As Cats Age

Post by **JWR** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 4:32 pm

I know that a lot of members have Furball family members better know as cats. I am hoping that those that do have them for a long time.

I have been experiencing a few things with Snowball who will be turning 19 in a couple of months that I wanted to pass along.

I took her to see the vet for she has seemed to lose a lot of weight over the past year. What I found out is that as cats age , their Thyroid glan seems to short circut and starts manufacturing massive amounts of the hormone and will cause things like Snowball's weight loss as well as eventually organ failure if untreated.

It seems that this can start happening normally between the 12 - 15 year range and can be diagnosed with a blood test. There are different ways to treat this normally with medication you mix with their food.

One other thing I found was a vitamin supplement designed for senior cats in the form of a paste put out by a company 8 in 1 Kittyvite that besides having the vitamins it has Glucosamine and has shown a marked difference since she has been on it.

So now that we are getting her condition treated she's doing much better and looking forward to spending a few more years fighting for space on my wifes lap with the other 2 cats.

Cloud · Post by **Cloud** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 4:32 pm

Who told you?

Krafty · Post by **Krafty** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 4:48 am

Interesting. I hope your moggy keeps going strong for a few more years too, JWR.
My eldest cat is almost 20 and he's been in a bad way for a few years so we're surprised he's been around for so long. There's little vitimins & supplements can do for his condition- throat tuma, heart murmur and artharitis but it will be worth considering for my other cats who are 14 and 15.

toonybabe · Post by **toonybabe** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 7:40 pm

Awww, it sounds like your kitty is a trooper! My parents have a cat that is 23 years old. The vet guessed his age by looking at his teeth during his last dental (I didn't know they could do that...). He's blind, deaf, and only has 3 teeth left, but he always seems to know when someone is in the kitchen. He is so skinny, but he eats everything! I was 7 years old when we found him and I thought he was old then, so I don't know what is keeping him alive! He doesn't even look like a cat anymore - kind of like a gremlin or something but he is still cute in his own little way. Old cats are the best - especially old grumpy cats!

Carla · Post by **Carla** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 3:07 pm

My cat Tigger is 13 years old and we just found out she gained 4 pounds

So now she is my 20 pound kitty

Are oldest cat is 14 her name is Frisky

and she sure has NOT lost her spunk she has her own attitude she thinks she

is a Queen

It's true the older they get the more money for vet bills

But there children and are worth it every penny