Common signs of aging in cats from owner and vet reports

Abstract

Two hundred and six cats, aged between 7 and 10 years, from the North-west of the UK, were enrolled in a cat aging and welfare study to determine the frequency of age-related conditions and associations with husbandry, owner observations of physical appearance, activity and behavior. This is the largest study to date of mature cats that includes data from an owner questionnaire and clinical examinations. At enrolment, owners frequently reported physical changes (53%), behavioral changes (47%), changes to eating patterns (41%), and activity changes (40%) in their mature cats. On physical examination, 45% cats were in overweight condition and 12% were obese. A heart murmur was detected in 29% cats, whilst indirect systolic blood pressure (SBP) was >160 mmHg in 5% cats. Dental disease was present in 54% cats and was associated with a matted hair coat (= 0.01), increased sleeping (= 0.02), absence of gray hairs (= 0.03), and increased irritability to other pets (= 0.04). Abnormalities were evident in 58% of cats that allowed an orthopedic examination (OE) to be performed. These cats were older than cats with a normal OE (= 0.01), and abnormal OE findings were associated with a matted coat (= 0.03) and increased grooming (= 0.04). Aazotaemia was present in 10% cats, and this was associated with cats being observed to "sniff their food and then walk away" (= 0.04). Hyperthyroidism was diagnosed in 3% cats, who were older (= 0.02), had a leaner BCS (= 0.02) and lesser blood creatinine concentrations (= 0.01). Hyperthyroid cats were also more likely to have increased liver enzyme activity and increased SBP (= <0.001) compared with non-hyperthyroid cats. Of the 176 cats where all clinical assessments were conducted, only 12% had no evidence of any disease. Clinical abnormalities are commonly identified when thorough, clinical assessments are performed in mature pet cats visiting primary care practice.