Senior Cat Care: Essential Tips for Keeping Your Elderly Feline Healthy and Happy

People usually land on senior cat care advice when something small has shifted: the cat that used to leap onto the fridge now pauses, a coat looks a little rough, the water bowl empties faster, or the litter tray tells a different story. In older cats, these quiet changes can be the first visible edge of arthritis, dental pain, kidney disease, thyroid disease, or diabetes.

The aim is not to “treat ageing”, but to notice what’s normal for your cat, pick up what’s new, and shape daily life so their body can move, eat, rest, and toilet with less strain. Regular veterinary checks and a home set-up that respects creaky joints tend to matter more than any single trick.^{1, 2}

When is a cat considered “senior”?

There isn’t a perfect cut-off, but many veterinary guidelines place cats into life stages. A commonly used framework classifies “senior” as 10 years and older, with an end-of-life stage that can occur at any age depending on illness and frailty.¹

Age is only a guide. Some 12-year-olds live like athletic adults; others slow down earlier. What matters is the trend: weight, appetite, drinking, toileting, mobility, grooming, and temperament over time.

Subtle signs of ageing (and why they matter)

Older cats rarely announce discomfort. More often they adjust their behaviour: smaller jumps, fewer zoomies, longer rests in warmer spots, or a slow drift away from high perches.

• Mobility changes: hesitation before jumping, difficulty with stairs, stiffness after resting, choosing lower routes through the house.⁴
• Grooming changes: a dull, greasy coat; mats along the back or belly; less grooming of hard-to-reach spots (often linked to pain or stiffness).^{4, 8}
• Toileting changes: accidents beside the tray, spending longer in the tray, or avoiding it (sometimes because entry hurts).⁴
• Eating and drinking shifts: picky eating, chewing on one side, or drinking much more than before (a medical flag, not just “getting older”).⁷

Common health issues in senior cats

Arthritis (osteoarthritis) and joint pain

Arthritis is common in cats and can be easy to miss because limping isn’t always obvious. Look for reduced jumping, stiffness, changes in play, or a cat that uses the home differently (fewer high places, slower movement, more resting).⁴

Helpful home adjustments include:

• steps or a stable ramp to favourite beds and window sills
• non-slip runners on slick floors
• one litter tray on each level of the house, with a low entry
• soft, supportive bedding in warm, quiet spots

Dental disease

Dental pain can quietly shrink a cat’s world. Some cats still eat, but more slowly, or they drop food, chew awkwardly, or become fussier. Regular oral checks during vet visits matter, because discomfort is often hidden and problems can worsen gradually.²

Chronic kidney disease (CKD), hyperthyroidism, diabetes

In senior cats, conditions such as CKD, thyroid disease, and diabetes become more likely, and early signs can be subtle. Changes worth acting on include increased thirst and urination, weight loss, reduced appetite, vomiting, and lethargy.⁷

Because these illnesses may not look dramatic early on, routine screening recommended by your vet (often including blood and urine tests and blood pressure checks) can catch changes before they cause a steep decline.²

Nutrition for senior cats

Older cats do best with food choices that match their body condition, muscle mass, teeth, and any diagnosed disease. There isn’t one perfect “senior diet” for every cat.

• Keep weight steady: sudden weight loss or gain is information. Track weight monthly if possible.
• Protect muscle: older cats can lose muscle even when their weight seems stable, so ask your vet about body and muscle condition scoring at check-ups.²
• Make eating easy: if chewing seems uncomfortable, discuss dental assessment and consider textures your cat manages comfortably (without assuming it’s “just ageing”).
• Supplements: only add supplements (including omega-3s, joint products, or anything marketed for kidneys) with veterinary advice, especially if your cat has kidney disease or is on medication.

Foods to avoid: don’t offer raw fish as a routine food. Raw fish can contain thiaminase, an enzyme that breaks down thiamine (vitamin B1), and long-term feeding can contribute to deficiency.⁹

Exercise and mental stimulation (gentle, regular, realistic)

Senior cats rarely need intense play. They do benefit from small, repeatable movements that keep joints moving and minds awake.

• short play sessions with wand toys, kept low and slow
• food puzzles or scatter feeding (easy wins, not frustration)
• comfortable climbing options: wide steps, stable platforms, low perches

Stop while the cat is still comfortable. Stiffness or reluctance after play is useful feedback, not stubbornness.

Grooming and hygiene for older cats

As flexibility drops, grooming can become patchy. Gentle brushing is both maintenance and surveillance: you’ll notice mats, skin irritation, lumps, and tender areas earlier.

• Brush little and often: especially along the back, flanks, and underarms where matting forms.
• Keep claws trimmed: less activity can mean claws overgrow faster and catch on carpet.
• Parasite control: maintain flea and worm prevention appropriate to your cat’s lifestyle and location (your vet can tailor this).

Veterinary care and regular check-ups

For senior cats, twice-yearly veterinary check-ups are commonly recommended. The logic is simple: cats age quickly, and problems are easier to manage when found early.^{1, 2}

Depending on your cat’s history and exam findings, your vet may suggest monitoring such as blood and urine tests, thyroid testing (T4), kidney markers, and blood pressure measurement at least yearly, and sometimes every six months.²

Vaccinations and prevention

Older cats still need preventive care, but vaccination schedules are individual. In Australia, core boosters for adult cats are often given every 1–3 years depending on the vaccine used and the cat’s risk factors, so it’s worth reviewing at each visit rather than assuming “yearly forever”.⁶

Creating a comfortable home environment

Think of the house as terrain. As joints stiffen and senses dull, a good set-up removes daily obstacles.

• Litter trays: low-entry tray, unscented litter if possible, and a tray on each level of the home.
• Food and water: easy access, away from busy thoroughfares; consider an extra water station.
• Warmth: draft-free bedding in sunny or gently heated areas (always allow the cat to move away from heat).
• Quiet: a predictable resting place away from noisy appliances and household traffic.

Recognising and managing pain

Pain in cats often looks like absence: less jumping, less grooming, less play, less tolerance of handling. It can also show up as vocalising, hiding, or toileting outside the tray.^{4, 8}

Pain relief should be veterinary-led. Many common human painkillers are dangerous for cats, and even pet medications need correct dosing and monitoring. If pain is suspected, book an appointment and take notes (what changed, when, and what makes it better or worse).⁴

End-of-life care and hard decisions

In the final stage, comfort becomes the main goal: warmth, easy access to essentials, gentle handling, and pain and nausea control where possible. Your vet can help you assess quality of life and explain palliative options.

If suffering can’t be controlled, euthanasia may be the kindest choice. Planning ahead helps: know who will be there, how the day will run, and what aftercare you prefer, so decisions aren’t made in a rush.

Final thoughts

Senior cat care is mostly about noticing. Watch the small adjustments your cat makes, then quietly reshape their world: softer landings, shorter climbs, easier toileting, steadier routines, and regular veterinary checks. Done well, the later years can be calm and richly familiar—more time spent resting in warm patches of light, and less time spent coping.

References

1. AAHA/AAFP Feline Life Stage Guidelines – Life stage definitions (2021)
2. AAHA/AAFP Feline Life Stage Guidelines – Diagnostic testing for each life stage (2021)
3. MSD Veterinary Manual (AU) – Routine health care of cats (reviewed/revised Aug 2025)
4. RSPCA Knowledgebase – I think my cat has arthritis, what should I do?
5. AAHA/AAFP Feline Life Stage Guidelines – Life stage checklists (2021)
6. RSPCA Knowledgebase – What vaccinations should my cat receive?
7. International Renal Interest Society (IRIS) – CKD staging guidelines (cats)
8. VCA Animal Hospitals – Behaviour changes and pain in ageing cats
9. MSD Veterinary Manual – Nutritional requirements and related diseases of cats (thiamine deficiency risk, including raw fish)