DIABETES AND OTHER ILNESSES

I have received many messages from people whose elderly kittens (from age 11) have begun to be diabetic. It is for this reason that I decided to make a section on "old" cats, how this illness affects them at this age, what kind of diseases we can expect and how to distinguish them. Some of them, such as the thyroid, are very similar to diabetes and can be confused. 

As it happens to people and any other living being, getting older adds physical problems. Therefore, from 10-11 years, you may begin to notice changes in your pet. I wanted to put here the most common diseases in adult cats so that you may recognize the symptoms and have an idea about what may be happening to our furry companions. 

There is a common denominator in diseases of cats:  lethargy (because our cat is feeling sick), loss of appetite or excessive water consumption. It is true that an adult cat dehydrates more easily, so it would be advisable to reduce the consumption of dry food and increase the wet food.



DIABETES IN OLD CATS

Diabetes usually appears around 8 years of age, but there is another type of diabetes, which occurs when the cat has already begun the period of old age, especially over 11-13 years and is more common in neutered male cats and overweight.

This type of diabetes is usually not as aggressive as the one appearing at the age of 8, but for the owners it also supposes a nuisance that makes us change our patterns of life and our cats, since we will have to administer insulin daily and take care of their eating and drinking much more than when they were younger. 

This type of diabetes usually presents glucose levels between 300 and 400 and rarely reaches a critical level of 550-600  that would easily reach a cat whose diabetes began about eight years. In the case of an older cat that has recently developed a diabetes, should begin treatment with insulin every 12 hours, but most likely, in a short period of time could be reduced to a single administration a day. It would also be a good idea to administrate serum to hydrate the cat, especially the first two days and begin treatment with insulin in the best possible conditions.

Still, as I say, from now on, you should be very attentive to the new problems that you will face, above all caused by diabetes. 

THYROID PROBLEMS:

From the age of 13 we must be vigilant to these symptoms related to thyroid problems. A blood test should be enough to know if our pet has a high production of thyroid hormone or low.

Hyperthyroidism: Within thyroid problems, hypothyroidism is the most common disease in cats. It means a hyperactivity in the production of thyroid hormone that causes the following symptoms:

• Increase thirst and urination
• Hyperactivity, the cat does not stop moving from one place to another 
• The coat becomes sloppy and dull 
• They have difficulty breathing and therefore you can see them gasping
• Constant mood swings. 
• Increased appetite but also lose weight

Hypothyroidism:  It is less common in cats but is worth knowing the symptoms.

• Obesity
• Skin problems
• Depression
• Apathy

KIDNEY FAILURE AND PROBLEMS IN THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM 

Both diseases are also very common in adult cats. Therefore, it is a good idea to recognize its symptoms:  

• Increased thirst and urination
• Vomiting
• Weight loss
• Lethargy
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting blood
• Very black feces, sometimes bloody
• Breathing difficulties
• Mouth ulcers
• Sometimes they urinate and defecate outside the litter box

HEPATIC LIPIDOSIS

This disease is also known as feline fatty liver. This is a pretty serious disease that can lead to death and is due to excessive accumulation of fat in the liver. Usually it occurs in cats who, for some reason, have stopped eating for several days which causes a drop in their blood glucose levels and an increase of glucagon (stress hormone). Both factors tend to increase blood fats that subsequently accumulate in the liver. If you do not act urgently, the disease will cause liver failure which most likely will end up in death.

• Loss of appetite and consequently weight
• Yellow eyes
• Depression
• Vomiting
• Dehydration
• Diarrhea
• Enlargement of the liver 

OTHER DISEASES 

• Arthritis (pain in the hip or back legs involving pain when walking or jumping to their favorite places) 

• Anemia

• Unsterilized cats tumors. Females in the breast and prostate in males. 

• Poor hygiene, which is usually caused by pains that prevent the cat from cleaning himself especially the back. 

• Mouth problems  like teeth falling, gingivitis, gum inflammation. These problems can cause the cat feel pain when eating showing a lack of appetite.