Senior cats (over 11 years) benefit from proactive health monitoring programs that detect age-related conditions early, before they cause significant welfare impacts.
Senior cat welfare depends on proactive monitoring rather than waiting for overt illness signs. Cats are masters of concealing pain and discomfort — by the time a cat shows obvious signs of illness, the condition is often significantly advanced. Arthritis, in particular, causes chronic pain in a high proportion of senior cats yet is rarely diagnosed without specific questioning and examination. Hypertension can cause sudden, irreversible blindness — detectable and preventable with blood pressure monitoring. Dental disease causes chronic pain that affects appetite and quality of life. The welfare investment in twice-yearly senior veterinary checkups pays enormous dividends in early detection, easier treatment, and better quality of life in the final third of a cat's life.