences.

Senior health care

Why is it that dogs are taken to the vet twice as often as cats? Dogs average 2.3 visits per year while cats are only taken 1.1 times per year.
I don’t think it’s because their owners care less about them, but I also don’t think that they are inherently healthier!
Signs of illness in cats are often subtle. An unwell cat will often curl up away from you, reducing the chance of you noticing anything amiss. Cats pride themselves on their hardiness and self-reliance and are stoic in the face of chronic pain or illness.
Sometimes the only obvious sign of illness and pain is weight loss. Gradual loss of appetite and behaviour changes are harder to identify unless you are very observant.
Cats age FOUR times faster than us at equivalent ages. A 2-6 year old cat is in her prime. By 11 years of age she is starting to show signs of age but is not considered geriatric until 15. At 15 years of age she is equivalent to a 76 year old human. Many cats live up to 20 years with regular health checks and veterinary care.
To ensure that those years are healthy and happy we recommend an individualised preventative health care programme.
From about 10 years of age all cats deserve at least two wellness exams a year. This lets us detect and treat chronic diseases like bad teeth, failing kidneys, arthritis and hyperthyroidism early and reduce long term health care costs.
We will also discuss changing dietary requirements and any supplements that might improve your cat’s health and happiness.
Regular visits ensure that your cat’s quality of life is maintained and that she shares many comfortable and happy years with you.

Arthritis

Old cats suffer from arthritis just as often as old people or dogs. Over 22% of all cats X-rayed have arthritic changes in one or more joints. Many people are surprised when we tell them that their cat is arthritic. However, if you know what to look for you will identify arthritic pain in your old cat without too much trouble.
Changes in jumping behaviour are readily noticed in most arthritic cats because it is most common in elbow and knee joints.
Cats with elbow arthritis are reluctant to jump down and seem to ‘pour’ themselves off the bed or cupboard. Because they lose agility they jump down with a thud and stand a while before moving off. My cat Cleo crouches with her sore elbow angled out from her body if she jumps off the washing machine and jars it.
Cats with arthritic knee joints are reluctant to jump as high as before. They may use chairs to get onto tables or abandon high resting places altogether. Painful knees may make them hesitate before jumping, scramble rather than jump or even miss the target. Some cats pull themselves up onto the couch or bed rather than spring up.
Toilet accidents may happen because of unwillingness to strain joints climbing in to the litter tray.
Cats that move stiffly have arthritic backs. Because it is difficult for them to groom their sides and backs their coats look rough or matt into tufts. Some of these old kitties get cranky when picked up or petted because of the pain in their backs. Many spend the day resting and avoiding play.
If you suspect your cat has arthritis mention it at the next checkup. Your observations are very important to making the diagnosis.
We have many tools for reducing arthritic pain and making our cats’ senior years comfortable and enjoyable.