The Geriatric Cat

Question 1

What age is senior?

Answer 1

11-14

Question 2

What symptoms would a cat with hyperthyroidism show?

Answer 2

increased thirst
increased uriantion
increased appetite
weight loss

Question 3

What can you expect to see with a cat that has hypertension?

Answer 3

systolic blood pressure over 160mHg
vision issues e.g dilated pupils, blood in the eye, blindness

Question 5

What symptoms can we see in cats with chronic kidney disease?

Answer 5

lethargy
unkempt look
weight loss
urine and blood build up of waste products

Question 6

What percentage of cats are more often affected by feline cognitive dysfunction?

Answer 6

55% of cats over 11yrs and 80% of cats over 16yrs

Question 7

What kind of dental disease is common in senior cats?

Answer 7

gingivitis
peridontal disease
tooth reabsorption

Question 8

What kind of degenerative joint disease can cats get?

Answer 8

arthritis/osetoarthritis

Question 9

What symptoms would you see in a cat with diabetes mellitus?

Answer 9

increased urination
increased appetite
weight loss

Question 10

What percentage of cats get an intestinal lymphoma and what can this cause?

Answer 10

approx 30%
digestive issues

Question 11

How do we detect disease in cats?

Answer 11

pre-assessment forms
Taking a history
parameters
clinical examination

Question 12

What is included in pre-assessment forms and history taking?

Answer 12

pre-assessment forms - behavioural changes, other pets, household changes, current medication
History - parasite control, vaccination status, diet, confirm signalment

Question 13

What could behavioural changes detect?

Answer 13

Feline cognitive dysfunction, pain

Question 14

How would you structure a consult for a senior patient?

Answer 14

history taking - pre-assessment form and weighing
Blood pressure measurement - discuss findings
Clinical exam - discuss findings
Diagnostic tests if required - urinalysis, blood analysis
Recommendations
Summarise and arrange a revisit

Question 15

What diet would you recommend for a senior cat?

Answer 15

Reduced fat
Reduced energy
Reduced calcium and phosphorus
Increased fibre

Question 16

Would you recommend wet or dry diet?

Answer 16

wet as cats not as good at drinking water than other animals

Question 17

What is water important for in cats?

Answer 17

maintains acid base balance and osmo-regualtion

Question 18

How many water bowls per cat should you have per household?

Answer 18

at least 2 in different locations

Question 19

What can you do to encourage water consumption?

Answer 19

provide water fountains, tap, broths (look at salt content), shallow dishes
Make sure always available

Question 20

How do you calculation a change in weight?

Answer 20

(difference in weight / original weight) X 100%

Question 21

What percentage weight loss is significant?

Answer 21

5-10%

Question 22

What percentage weight loss is not significant but should monitor?

Answer 22

less than <5%

Question 23

What percentage weight loss is serious?

Answer 23

over >10%

Question 24

What conditions is secondary hypertension seen in?

Answer 24

CKD, hyperthyroidism, other endocrine diseases

Question 25

WHat damage can hypertension cause?

Answer 25

Ocular - retinal oedema, retinal haemorrhage, retinal detachment
Heart - left ventricular hypertrophy
Renal damage - progressive renal failure

Question 26

What neurological signs can be caused by hypertension?

Answer 26

seizures
bleeding into central nervous system
ataxia
disorientation
coma/sudden death

Question 27

What equipment can you use to measure blood pressure?

Answer 27

doppler
oscillometric

Question 28

How can you make taking cats blood pressure less stressful?

Answer 28

• using the tail and placing the probe on the ventral aspect
• quiet area where people are less likely to walk through

Question 29

How do you select the correct sized blood pressure cuff?

Answer 29

measure the width against the circumference of the leg, approx 40% the circumference

Question 30

What is a Hokanson cuff?

Answer 30

blood pressure cuff that inflates along the whole length, allowing pressure to be equal around the cats leg

Question 31

What is classed as hypotension in cats?

Answer 31

systolic blood pressure of under <120mmHg

Question 32

What does hypotension cause?

Answer 32

Heart failure, shock, hypovolaemia

Question 33

What is normal blood pressure for a cat?

Answer 33

systolic blood pressure 120-160mmHg

Question 34

What is the “grey area” blood pressure and what causes this?

Answer 34

160-180mmHg, could be due to stress

Question 35

What is classed as hypertension?

Answer 35

systolic blood pressure over >180mmHg

Question 36

What causes hypertension in cats?

Answer 36

chronic renal failure, hyperthyroidism, other endocrine disorders

Question 37

How can you make clinical examiniations cat friendly?

Answer 37

• allow the cat to come out of the carrier on their own
• do not restrict to the exam table
• use non-slip mats, blankets, bedding
• examine from head to toe with regular breaks

Question 38

What should you examine during the exam?

Answer 38

• ascultate systemically
• observe respiratory pattern as well as rate
• check for thyroid goitre
• examine muscles and joint for asymmetry and range of motion

Question 39

What is the thyroid goitre?

Answer 39

an enlarged thyroid

Question 40

What tests can be done for senior cats?

Answer 40

blood and urinalysis

Question 41

What is normal specific gravity in cats?

Answer 41

> 1.035

Question 42

What needs to be taken into consideration when restraining cats?

Answer 42

temperament, disease or injury, preference (if the cat prefers to be held a specific way)