Cats are masters at hiding discomfort, which is why it’s so valuable to have a thorough check-up from time to time.
Fortunately, everything went smoothly – no major surprises. There were a few minor things, but that’s just part of living a long cat life. Both cats are at a healthy weight, with no gain or loss, which is always a good sign.
Both cats underwent blood tests, urine tests, and a dental check/X-ray. Kasper also had a simple vision check.
Kasper had no findings at all – in other words, he is a completely healthy cat.
Jesper is a very fine senior cat: good condition and muscles, with a thick, glossy coat – which is the first thing you notice, in addition to the fact that he runs, jumps, and plays as usual.
✔ Blood tests were normal, which is always the biggest relief with a senior cat.
✔ Urine tests were mostly normal, with only a small protein finding – very common in older cats and not cause for major concern when everything else is stable.
We will make a few small adjustments to his diet.
The veterinarian also took a careful look and removed some plaque from the teeth. Both cats have fine teeth, with just a bit of plaque on the molars that was now removed (last check was two years ago).
In Jesper’s case, they found a small wear mark on a molar, which is not unusual in older cats. The roots were strong and healthy, and the vet assessed that it does not cause pain or discomfort at this time.
An extraction would have been demanding and carried potential risks – more than is desirable for an older cat – and would have been a bigger burden than the dental issue itself. Therefore, we agreed that the safest and best approach right now is simply to monitor the tooth without extracting it.
Jesper eats well and behaves completely normally, so this is a solution both we and the vet feel confident about.
Overall, a very good status for a 9- and 13-year-old with four paws.
As cats age, changes can occur gradually without obvious signs at home. An annual senior check-up can detect early signs of:
Kidney disease
Dental problems
Thyroid issues
Diabetes
High blood pressure
Joint problems or stiffness
The earlier something is detected, the easier it is to take action – giving your cat more years of comfort and good health.
The senior check-up gave us very good news and important confirmations. We are now entering a new year with two senior cats whose health we can monitor closely – confident that, with regular check-ups, there will be many more years of fun and play in Tigerskogen with these two red-furred rascals.
