Expert: Norman Auspitz - 8/18/2011

Question
My cat Baby was 17 years old on July 2 of this year.  In the spring, he seemed more perky watching the birds and squirrels, but the last 6 weeks it has been unnaturally hot here (we usually have up to 100 degree weather for maybe a few days), during the day he sleeps on this styrofoam pad outside, he seems to be sleeping most of the time, I have heard that older cats do sleep a lot, he is eating okay but since he is outside I don't know what his stool habits are, he does use his box in the basement sometimes to pee.

He was drinking a lot of water before & I had taken him in to see a vet in Feb. because I thought he was constipated, but she said he was ok, but he had arthritis and I should have blood and urine tests taken.  Anyways, I noticed that he does not seem to be drinking as much water as he did before (in the last week or two)but we have been putting a bit of water in his soft food, so that may compensate for that.  

I just want some information on cats this age, I know he has never been that active of a cat except when he saw another cat and would dash after it, and even up to last year he was still fighting some & he had a few dings on him this year and in his younger years he would be outside walking around a lot, but these last few months I have noticed he is sleeping a lot, that may be because of the terrible hot weather we have here.  I bring him indoors and he goes to sleep.  It makes me very sad to see him like this.

I know I should take him to the vet for some tests but I don't know if there is anything they can do for him, maybe old age is just kicking in?  I was told when I sent an email here last February & was told that he was a "Geriatric cat". I am just hoping that maybe he has a few years left.   

Jenny

Answer
Jenny,

Congratulations on Baby making it to his 17th birthday.  It is like a human being in their eighties or nineties.  Like very old people, the body is not what it used to be and the two organs that tend to be most likely to fail are the kidneys or the liver.

It is normal for an elderly cat to slow down a piece and spend lots of time sleeping. The terrible hot weather does take its toll on the older cat just like with elderly people.

I am not sure what any tests might show, but the treatment may be worse than any condition he may have.  I would just make him comfortable and let him enjoy life as much as he can.  IF he does suddenly go down hill, then, please, be prepared to let him go, if his quality of life really deteriorates.

I hope he has much more time remaining, but he sounds as if he has had a good full life so far.

Best regards... Norm.