COMMON DISEASES OF FELINE SENIOR CITIZENS
Unfortunately, our cats don't live as long as we humans do. So, without a doubt, the cat you may now have as a kitten, may likely in your lifetime, become an aging senior citizen.

As our cats age, just like humans, they become more susceptible to many diseases associated with "old age." It is all the more important to take your older feline friend to the vet for more frequent and regular checkups.  We are responsible to help assure the longest, healthiest, and happiest life possible for our beloved pets.

Here are some signs and symptoms of some of the common diseases found in our older cats:

--CANCER:

--Abnormal swellings that persist or continue to grow
--Sores that do not heal
--Weight loss
--Loss of appetite
--Bleeding or discharge from any body opening
--Offensive odor
--Difficulty eating or swallowing
--Hesitation to exercise or loss of stamina
--Difficulty breathing, urinating or defecating

--DENTAL DISEASE:

--Bad breath
--Difficulty eating or swallowing
--Drooling
--Food dropping from mouth when eating
--Weight loss

--HYPERTHYROIDISM:

--Increased activity
--Increased appetite
--Weight loss
--Increased thirst and urination
--Vomiting
--Labored or increased rate of respiration
--Increased heart rate (pulse)

--KIDNEY FAILURE/DISEASE:

--Increased urination and thirst
--Weight loss
--Vomiting
--Loss of appetite
--Depression and lethargy
--Diarrhea
--Blood in vomit or black, tarry stool
--Bad breath and oral ulcers
--Inflammatory bowel disease Diarrhea
--Vomiting
--Mucous or blood in stool
--Increased frequency of defecation
--Defecating outside of litter box
--Weight loss

--DIABETES:

--Increased thirst and urination
--Weight loss or weight gain
--Decreased activity, weakness
--Change in appetite
--Vomiting
--Walk on their hocks

--OVERWEIGHT AND OBESITY:

--Exercise intolerance
--Unkempt hair coat, especially in anal area

--FELINE HEPATIC LIPIDOSIS:

--Obese cat with sudden loss of appetite
--Subsequent weight loss
--Depression
--Vomiting
--Yellow gums
--Behavior changes

--ANEMIA:

--Exercise intolerance
--Very light colored gums

--HEART DISEASE:

--Exercise intolerance
--Labored and increased rate of breathing
--Weight loss
--Paralysis of rear legs

--LIVER DISEASE:

--Vomiting
--Loss of appetite
--Diarrhea
--Abdominal distention
--Yellow or pale gums
--Behavior changes
--Weight loss

--BLADDER STONES:

--Difficulty urinating
--Urinating outside the litter box
--Blood in the urine
--Arthritis Difficulty jumping and with stairs
--Behavior change - irritable, reclusive
--Urinating or defecating outside of litter box

If you observe any of these symptoms in between regular
check ups, take your cat to your vet right awa
Kittens can happen to anyone. 
~Paul Gallico
The way you treat kittens in the early stages of it's life will render it's personality traits later in life.