Cat Senior Wellness and Preventive Care

Senior cats have specific preventive care needs that differ significantly from younger adults, and proactive wellness monitoring significantly improves quality of life and longevity.

Key Facts

Cats are generally considered senior from 10-11 years and geriatric from 15 years — with many cats now living beyond 20.
The most common health conditions in senior cats include kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, dental disease, osteoarthritis, and hypertension.
Annual blood and urine screening from age 10 enables detection of conditions in early stages when management is most effective.
High blood pressure, common in senior cats, causes sudden blindness and neurological signs if undetected and untreated.
Body condition scoring and weight monitoring at home every 2-4 weeks detects changes requiring veterinary assessment early.

Welfare Considerations

Senior cat welfare depends heavily on proactive monitoring that catches the multiple conditions common in older cats before they cause significant suffering. The stoic nature of cats means that disease is often advanced before clinical signs are obvious — early detection through regular screening enables earlier intervention and longer, more comfortable lives. Twice-yearly veterinary wellness visits for cats over 10 years should be the standard of care rather than annual visits.

What You Can Do

Schedule twice-yearly veterinary wellness visits for any cat aged 10 or over.
Request a complete senior blood panel including thyroid, kidney, liver, and blood glucose screening at each visit.
Monitor blood pressure at least annually for any senior cat and at every visit once hypertension has been detected.
Weigh your cat monthly at home and investigate any unexplained weight loss of more than 10% of body weight promptly.