Last Updated: 03/06/2025
Learn how to care for your senior cat and improve their comfort and health in their golden years.
Author: Dr Gillian Hill BVSc (Hons)
Reading Time: 11 minutes - short read
Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space and we update our articles when new information becomes available.
Did you know that according to Guinness World Records, the oldest cat ever lived to be 38 years and 3 days old? That's an incredible feat! While most cats don't reach such a ripe age, it's important to remember that feline aging is much faster than human aging.
In fact, a cat as young as seven is considered a senior citizen. That might seem surprising, but with proper care and attention, your cat can enjoy a long and healthy life well into their golden years.
From nutrition to grooming, we've put together a complete guide to senior cat care.
As our cats age, they require different nutrition to help keep them happy and healthy. There are a number of specifically formulated foods for senior cats to help meet the needs of your aging cat. These 'senior' cat diets contain ingredients to help alleviate the symptoms of aging and keep your feline friend fighting fit! But what are these ingredients, and how do they benefit senior cats?
Tip: Many elderly cats will require a veterinary therapeutic cat foods for dental, kidney, or urinary care. Always ask your vet if you are interested in a therapeutic or prescription diet.
Just like humans, cats can start to suffer from arthritis and joint pain as they age. However they don't typically show their pain with an easy-to-spot limp. Cats are notoriously stoic and can hide their pain extremely well, which means that your cat may be suffering without showing obvious syptoms.
Signs of arthritic pain in cats include:
To help support your senior cat's joints and manage arthritis, providing them with a soft, warm place to sleep is crucial. See our cat bed buying guide for more information.
Your vet may also recommend a joint care supplement containing green lipped mussel, omega oils, chondroitin, or glucosamine.
For more information on joint support for cats, take a read through our guide Arthritis Care for Cats.
As your cat ages, their risk of developing certain diseases increases. Common illnesses in senior cats include kidney failure, urinary disease, hyperthyroidism, and dental disease. It is important to know the signs to watch for that may be an early indicator of these diseases.
Symptoms of concern in elderly cats:
It is vital that all senior cats have regular check-ups at their regular veterinarian, ideally every 6 months. This helps your vet to identify any age-related health problems early to nip them in the bud.
By keeping your senior cat's health and wellbeing needs in mind you can help to ensure that they live a long and happy life with you. Who knows, maybe they will even be the next guinness world record holder!
Veterinarian
Dr. Gillian loves being able to provide depth and detail to pet parents questions, and give up to date, evidence based advice. She loves the variety of pets and inquiries she receives - she especially loves the 'curly' questions that require some research! Seeing the gorgeous photos that pet parents send through of their babies is a highlight of the day! Gillian enjoys to further her veterinary knowledge, and has completed further training in ultrasonography, behaviour and backyard poultry!
