Cats age gracefully on the outside, which is precisely the problem. A cat can be well into its senior years, and quietly developing one of the common illnesses of old age, while still looking much like it always did. Their talent for hiding weakness, so useful to a wild cat, works against them as pets, because it means the signs of ageing and illness are subtle and easy to miss until they are advanced. So caring for an older cat is really about paying closer attention and making a few thoughtful changes, so that problems are caught early and daily life stays comfortable. Here is what to focus on as your cat gets older.
Watch closely, and see the vet more
Because cats hide illness so well, the most important thing you can do for an ageing cat is to watch it carefully and see your vet more often.
Step up from yearly to twice-yearly vet visits once your cat is into its senior years, since the diseases that become common with age, kidney disease, an overactive thyroid, diabetes, high blood pressure, and dental disease, tend to show only quiet early signs. A six-monthly check, often with a weight check and sometimes blood, urine, and blood pressure testing, gives the best chance of catching these while they are still very manageable, and several of them can be controlled for years when found early. Between visits, you are the early-warning system, so learn your cat’s normal and act on changes: drinking or weeing more, eating more or less, losing weight, a change in litter tray habits, bad breath, or a duller, less well-kept coat are all worth a call rather than a wait.
Hydration, weight, and food
An older cat’s diet and, in particular, its water intake become a bigger deal than they were in its prime, so they are worth some thought.
Kidney disease is so common in senior cats that encouraging good hydration is genuinely protective, and since cats are famously poor drinkers, wet food does a lot of the work by carrying moisture in, which is one reason the wet-or-dry question matters more with age, as our guide on wet food, dry food, or both explains. A water fountain, several water bowls around the home, and water placed away from food all help too. On weight, watch both directions: some older cats gain weight as they slow down, while many lose weight and muscle, and unexplained weight loss in an older cat is always worth investigating rather than assuming it is normal ageing. The right food depends on your individual cat and any diagnosed conditions, so let your vet guide any change, and our cat food calculator helps you judge portions for a less active cat. Curious how old your cat really is in human terms? Our cat age calculator puts it in perspective.
Comfort and everyday access
The rest of good senior cat care is about making the home kinder to an older, stiffer body, since arthritis is far more common in old cats than most owners realise.
Older cats sleep more and feel the cold, so warm, soft, easy-to-reach beds in quiet spots are appreciated, ideally without a jump to get into them. Because stiff joints make climbing hard, add steps or a ramp to favourite perches and windowsills, and switch to a litter tray with a low side that an achy cat can step into without effort, keeping trays, food, and water on the floors your cat actually spends time on. Many older cats groom themselves less thoroughly, so a gentle hand with brushing keeps the coat from matting and gives you a regular check of the body, and claws need keeping trimmed since a less active cat wears them down less. Keep an eye out too for signs of confusion, night-time yowling, or changes in behaviour, which can point to the feline version of cognitive decline, and which your vet can help with. A settled, low-stress home matters as much as ever, as our guide to a stressed cat covers.
The bottom line is that a senior cat asks for closer attention rather than a dramatically different life: see the vet twice a year, treat increased drinking or weight loss as a reason to get checked, encourage hydration, and make beds, perches, and litter trays easy for an older body to use. Because cats are so good at hiding trouble, your watchfulness is the thing that turns a hidden problem into an early diagnosis, and that is what gives an older cat the comfortable, contented later years it deserves.
Common questions
- At what age is a cat considered senior?
- Cats are usually considered mature from around seven, senior from about eleven, and geriatric from roughly fifteen, though many cats now live well into their late teens and beyond. The exact number matters less than paying closer attention from middle age onward, because the illnesses of older cats develop quietly. Plenty of cats show few outward signs of ageing until a problem is quite advanced, which is exactly why closer monitoring, not a particular birthday, is the point.
- How often should a senior cat see the vet?
- At least twice a year for an older cat, rather than annually. Cats are experts at masking illness, and the common diseases of age such as kidney disease, an overactive thyroid, diabetes, and high blood pressure often show only subtle early signs. Six-monthly checks, usually with a weight check and sometimes blood, urine, and blood pressure tests, let your vet catch these while they are far more manageable. Report any change in drinking, appetite, weight, or litter tray habits promptly rather than waiting.
- Why is my old cat drinking and weeing more?
- Increased thirst and urination in an older cat is one of the most important signs to act on, because it is a classic early clue to kidney disease, an overactive thyroid, or diabetes, all common in senior cats. It is easy to miss, especially in a multi-cat home or with a cat that goes outside. If you notice your cat drinking more, weeing more, losing weight, or eating differently, book a vet visit rather than waiting, since these conditions are far better managed caught early.
- How can I make life easier for my senior cat?
- Focus on comfort and access. Provide warm, soft, easy-to-reach beds, since older cats feel the cold and sleep more, and add steps or ramps so a stiff cat can still reach favourite perches. Use a litter tray with a low side that an arthritic cat can step into, and keep food, water, and trays on the floors your cat spends time on so it does not have to climb. Help with grooming, as older cats often stop keeping themselves as tidy, keep claws trimmed, and encourage drinking to protect the kidneys.
