If your sweet kitty is around at least 10 years old, you might be starting to notice some signs of the aging process, including vision, hearing and cognitive difficulties, all of which are normal. What you may not know is that incontinence also is very prevalent in senior cats.
What is Incontinence?
Incontinence is a medical condition in which a cat seems to lose control over his bathroom functions. When cats get older, bladder and bowel control loss are very common. If your senior cat eliminates on your living room carpet instead of in his litter box, before getting upset, consider whether or not incontinence may have been the root cause, rather than misbehavior.
Signs
Look out for telltale indications that your precious pet is experiencing incontinence issues. For example, you may notice a damp patch over your little one's sleeping area. You also may notice that thin trickles of urine are appearing all over your floors. If you spot feces in unexpected spots throughout your home, it also could be a sign that your cat simply couldn't handle on time his strong urge to relieve himself. As soon as you spot even one of these warning signs, make an appointment with your cat's veterinarian. The vet may be able to give your cat a prescription medication that manages the bladder muscle.
Medical Conditions
Incontinence is a common woe for many older cats, but also can be associated with other pressing medical conditions. Consider the possibility that your pet may have another underlying disorder, such as feline leukemia, urinary tract infection, diabetes, bladder cancer, inflammatory bowel disease and kidney stones. Because of these potentially harmful possibilities, veterinary attention is an absolute must in cases of incontinence.
More Litter Boxes
If you suspect senility to be one of the reasons that your senior cat is experiencing urinary incontinence, give him a helping hand. Memory loss is very common in older cats, so perhaps your fluff ball simply just can't recall the specific locale of his litter box. Make things easier for him by placing several litter boxes all throughout the home. The more boxes within easy reach of your cat, the less chance of messy and icky accidents appearing everywhere.
Always check with your veterinarian before changing your pet’s diet, medication, or physical activity routines. This information is not a substitute for a vet’s opinion.
