Common Diseases of Older (Senior, Geriatric) Cats

In The Aging Process and How We Can Help Older Cats Adapt, we explain some of the more common and normal changes we can see in the function of the various organ systems in an older cat. Many of these changes are expected. Disease can occur, however, if these changes become severe and the organ or system is no longer able to compensate. The more common diseases seen in older cats and the signs of these diseases are listed in the table below. Most of the diseases are discussed in detail in separate articles, just one click away.

Common Diseases in Older Cats	Signs and Symptoms of Disease
Cancer	Abnormal swellings that persist or continue to grow Sores that do not heal Weight loss Loss of appetite Bleeding or discharge from any body opening Offensive odor Difficulty eating or swallowing Hesitation to exercise or loss of stamina Difficulty breathing, urinating, or defecating
Dental disease	Bad breath Difficulty eating or swallowing Drooling Food dropping from mouth when eating Weight loss
Hyperthyroidism	Increased activity Increased appetite Weight loss Increased thirst and urination Vomiting Labored or increased rate of respiration Increased heart rate (pulse)
Kidney disease/failure	Increased urination and thirst Weight loss Vomiting Loss of appetite Depression and lethargy Diarrhea Blood in vomit or black, tarry stool Bad breath and oral ulcers
Inflammatory bowel disease	Diarrhea Vomiting Mucous or blood in stool Increased frequency of defecation Defecating outside of litter box Weight loss
Diabetes mellitus	Increased thirst and urination Weight loss or weight gain Decreased activity, weakness Change in appetite Vomiting Walk on their hocks
Obesity	Overweight Exercise intolerance Unkempt hair coat, especially in anal area
Feline hepatic lipidosis	Obese cat with sudden loss of appetite Subsequent weight loss Depression Vomiting Yellow gums Behavior changes
Anemia	Exercise intolerance Very light colored gums
Mitral Insufficiency/Heart disease	Exercise intolerance Labored and increased rate of breathing Weight loss Paralysis of rear legs
Liver disease	Vomiting Loss of appetite Diarrhea Abdominal distention Yellow or pale gums Behavior changes Weight loss
Bladder stones	Difficulty urinating Urinating outside the litter box Blood in the urine
Arthritis	Difficulty jumping or climbing stairs Behavior change - irritable, reclusive Urinating or defecating outside of litter box