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Chronic Conditions & Aging terms
The long-term health of cats: kidneys, thyroid, weight, teeth, cancer and the senior years.
AnemiaA shortage of red blood cells or hemoglobin, which leaves a cat weak and pale and always has an underlying cause.Arterial thromboembolismA blood clot that lodges in an artery, most often cutting off blood to a cat's back legs and causing sudden pain and paralysis.Chronic kidney diseaseA gradual loss of kidney function, common in older cats, that can be managed for months or years but not cured.Diabetes mellitusA disease in which a cat's body cannot make or use insulin properly, so blood sugar stays too high.HyperthyroidismA common disease of older cats in which an overactive thyroid speeds up the body, causing weight loss despite a big appetite.Hypertrophic cardiomyopathyThe most common feline heart disease, in which the wall of the main pumping chamber thickens and the heart works less well.Inflammatory bowel diseaseA group of long-lasting digestive conditions in which immune cells inflame the intestinal wall, causing vomiting, diarrhea and weight loss.LymphomaA cancer of the lymphocytes, a kind of white blood cell, and the most common cancer in cats.Mature catA cat of about seven to ten years old, equivalent to a person in their mid-forties to fifties, when screening for age-related disease begins.MegacolonA condition in which the colon becomes widened and weak, so hard stool builds up and the cat can no longer pass it normally.ObesityExcess body fat that harms a cat's health, raising the risk of diabetes, arthritis and urinary disease.OsteoarthritisWear and inflammation of the joints that is very common in older cats and often shows up as subtle changes in behavior.PancreatitisInflammation of the pancreas, a hard-to-spot illness in cats that often causes only tiredness and loss of appetite.Squamous cell carcinomaA cancer of the flat surface cells that appears on the skin of white-eared cats or in the mouth, as a sore that does not heal.Bladder crystalsMicroscopic mineral particles in urine that can clump into stones and irritate or block a cat's urinary tract.Blood pressureThe force of blood against artery walls; high readings in cats usually come from another disease and can damage the eyes, brain, heart and kidneys.CystitisInflammation of the bladder, which in cats is often stress-linked and has no infection or stone behind it.FLUTDAn umbrella term for the conditions that cause pain, straining and bloody urine in a cat's bladder and urethra.Polycystic kidney diseaseAn inherited condition in which fluid-filled cysts grow in the kidneys, best known in Persians and related breeds.Urinary blockageA life-threatening emergency in which the urethra is plugged so a cat cannot pass urine, most often in male cats.Body condition scoreA hands-on rating of how lean or fat a cat is, on a scale such as 1 to 9, used by vets because weight alone can mislead.Hepatic lipidosisA serious liver disease in which fat builds up in liver cells after a cat stops eating, most often in overweight cats.Periodontal diseaseInfection and inflammation of the gums and tissues that hold the teeth, the most common dental problem in cats.StomatitisA painful, long-lasting inflammation of a cat's gums and mouth lining, thought to be an over-reaction of the immune system.Tooth resorptionA common, painful dental disease in which the body gradually dissolves part of a cat's tooth, often hidden below the gum line.EuthanasiaA veterinarian's painless medical procedure to end an animal's life peacefully when suffering cannot be relieved.Geriatric catA cat aged about 15 or older, who needs closer monitoring, a comfortable home and a focus on quality of life.Hospice careCare for a cat with an incurable illness that focuses on comfort, pain relief and quality of life rather than cure.Night howlingLoud calling, wailing or yowling at night, common in older cats and in cats in heat, and sometimes a sign of illness.Quality of lifeA way of judging whether a sick or elderly cat is still comfortable and enjoying life, used to guide end-of-life decisions.Senior catA cat from about 10 or 11 years old, when joint, kidney, thyroid and dental disease become more common and check-ups should be more frequent.Senior dietFood marketed for older cats, which varies widely, so the right choice depends on the individual cat's weight, teeth and health.Vestibular diseaseA disturbance of the balance system that causes a head tilt, stumbling, rolling and flicking eye movements.