Tabby Cat

　　When a cat is kept at home, generally after 7 or 8 years, the cat begins to enter its senior years. Like humans, as cats grow old, their organs gradually “age,” and diseases continuously occur. The most common diseases in elderly cats are as follows:

　　The first and most common are tartar and gingivitis, caused by prolonged feeding of soft food or neglect of oral hygiene. The main symptoms include drooling, gradually reduced food intake, sometimes wanting to eat but not opening the mouth, gradual body weight loss, and severe bad breath. The second is obesity, which is the most common nutritional disease in elderly cats. Due to lack of exercise with age and excessive nutrition, elderly cats become obese, sometimes leading to fatty liver disease. Another common disease in elderly cats is kidney failure. Since cats are carnivores, if the diet formula is unbalanced and they are fed a single type of food for a long time, the incidence of kidney failure is much higher than in dogs. Regardless of breed or gender, the incidence of kidney failure in old cats is very high. Additionally, as cats age, their appetite and digestive system usually decline. Cats tend to groom themselves by licking, ingesting hair clumps that are difficult to vomit or excrete. This often causes fecal accumulation in the gastrointestinal tract and colon, leading to loss of appetite and difficulty in defecation. The above are common diseases in elderly cats. Cat lovers should take preventive measures based on the causes of these diseases. For elderly cats that are already sick, it is best to consult a local veterinarian promptly to let the beloved cat enjoy its later years peacefully.(Source：PetsZone)