Ageing cats have changing environmental needs that, when unmet, cause significant welfare compromise, with targeted adaptations providing substantial quality of life improvements.
Senior cat welfare reflects the intersection of multiple age-related changes that individually might be manageable but together create significant welfare challenges. Arthritis - affecting the vast majority of older cats yet frequently undiagnosed because cats hide pain so effectively - transforms everyday activities into painful challenges: climbing stairs, jumping onto favourite perches, and entering litter boxes all become aversive. Cognitive dysfunction creates confusion, disorientation, and disrupted sleep patterns that distress both cats and their owners. Sensory decline means cats may be startled more easily and may lose the spatial mapping that enabled them to navigate familiar environments confidently. The welfare response requires both veterinary management of treatable conditions and environmental modification: low-sided litter boxes, ramps and steps to favourite resting places, night lights for disorientated cats, and quiet predictable routines. Pain management for feline arthritis has improved significantly with the development of anti-NGF monoclonal antibody treatments that provide effective long-term analgesia without the organ toxicity risks of NSAIDs in cats. The gap between the welfare available and the welfare delivered is primarily one of owner recognition and veterinary engagement.