Pet health care concerns for nocturnal cat

Thursday, 11 February 2010 12:10

Pet health care concerns for elderly nocturnal cats regularly stem from senility, says the Telegraph's resident vet, Pete Wedderburn.

With more than 50 per cent of cats aged 15 and over suffering from senility it is a common cause of behavioural changes, particularly at night.

Mr Wedderburn identifies disrupted sleep cycles and loud crying at night as indications of the problem, but that it is not always senility that is the cause.

The vet believes that if you are experiencing the problem with your cat you "should visit your vet to rule out other underlying problems such as high blood pressure or an overactive thyroid gland, two common treatable conditions that occur at the same time as senility."

Cats are naturally nocturnal and prefer to be up at night, however, adapting behaviour through feeding times, exercise and keeping the cat awake during the day can help alter these patterns.

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Posted by Mike