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Expert: - 6/14/2010


Question
Hello...My cat Elijah is 18. Right before Xmas last year he had what I thought was a stroke. The Vet did blood work and took other tests but all showed nothing. I took him home and now he walks with his back legs out. He gets around but tumbles when he jumps down. He still jumps up awkward and has no problem going down steps.Not much else has changed. He sleeps a lot but is relatively active. The Vet gave him steroids in the beginning and I am wondering if I should continue steroids again to help his appetite? He has lost weight but shows no signs of other illness. Elijah still uses his litter box and is very affectionate, cuddly and lovable. Would you have information on how to care for older cats? Does he need vitamins or continued steroids? Thanks so much. Elijah is my special friend.

Answer
Mary Margaret,

At age 18, Elijah is very geriatric.  I expect his body and systems are beginning to fail.  As long as he has good quality of life, I would give him whatever treatment makes him comfortable. I expect the steroids will continue to help somewhat, but I would prepare myself that Elijah will not be with us much longer.  At this stage, there is not much to do except what you are doing.  There is no magic vitamin or supplement that will pull back the aging process.  Just continue to remmeber all the good times, and make sure to reward him with letting him go when his quality of life has deteriorated past the point of normal bathing, litter pan usage and the lke.

I hope he continues to do well on the steroids, but, in the long run, his age is catching up with him. You have done very well and provided exemplary care for him to make it to age 18 which is 3-6 years beyond normal life expectancy ofr an indoors cat.

Best regards... Norm.  

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Norman Auspitz

Expertise

I can answer most non-veterinary questions about cats. My particular expertise is pedigree cats, breeding and showing. However, I am versed in feline behavior, cat breeds and their characteristics, general feline husbandry, and the like.

Experience

I judged for the Canadian Cat Association from 1975 until 1982. I am currently an approved allbreed judge for the Cat Fanciers'' Association (the world''s largets cat registry), and have been judging for them since 1991. I have been breeding pedigreed cats since 1971 and have been exhibiting pedigreed cats in shows since 1970. I obtained my first pedigreed cat in 1970 and have never looked back. In 1971, I obtained my first Abyssinian which has become my primary breed. In addition, I have bred Manx and Persians. Currently, besides the Abyssinians, I am also breeding Maine Coons.


Organizations
Cat Fanciers'' Association, inc. (CFA) and the Manx, Maine Coon, and Abyssinian breed councils. I am currently Abyssinian breed council secretary.

Publications
Cat Fancy Magazine, The Abyssinian Chapter in The Cat Fanciers'' Association Complete Cat Book, and Articles for various editions of The Cat Fanciers'' Association Yearbook

Education/Credentials
I received a B.S. from Drexel University in 1968, a M.Math from University of Waterloo, in 1970, a Ph.D. from University of Waterloo in 1975, and a MBA from McMaster University in 1980. I received my approved allbreed judging status in the Cat Fanciers'' Association in 1999.

Awards and Honors
We have produced a number of Cat Fanciers'' Association (CFA) National winning Abyssinian and Maine Coons. We have produced a number of Abyssinian and Maine Coon Distinguished Merit females (an award for a top producing cat), including the first Distinguished Merit Abyssinian in the red (sorrel) color. I am the CFA Abyssinian breed council secretary and belong and/or hold office in a number of cat clubs. I am also a member of the CFA Judges Association.

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