Cats over 10 years old are at increasing risk of multiple concurrent conditions including hyperthyroidism, kidney disease, hypertension, diabetes, and arthritis, requiring proactive preventive monitoring.
Senior cat welfare is profoundly affected by the systematic underdetection of painful and debilitating conditions that cats hide effectively. Multiple concurrent diseases are the norm rather than the exception in cats over 12 years. Undetected osteoarthritis causes daily chronic pain. Undetected hyperthyroidism progressively worsens cardiac and renal health. Undetected hypertension causes retinal damage and blindness. Proactive bi-annual screening with validated tools for pain, mobility, and organ function detects these conditions before they become severe, enabling earlier intervention and dramatically better welfare outcomes. Owner education about normal senior cat behaviour changes is the first step toward seeking appropriate veterinary assessment.