This month I’d like to introduce you to one of the first guests we welcomed to Paws for Thought after we took over in 2010. Back then, she and her brother were lively young adults, leaping onto the high shelves and running away from us when the time came to return to their carrier for the trip home. Ladies and gentlemen, please meet Sasha.
Sasha is now eighteen years old – roughly equivalent to a human reaching the age of eighty-eight. She has a range of health problems that illustrate life for a senior cat, and to show you how we adapt our routines to make sure that elderly or disabled cats enjoy their stay.
HEARING
Sasha is now completely deaf. Her people tell us that she can’t hear a can being opened or her name being called – not even loud sounds like fireworks. She sleeps so deeply that she may not register the feel of the air moving as a human approaches – for cats, who depend on excellent hearing to alert them to such things, it’s terrifying to wake from a deep sleep to find that a human has crept up on them.
We know to wake her with a very gentle touch to the paw and to give her a moment to let her realise that there’s no danger – it’s only her servants arriving with food. If she’s awake already we make sure she sees us, so as not to startle her.
EYESIGHT
Luckily for Sasha, her eyesight is still good. One of her elderly companions was almost completely blind. That’s scary for a cat staying in an unfamiliar pen. Cats are adaptable creatures. A blind cat will explore the pen until he or she knows where everything is – food and water, the litter tray and the bedding. After that initial exploration, we don’t move items around unless we absolutely have to, to let them relax into their surroundings.
ARTHRITIS and OLD INJURIES
Ten years ago Sasha broke her paw, and it’s obvious that it still hurts at times. On top of that, she has developed mild arthritis and has trouble leaping up onto the high places that were once easy for her – she jumps, but sometimes lands short and has to scrabble with her back legs to finish the ascent.
We have pens with ramps for the guest to walk up to high ledges, or we can put everything they need at floor level if that is too much for them. In Sasha’s case, she enjoys pottering up the steps we put into her cabin to let her walk up to the sleeping ledge with some dignity, and we often find her asleep on the middle step. If you let us know that your cat has trouble jumping or climbing, we can adapt any pen to make life easier for them during their stay.
MEDICATION
Sasha has diabetes, kidney failure and heart problems, all common illnesses for senior cats. There are two kinds of treatment for diabetes in cats; an injection of insulin or a liquid medication designed to remove excess sugars. Neither option presents any problem for us. We are adept at giving whatever medication your cat requires, as long as you remember to bring it along with you when you bring your cat to us. The kidney failure is managed with a special diet, and her people bring a supply of her favourite food to last her throughout her stay.
As with all of our guests, at the first sign of illness or injury we will call you to let you know and we will take the cat to be examined by our veterinary partners if appropriate.
…WHAT WAS I ABOUT TO SAY?
Just like humans, elderly cats have moments of confusion. They are not as fast and focussed as young cats, and their reactions are slower. The only cure for that is to be calm, gentle and to let them have time to understand where they are.
Sasha’s guardians have been trusting us with her care for most of her life, and we hope to welcome her again later this year. For all her health worries she is a grand old lady who enjoys her life to the full – you can see her relaxing into her daily cuddle on our video. Please be reassured that – whatever their needs – your senior cat will be treated with the utmost care and respect during their stay at Paws for Thought.
