Cats are living longer than ever, and senior welfare requires proactive management of age-related changes including pain, cognitive decline, and chronic disease.
Senior cat welfare is a growing priority as veterinary medicine extends cat longevity. The challenge is that extended lifespan without extended healthspan means more time experiencing age-related disease. Proactive senior wellness programmes including twice-yearly examinations, blood and urine monitoring, blood pressure measurement, and weight tracking enable early detection of the multiple concurrent conditions common in older cats. Pain recognition in cats requires specific training as they mask discomfort effectively. Cognitive dysfunction syndrome, the feline equivalent of dementia, causes disorientation and distress increasingly recognised in senior cats. Proactive management maintains quality of life throughout the extended senior years.