Cats are living longer thanks to veterinary advances. Understanding the specific welfare needs of senior and geriatric cats helps owners provide excellent care in their animals' later years.
Senior cats represent a growing proportion of the companion cat population, and their welfare needs differ substantially from younger animals. Chronic disease management is central to senior cat welfare — early detection of CKD, hyperthyroidism, and hypertension through regular blood and urine testing allows effective management and significantly extends quality of life. Arthritis is particularly underrecognized because cats adapt their behavior gradually; owners may attribute reduced activity and jumping to aging rather than pain. Environmental modifications are simple and effective interventions. Cognitive dysfunction causes distress through disorientation and disrupted sleep-wake cycles. A proactive, preventive approach to senior cat healthcare — combined with attentive observation of subtle behavioral changes — is the foundation of excellent geriatric cat welfare.