Cats are living longer than ever, and understanding the health and welfare needs of senior and geriatric cats enables owners to provide appropriate care that maintains quality of life through the later years.
Senior cats often experience chronic pain from conditions that owners do not recognise. Arthritis causes persistent joint pain that cats mask through reduced activity and avoiding jumping - often attributed to 'slowing down with age' rather than painful mobility limitation. Dental disease causes ongoing oral pain. Hyperthyroidism and CKD cause discomfort and systemic ill-health. Identifying and treating these conditions significantly improves quality of life in what can be many additional comfortable years. Environmental modifications that reduce pain-related challenges enable arthritic cats to maintain independence and dignity.