Although it might be tempting to skip regular trips to the veterinarian when your ageing cat seems healthy, appearances can sometimes be deceiving. Many diseases, such as kidney or liver issues, do not show clinically until they are quite advanced. Cats can be even trickier than dogs because many of them go outside to go to the toilet, and they are also very good at hiding pain and discomfort. Blood tests detect these diseases at the earliest stages, so you have a much better chance of treatment and supporting your furry friend’s long life.
Blood tests on your cat need to be done regularly in their senior years. In this article, we’ll look at the most common diseases and tests and how often you should get the tests done.
How often should senior cats have blood tests?
This will depend a little on the overall health and medical history of your individual cat, but in general, most vets recommend annual tests from around 7 years of age, when cats are considered to be mature adults. This increases to twice a year from around the age of
10-11, when cats are considered to be senior.
Seven years of age may seem young to start these tests, as so many cats live well into their late teens and early twenties these days, but there are two good reasons for starting at this age:
- As mentioned, many diseases show no clinical signs until they are quite advanced. Also, there are diseases that not uncommonly start in middle age – such as diabetes, especially if your cat is on the heavy side, and things like thyroid issues. Early detection with all these conditions is key.
- Starting blood testing while your cat is healthy is not a bad thing. It gives you a great sense of what’s normal for your cat – a baseline of health. This lets you catch trends even earlier. All blood tests have a normal range and individuals vary within this. By getting to know what’s normal for your cat, you will spot changes very quickly, even if your cat is still in the normal range.
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Common Diseases in Older Cats
While cats can get sick at any age, there are a number of health conditions that cats become more susceptible to as they age, which blood testing can help identify early on. The most common is chronic kidney disease. Common conditions in ageing cats include the following:
- Kidney disease
- Hyperthyroidism
- Obesity
- Diabetes mellitus
- Cancer
- Liver disease
- Heart disease
- Arthritis and other joint issues
- Feline dementia and other cognitive disorders
- Gastrointestinal problems
- High blood pressure
This list might look a bit scary, and hopefully your cat will stay unaffected, but keep in mind that the earlier a condition is diagnosed, the sooner you can get any necessary treatments, dietetic food or medication started.
What’s included in a senior cat blood panel?
Blood panels may vary slightly between vet practices and laboratories but usually include:
- Haematology. These markers look for anaemia, infection and inflammation and can show evidence of some types of cancer.
- Red cell numbers
- White cell types and numbers
- Platelet count
- Abnormalities, such as parasites, bacteria and the shape and size of cells
- Kidney health.
- Creatinine
- Urea
- SDMA (this is one of the earliest detectors of kidney problems)
- Liver and gut health.
- ALT
- ALP
- GGT
- AST
- Thyroid health. This may be included or may be added to the routine panel only if your vet feels there is cause.
- T4
It’s a long list but don’t worry, your vet will only need a few millilitres of blood. Be aware that some of these markers are not completely specific to one organ or disease. They provide a baseline view of organ function. If there are changes picked up, your vet may want to do further tests to get to the bottom of what’s going on or simply repeat the tests a few weeks or months later to see if the changes have resolved.
As well as blood tests, your vet may want to do a urinalysis to check other parameters of kidney health and screen for urinary tract infections, certain types of cancer and other illnesses. The thought of collecting a urine sample may fill you with dread, but don’t worry. Your vet may give you some non-absorbent litter to use or may just take a urine sample directly from your cat’s bladder at your appointment.
Senior cat blood testing – what do you need to do to prepare?
For the vast majority of cats, getting a blood sample is a quick procedure with no more discomfort than any other injection. Here are some things to consider before, and on the day of the sampling.
- Ask your vet whether your cat needs to fast, and if so, for how long. For most tests, it’s best if your cat hasn’t eaten for at least four hours, sometimes longer. Make sure you follow your vet’s guidelines for the tests your cat is having done. Your cat should be able to have water available all the time but always double check.
- Lock the catflap! You would be amazed how many cats miss appointments because they were not in the house. Keeping them in for a few hours beforehand also makes sure they are not eating elsewhere, unbeknownst to you.
- Bring a familiar towel or blanket for them to sit on. There are lots of other things you can do to prepare cats for travel and make vet visits as stress-free as possible.
- Try to keep travel time to a minimum to reduce stress.
- If you have a very anxious cat, talk to your vet about mild sedation measures or arrange a house call to take the blood samples. Some vets are happy to do this, but it will be more expensive than going to the practice.
All told, sampling is usually quick and low stress. Your cat will have a small area of fur shaved from their neck, and the sample will be taken from the jugular vein. It usually only takes a matter of minutes from start to finish. Then they can have a tasty treat!
Caring for cats with health conditions
If your vet does find something, don’t panic. Modern medicine has advanced in leaps and bounds in the last few decades. As well as medication, nutrition plays a huge role in senior cat health. There are many diseases and conditions wherein dietetic foods from your veterinarian can make a huge impact on your cat's health. These include
- Kidney disease
- Liver disease
- Hyperthyroidism
- Obesity
- Gastrointestinal issues
- Skin problems
- Bladder disease
- Joint problems or osteoarthritis
- Diabetes
…and many more besides. Talk to your vet about whether dietetic food could make a difference to your cat. Please never start your cat on one of these without the say-so of your vet, as they are not all suitable for cats with other problems.
Some of us humans are very like ostriches and want to bury our heads in the sand. We all dread the outcome of tests, fearing the worst. But please try to avoid the ostrich approach! We all want as long as possible with our beloved pets, and regular blood testing is one of the fundamental ways to make that happen. Catching issues as early as possible puts you ahead of the game and also ensures that your cat isn’t suffering in silence. Hopefully your cat will sail into old age like a champion, but if and when that’s not the case, you and your vet team will be ready to do as much as possible to make their golden years just that.
Frequently asked questions about senior cat blood panels
How often should a senior cat go to the vet?
All adult cats should see their vet once a year for a clinical exam. Starting around 7 years of age, they should have an annual blood and urine test. These are commonly done twice a year from around age 10. Your vet may recommend extra exams if your cat is found to have a health condition.
What is included in a senior blood panel?
These may vary slightly between vet practices and laboratories but usually include
- Haematology. These markers look for anaemia, infection, inflammation, and can show some types of cancer.
- Red cell numbers
- White cell types and numbers
- Platelet count
- Abnormalities such as parasites, bacteria and the shape and size of cells
- Kidney health
- Creatinine
- Urea
- SDMA (this is one of the earliest detectors of kidney problems)
- Liver and gut health. These tests show if the liver has been damaged.
- ALT
- ALP
- GGT
- AST
- Thyroid health. This may be included or may be added to the routine panel only if your vet feels there is cause.
- T4
How much does a senior cat blood panel cost?
This will vary widely depending on where you live and whether it includes the exam and urine tests, etc. You would expect to pay between £120 and £250 in the UK. Some practices offer wellness plans so you can spread the costs throughout the year.
Are blood tests necessary if my cat seems healthy and well?
Yes, for older cats. Many diseases have very few clinical signs until the disease is quite advanced. Blood and urine tests are the best way to detect changes of organ issues as early as possible. This allows treatment to start and gives your cat the best chance at a longer life.
Reviewed by Becky Mullis, DVM, DACVIM (Nutrition), and Dr Emma Milne BVSc DipECAWBM(Hon) FRCVS.
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