Cats aged 11 and over require specialised veterinary attention and home care to manage the multiple age-related conditions that commonly develop, ensuring the best possible quality of life in their later years.
Senior cats frequently suffer from multiple concurrent conditions that, if undetected, cause significant ongoing discomfort. Chronic pain from osteoarthritis is severely underrecognised in cats, as they hide weakness rather than vocalise pain. Cognitive dysfunction causes confusion and disorientation that diminishes quality of life. Regular veterinary assessment, appropriate management of diagnosed conditions, and careful home observation by owners who know their cat's normal behaviour are the foundations of good welfare in older cats.