Cats are living longer than ever, but aging brings health and welfare challenges that require attentive, proactive care to maintain quality of life in their senior years.
Senior cats often mask pain and illness — a survival instinct that leads to delayed diagnosis. Osteoarthritis is particularly underrecognized: affected cats may simply appear less active or reluctant to jump, behaviors often attributed to normal aging. Modern pain management options including NSAIDs, gabapentin, and anti-nerve growth factor antibodies (like frunevetmab) dramatically improve quality of life for arthritic cats. Environmental modifications — ramps, low-sided litter boxes, raised food bowls — reduce the physical demands that cause daily suffering in aging cats.