Cats are living longer due to improved veterinary care and nutrition. Supporting the welfare of geriatric cats requires attention to multiple age-related conditions and sensitive quality of life assessment.
Geriatric cat welfare requires a shift from disease management to quality of life-oriented care. A very old cat with multiple conditions cannot be treated as a collection of separate diseases — each treatment decision must be evaluated for its contribution to overall comfort and engagement. Polypharmacy risks drug interactions and pill-administration stress that may themselves compromise welfare. The welfare-positive geriatric approach prioritises comfort over curative intent, managing conditions that most affect quality of life while accepting that not every condition warrants treatment in a very old animal. Honest, compassionate quality of life assessment supports both the cat's welfare and the owner's ability to make good end-of-life decisions.