Cats are living longer than ever, with many reaching their late teens or early twenties. Understanding the welfare needs of senior cats ensures their later years are comfortable and fulfilling.
Senior cats experience a convergence of age-related conditions that, because they develop gradually and because cats mask discomfort effectively, can go unrecognised for months or years. Chronic pain from osteoarthritis is particularly common and particularly underdiagnosed — a cat who stops jumping onto the sofa or no longer runs upstairs may be displaying pain behaviours rather than simply slowing down with age. Proactive management — regular veterinary health checks, pain assessment, appropriate pain medication, and environmental modifications — can dramatically improve quality of life in senior cats. The welfare of elderly cats depends on owner recognition of subtle change combined with veterinary systems that screen for age-related conditions before they become advanced and more difficult to manage.