Cats over 15 years face multiple concurrent health challenges, and quality of life assessment rather than individual disease management becomes the central welfare framework.
Elderly cat welfare requires a shift from disease-focused management to quality of life-focused management. Individual diseases may be well-controlled but cumulative burden — multiple medications, frequent vet visits, inappetence — may impair overall quality of life. Regular quality of life assessment using validated scales provides a structured framework for monitoring and end-of-life decision-making. Euthanasia as a welfare intervention prevents prolonged suffering when quality of life deteriorates beyond acceptable thresholds.