Companion Animals

Cat Senior Wellness Programmes

Senior and geriatric cats benefit from structured wellness programmes addressing age-related diseases, pain, and quality of life as they age past 10-12 years.

Key Facts

Cats over 12 years are classified as geriatric and face increasing chronic disease risk
Subclinical pain from arthritis is estimated to affect over 60% of cats over 12
CKD, hyperthyroidism, dental disease, and lymphoma are most common in senior cats
Biannual veterinary exams detect early disease when management is most effective
Quality of life assessments help guide end-of-life decision making in senior cats

Welfare Considerations

Senior cats experience significant disease burden that often goes undetected. Structured wellness programmes detect problems early and dramatically improve quality of life.

What You Can Do

Attend biannual veterinary exams for cats over 10 years of age
Monitor weight, appetite, and behaviour as early welfare indicators
Discuss pain assessment and analgesia options with your vet
Use quality of life scoring tools to guide end-of-life decision making