Cats over age 10 are considered senior, and those over 15 are geriatric. Proactive veterinary management of common aging conditions significantly extends both lifespan and quality of life in senior cats.
Senior cat welfare requires shifting from reactive to proactive veterinary care. Annual visits in young healthy cats become insufficient as the pace of age-related change accelerates in seniors. Many conditions — hyperthyroidism, hypertension, early CKD, dental disease, arthritis — are detectable before causing obvious distress and are far more successfully managed when caught early. The welfare cost of undetected chronic conditions in cats is significant: months or years of treatable suffering that owners attribute to normal aging. Building a complete senior wellness protocol with your veterinarian — including routine bloodwork, blood pressure, body condition, and dental assessment — is the most impactful investment in your senior cat's wellbeing.