caring for elderly cats at home

I have been caring for two cats for many years, and I find that the approach must change significantly once they cross the eight-year mark. Penny, my ten-year-old calico, has developed arthritis, and Duke, my four-year-old mix, is quite loud but healthy. I am curious about how others manage the daily care and health monitoring for their senior cats. Do you find that routine bloodwork is necessary, or only when symptoms appear? I would appreciate hearing from those who have experience with this transition.

Look, I don't have a senior cat yet. My Rex is four and my Blue is two. But I've seen enough cats at the shelter to know that waiting for symptoms is a bad idea. If you aren't doing annual checkups, you're just gambling. I'd say get the bloodwork done every year. It's cheaper than emergency surgery later.

I agree with the proactive approach, though I would nuance the frequency based on individual risk factors. Studies suggest that cats over ten have a higher incidence of chronic kidney disease, which is often asymptomatic in the early stages. I posted about the specific signs to look for in kidney issues: what to look for. If you are monitoring water intake and urine output, you might catch things earlier than just relying on annual visits.

Data point: I track my nine-year-old tortie, Vera, who has arthritis. I weigh her every two weeks using the method in weighing my cats without a scale. A drop of more than 5% in body weight over a month is my threshold for a vet visit. For bloodwork, I follow the schedule in bloodwork frequency for cats over 8, which is every six months for cats over nine. This has allowed me to manage her condition without unnecessary stress.

My cats Biscuit and Whiskers are only six, so we're not quite there yet, but we are starting to plan. I'm worried about the arthritis thing. Steph, did you try any supplements for Penny? I saw you talk about that in joint supplements that actually work. Also, how do you handle the vet visits? My cats hate carriers. I read getting the cat to the vet without a fight but it seems hard to do with two cats.

Thank you for the specific metrics, Vowens. I find the weight tracking very useful. I am currently managing Penny's mobility with the strategies outlined in managing arthritis at home. I have posted an update on my experience with the supplements in a follow-up thread, which may be helpful for those considering starting that regimen now.