Cats are living longer, and the senior years bring specific health and welfare challenges. Proactive veterinary care, environmental adaptation, and attention to quality of life extend comfortable healthy years.
Senior cats are often better managed for welfare than senior dogs because their stoic, self-sufficient reputation leads owners to miss early signs of disease and declining quality of life. The high prevalence of osteoarthritis in geriatric cats represents an enormous unmet welfare need: most affected cats receive no diagnosis and no pain management despite experiencing chronic daily discomfort. Environmental modifications that reduce the physical demands on arthritic cats — accessible litter boxes, warm resting areas, low-effort food and water access — require minimal investment and produce immediate welfare improvements. Proactive six-monthly health checks that include blood pressure, kidney function, and thyroid testing catch the most common treatable conditions before they cause severe welfare harm.