“Cats are the great pretenders.” So goes one of the common tropes of feline ownership, and in many cases it’s true. Cats are subtle creatures, not ones for making a big scene whenever they feel under the weather. But subtle or not, cats are susceptible to just as many symptoms of aging as the rest of us, particularly as they approach their senior years. The good news is astute pet parents looking for small changes can spot many signs of aging as long as they know what to look for.

Vision Problems in Cats

Eye problems in aging cats can present as a primary condition or secondary to a larger health issues. Some of the most common primary eye conditions in cats are trauma, cancers, and glaucoma (increased intraocular pressure).

The eyes are the window to the soul, but they are also the window to the cardiovascular system. Ocular disease may present secondary to another primary condition such as elevated blood pressure. Hypertension is often seen in cats suffering from hyperthyroidism and/or kidney disease. This may present as engorged retinal blood vessels noted during a physical exam, or in severe cases a detached retina, observed by owners as sudden blindness or decrease in vision.