Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2009 Sep;11(9):763-78.
doi: 10.1016/j.jfms.2009.07.011.

American association of feline practitioners. Senior care guidelines

Jeanne Pittari, Ilona Rodan, Gerard Beekman, Danièlle Gunn-Moore, David Polzin, Joseph Taboada, Helen Tuzio, Debra Zoran

American association of feline practitioners. Senior care guidelines

Jeanne Pittari et al. J Feline Med Surg. 2009 Sep.

Abstract

Background: Cats are the most popular pet in the United States and much of Northern Europe. Although 78% of owners consider their cats to be family members, many cats, particularly seniors, do not receive appropriate preventive care. One of the main obstacles to owner compliance is the lack of a clear recommendation by the veterinary team. Guidelines can help veterinarians to minimize this obstacle, strengthen the human-pet-veterinary bond, and improve the quality of life of cats.

Goals: The goals of this article are to assist veterinarians to: Deliver consistent high-quality care to senior cats. Promote longevity and improve the quality of life of senior cats by: recognizing and controlling health risk factors; facilitating and promoting early detection of disease; improving or maintaining residual organ function; and delaying the progression of common conditions. Define aspects of screening, diagnosis, treatment and anesthesia of senior cats.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

FIG 1
FIG 1
Oral cavity examination (a) and thyroid palpation (b) are essential components of a senior check. Courtesy of Deb Givin
FIG 2
FIG 2
Routine wellness care should include grooming and nail trimming (a) to avoid problems such as ingrowing toenails (b). Courtesy of (a) Deb Givin; (b) Danielle Gunn-Moore
FIG 3
FIG 3
A safe sleeping area is one of the five key resources for cats. Courtesy of Deb Givin
None
Underweight senior cat. Courtesy of Daniélle Gunn-Moore
None
Fergie, pictured in 2006 (above), severely overweight and (right) slimming down over subsequent months. Courtesy of Deb Givin
None
Blood pressure should be measured at least annually in ‘senior’ and ‘geriatric’ cats. Courtesy of Deb Givin
None
This IRIS chart is reproduced according to the IRIS Guidelines 2006, with permission of IRIS and Novartis Animal Health
None
None
None
None
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

References

    1. Pew Research Center Publications. Gauging family intimacy: dogs edge cats (dads trail both). March 7, 2006. http://pewresearch.org/pubs/303/gauging-family-intimacy (accessed Dec 1, 2008).
    1. Cohen SP. Can pets function as family members? West J Nurs Res 2002; 24: 621–38. - PubMed
    1. Adams CL, Bonnett BN, Meek AH. Predictors of owner response to companion animal death in 177 clients from 14 practices in Ontario. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2000; 217:1303–9. - PubMed
    1. AAHA. The path to high quality care: practical tips for improving compliance, 2003.
    1. FAB. Feline Advisory Bureau, UK. Well Cat for Life. www.fabcats.org/wellcat/publications/index.php (accessed Dec 1, 2008).

Publication types

MeSH terms