Senior cats over 11 years have specific welfare needs that require proactive management and veterinary care.
Senior cat welfare requires proactive attention because cats mask illness, and the conditions common in old age — hyperthyroidism, kidney disease, arthritis, and cognitive dysfunction — cause chronic suffering that reduces quality of life significantly. Arthritis is the most prevalent and most undertreated condition in senior cats. A cat that has become less active or less playful in old age is often arthritic, not merely ageing gracefully. Early diagnosis and treatment dramatically improves quality of the remaining years of life.