A senior cat does not age like an old dog: it complains little, slows down quietly, and it is often us who put its changes down to age. Yet age is not a disease. Behind a cat that drinks more, loses weight while eating, yowls at night or stops grooming, there is almost always something that can be treated, or at least relieved. Here is from what age a cat is senior, what is normal, what needs a vet, how often to check up, and how to make the home easier for it.
Senior cat: the key points
| From when | mature from 7 to 10 years, senior from 10; many indoor cats live past 15 |
|---|---|
| What is normal | it sleeps more, jumps less high, plays for shorter spells, the muzzle turns white, the claws thicken |
| What needs a vet | it drinks and urinates more, loses weight, eats more or not at all, yowls at night, has matted fur, misses the litter box, is wobbly |
| Common diseases | arthritis (90% of cats over 12 on X-rays), kidneys, thyroid (more than one cat in ten after 10), hypertension, teeth, diabetes, cognitive decline |
| Check-ups | a yearly work-up from 7–10 years, with blood pressure; every 6 months from 11; regular weighing at home |
| The home | low-sided litter box, ramp or steps to its favourite spots, warm places, several water points, low wide or raised bowls, brushing |
| Emergency | it has not eaten for 24 to 48 h, it goes blind suddenly, it is wobbly, it breathes fast or with its mouth open |
Sources: 2021 AAFP Feline Senior Care Guidelines, ISFM, Cornell Feline Health Center, studies by Hardie 2002, Lascelles 2010, Gunn-Moore 2007 and Peterson 2012. Details at the end of the article.
Contents
From what age is a cat old?
Feline vets simplified the answer in 2021. The AAHA-AAFP Feline Life Stage Guidelines now distinguish the kitten (up to 1 year), the young adult (1 to 6 years), the mature adult (7 to 10 years) and the senior, from 10 years. International Cat Care keeps a useful nuance: from 11 to 14 the cat is senior, and an elderly cat of 15 or more is "super senior". And the 2021 AAFP Feline Senior Care Guidelines add that some cats deserve senior care "as early as 8 years of age".
In human years, a 10-year-old cat is about 56, a 15-year-old cat 76 and a 20-year-old cat 96: the full table, and the calculator, are in our guide cat age in human years. Average life expectancy is around 12 to 14 years, but that average includes young cats' accidents: an indoor cat with regular check-ups often reaches 15 to 18, the Cornell Feline Health Center mentions a 22-year-old patient, and the certified record, Creme Puff, is 38 years. A 30-year-old cat does exist, then, but it is the exception.
The signs of ageing: what is normal, what is not
An ageing cat changes, and some of those changes are expected. The muzzle and eyebrows turn white, the coat becomes a little less sleek, the claws thicken and retract less well, the lens takes on a bluish sheen that barely affects sight, hearing declines. It sleeps more, plays for shorter spells, climbs less high and becomes more of a homebody. All of that is fine, provided it eats, drinks, grooms and comes to see you as before.
The trap is filing under "it's getting old" signs that are really those of a disease. The Cornell Feline Health Center insists: "age in and of itself is not a disease", and a change, whether sudden or gradual, deserves a consultation. Here are the signs we are told about most often, and what they may hide.
It drinks a lot and urinates more
Drinking a lot is the number one sign in older cats, and it is rarely harmless: chronic kidney disease, hyperthyroidism and diabetes, the three big diseases of the senior cat, all make a cat drink more. Cornell gives a benchmark: more than one ounce of water per pound of body weight per day, about 60 ml per kilo, is too much. A fountain or several bowls make measuring hard; count the urine clumps in the litter box instead, or watch for a cat that suddenly drinks from the tap or from glasses. A blood test and a urine test sort it out.
It eats a lot but loses weight
An older cat that begs constantly, eats more than before and still wastes away, often restless, with an unkempt coat and vomiting: that is the classic picture of hyperthyroidism, the most common hormonal disease in cats. It affects "over 10% of all senior cats", writes specialist Mark Peterson in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, and the AAFP guidelines cite 10% of cats over 10 years of age. Diabetes gives a similar picture, with marked thirst. Both are diagnosed with a blood test, and both are treatable.
It has stopped eating, or only picks
In an older cat, the teeth are the first thing to look at: according to Cornell, between 50 and 90% of cats over 4 years old have some form of dental disease, and tooth resorption, painful lesions that eat away at the tooth, affects 30 to 70% of cats. A cat that approaches the bowl, chews on one side, drops its kibble, drools or has bad breath is in pain. The kidneys, nausea or a tumour can also take the appetite away. In every case, the rule does not change with age: a cat that has not eaten for 24 to 48 hours is seen the same day, because of the risk of hepatic lipidosis explained in our guide cat vomiting.
It yowls at night, "for no reason"
An old cat that starts howling at night, often standing in the middle of a room or facing a wall, has not lost its mind on a whim. The known causes are hyperthyroidism, hypertension, the pain of arthritis, deafness (it no longer hears itself, so it shouts) and cognitive decline. A British study cited by Danièlle Gunn-Moore in the Journal of Small Animal Practice shows that 28% of cats aged 11 to 14 develop at least one age-related behavioural problem, and over 50% of cats aged 15 and over. You always start with a work-up, because the thyroid and blood pressure can be treated; the rest can be managed, and our guide cat meowing explains how.
Its fur is matted and it no longer grooms
A cat grooms for several hours a day; when the back and hindquarters become greasy, fluffy or matted in clumps, it is because it can no longer bend that far. The culprit is most often arthritis: in a Dutch study of 100 cats aged 6 and over, reduced mobility and grooming were associated with the lesions visible on X-rays. Excess weight, a painful mouth and kidney disease also play a part. While you wait for the vet, a gentle daily brushing replaces what it no longer does, detangles before the fur felts, and it is a moment an old cat enjoys.
It is wobbly, circles, bumps into things
An old cat that staggers, tilts its head, circles or suddenly starts bumping into furniture, with very dilated pupils, is seen the same day. High blood pressure is the first cause to rule out: according to the ISFM guidelines, it mostly affects cats over 10, the median age at diagnosis is 13 to 15 years, and about half of hypertensive cats have retinal lesions, which can go as far as detachment and sudden blindness. Caught in time, the blood pressure can be treated and sight sometimes returns; too late, the damage is permanent. Vestibular syndrome or weakness of the hind legs also give a wobbly cat: again, the examination decides.
It pees next to the litter box
A cat that has been clean all its life and starts urinating next to the box has not become dirty. In older cats, the causes are pain (stepping over a high side or going down to the basement becomes an ordeal), a box too small for a stiff cat, larger volumes of urine that overwhelm its routine, an infection, and cognitive decline, which makes it forget the way. The first two are solved with a low-sided box on every floor; the others are diagnosed. Our guide cat urine explains how to clean up and how to trace the cause.
It sleeps all the time
Sleeping more is normal after 12. What is not: sleep that increases suddenly, a cat that hides, that sleeps in lower places than before, or that sleeps by day and is restless at night. The benchmarks are in our guide cat sleeping a lot.
The diseases of the senior cat, in figures
| Disease | What the studies say | The signs at home |
|---|---|---|
| Arthritis | 90% of cats over 12 have lesions on X-rays (Hardie, 2002, 100 cats); 92% in a study of 100 cats of all ages (Lascelles, 2010) | it no longer jumps onto the worktop, hesitates at the stairs, grooms less, misses the litter box, gets grumpy when picked up |
| Chronic kidney disease | "one of the most commonly diagnosed diseases in older cats", according to the ISFM; in one American study, half of the cats selected at random, all ages included, were affected | it drinks and urinates more, loses weight, vomits, has a dull coat and bad breath |
| Hyperthyroidism | over 10% of cats over 10 years of age (Peterson, 2012; AAFP, 2021) | it loses weight while eating a lot, drinks more, is restless, meows, vomits |
| Hypertension | mostly after 10; 19 to 65% of cats with kidney disease and 10 to 23% of hyperthyroid cats are hypertensive; retinal lesions in about half of hypertensive cats (ISFM, 2017) | often nothing, then sudden blindness, dilated pupils, disorientation, night-time yowling |
| Dental disease | 50 to 90% of cats over 4; tooth resorption in 30 to 70% of cats (Cornell) | bad breath, drooling, chewing on one side, dropping kibble, not eating |
| Diabetes | "a common endocrinopathy in senior cats" (AAFP, 2021), encouraged by excess weight | it drinks and urinates a lot, eats more, loses weight, sometimes walks on its hocks |
| Cognitive decline | 28% of cats aged 11 to 14 and over 50% of those aged 15 and over have at least one age-related behavioural problem (Gunn-Moore, 2007) | yowling at night, disorientation, forgetting the litter box, sleeping by day and wandering at night, seeking less contact or demanding it constantly |
Detailed figures and links in the sources. The arthritis percentages are radiographic: not all these cats are in pain, but many compensate without our noticing.
This table says one simple thing: from 10 years old, a cat statistically has at least one of these diseases, and several add up. The good news is that they are detected with a blood test, a urine test and a blood pressure reading, and that caught early, they stay stable for years.
Vet check-ups for an older cat: how often?
A cat ages four times faster than we do: one yearly visit for a 14-year-old cat is one check-up every four years for a person in their seventies. The 2021 AAFP guidelines therefore advise starting baseline diagnostics at 7 to 10 years, at least annually, "with frequency increasing with age", going up to an assessment "every 3–6 months in very elderly patients". Cornell sums it up: six-month check-ups for geriatric cats. For blood pressure, the ISFM asks for a reading at least every 12 months from 7 to 10 years, and at least every 6–12 months from 11 years, more often if the kidneys or the thyroid are affected.
What a senior work-up includes
- Weighing and body condition: weight is the first indicator, and a loss of 200 g in a 4 kg cat matters. Weigh it yourself once a month, on bathroom scales (you with it, then without), and write it down.
- Blood pressure, with a cuff, which the AAFP includes in the "minimum" work-up, in sick cats as well as apparently healthy ones.
- A blood test: blood count, biochemistry (kidneys, liver, glucose) and thyroid hormone (T4).
- A urine test, which reveals the kidneys before the blood test does.
- Examination of the mouth, of the joints (the vet flexes, extends, palpates the back) and of the eyes (the fundus shows the damage of hypertension).
Between two visits, you are the one who sees the cat every day. Cornell suggests a small weekly check at home: the eyes, the ears, the mouth, the coat, the claws, which thicken with age and can grow into the pad if no one trims them any more. A nail clipper with a safety stop and one minute every fortnight are enough.
Making life easier at home
The AAFP guidelines devote a whole table to the senior cat's environment, and it comes down to one idea: bring things closer and lower. Everything it loves must stay within reach without jumping, climbing or going down to the basement.
- Steps to its favourite places. "Ramps and steps for easier access to favorite spaces", writes the AAFP; Cornell advises covering them with carpet so it does not slip. An adjustable wooden ramp against the sofa or the bed spares it the jump that hurts, and wall steps mounted lower than before keep its lookout up high.
- A low-sided litter box, on every floor. "Low entry/easy access litter box", says the AAFP; Cornell adds one box per floor, with a cut-out side if needed. A large box with a 5 to 7 cm side beats the covered box with a high step it climbed into at 5.
- Warm spots. A thin, arthritic old cat feels the cold: the AAFP recommends "warm resting sites", Cornell a bed out of draughts but not scorching, because a slow-moving cat can burn itself. A radiator hammock hooked low, or a self-heating mat that reflects its own warmth back, with no electricity, in its usual bed.
- Water everywhere. "Multiple, various configuration drinking stations in different locations throughout the home", recommends the AAFP: a cat with tired kidneys must drink, and it will not cross the house to do so. A fountain in the living room, a bowl in the bedroom, and wet food for the water it brings.
- Low, wide bowls, or raised ones. The AAFP describes the ideal senior bowl: "low-sided, wide-based", one that does "not interfere with the whiskers", and notes that raising it benefits arthritic cats, which no longer have to bend their neck. A raised, tilted bowl does both.
- A night light in the hallway and near the litter box: "for improved visibility in darker areas", advises the AAFP, because sight declines and a cat disoriented at night finds its way less easily.
- Daily brushing, gentle, with a soft-pin brush: Cornell recommends it to remove the dead hair it no longer swallows while grooming, and it is also the chance to feel a lump, a sore spot or weight loss.
- No upheaval. A new pet, a move, a boarding stay: Cornell advises avoiding them whenever possible, and otherwise keeping its landmarks (bed, smells, routine) and giving it more attention.
Feeding an old cat
Two senior cats in three have a weight problem, one way or the other. Excess weight worsens arthritis and diabetes; weight loss, especially of muscle, is the earliest sign of most of the diseases in the table above, which is why the monthly weigh-in matters more than anything. A few rules everyone agrees on:
- Small, frequent meals rather than two large rations: an old cat's stomach and appetite are smaller.
- Wet food, or moistened kibble, for the water: Cornell advises mixing canned and dry food to increase water intake.
- Accessible bowls, where it lives, not in the utility room at the end of the corridor.
- A senior or prescription food only on your vet's advice: a cat with kidney disease, hyperthyroidism or diabetes each needs a different diet, and an off-the-shelf "senior" food replaces none of them.
- A cat that turns its nose up at its bowl for two days is not fussy, it is ill: do not change brands, consult.
Its quality of life, and the question we end up asking
The AAFP guidelines introduced a new notion, frailty: a very old cat is not ill with one single thing, it loses reserves, muscle, appetite, curiosity, and what matters then is its day-to-day quality of life. Scales exist to assess it with your vet: does it eat with pleasure, does it groom, does it seek contact, does it have more good days than bad? They help you decide calmly, and spot pain, which cats hide. The AAFP in fact asks that pain be looked for in every senior cat, at every visit, because it can be relieved: there are now arthritis treatments suited to cats, including cats with kidney disease.
When the end-of-life question arises, the signs that count are these: it no longer eats, no longer gets up for the litter box, hides all the time, no longer responds to you, breathes with difficulty, and the bad days have taken over. Veterinary palliative care exists, at home, and the decision is made with your vet, without haste unless there is distress, and without guilt: giving an old cat an end without pain is part of the care we owe it.
For a senior cat: our selection
None of what follows treats anything: these are the adaptations vets recommend so that a stiff, chilly or tired cat keeps its habits.
Adjustable wooden rampView product
Radiator hammockView product
Self-heating mat, no electricityView product
1.5 L fountain with clear tankView product
Raised, tilted bowlView product
Self-cleaning soft-pin brushView product
Frequently asked questions about senior cats
From what age is a cat considered old?
It is "mature" from 7 to 10 years and "senior" from 10, according to the 2021 AAHA-AAFP guidelines; International Cat Care speaks of "super senior" from 15. Closer vet monitoring starts between 7 and 10 years.
What is a cat's life expectancy?
12 to 14 years on average, young cats' accidents included. An indoor cat with regular check-ups often reaches 15 to 18, and some pass 20. The details are in our guide on cat age.
Can a cat live to 30?
It is exceptional, but the certified record, Creme Puff, is 38 years. Beyond 20, we are talking about a few cats in thousands.
What are the first signs of old age in a cat?
A whitening muzzle, a less sleek coat, thicker claws, more sleep, fewer jumps and less play. These are normal signs as long as it eats, drinks, grooms and comes to see you as before.
My old cat drinks a lot: why?
The three most common causes are chronic kidney disease, hyperthyroidism and diabetes. Above about 60 ml per kilo per day, it is too much: a blood test and a urine test sort it out, and all three are treatable.
My old cat eats a lot but is losing weight: why?
That is the typical picture of hyperthyroidism, which affects more than one cat in ten after 10, or of diabetes. A blood test is enough to know. Consult before it wastes away further.
My old cat has stopped eating: what should I do?
Look at the mouth first: dental disease affects most older cats and hurts. But whatever the cause, a cat that has not eaten for 24 to 48 hours is seen the same day, because of the risk of hepatic lipidosis.
My old cat yowls at night for no reason: why?
There is almost always a reason: hyperthyroidism, hypertension, arthritis pain, deafness or cognitive decline, which affects 28% of cats aged 11 to 14 and over half after 15. A work-up first, then a night light, landmarks and an evening routine.
My old cat has matted fur and no longer grooms: why?
Because it can no longer bend: arthritis is the first cause, then excess weight, a painful mouth or kidney disease. Brush it gently every day and have its joints examined.
My old cat is wobbly or walks in circles: what should I do?
See the vet the same day. High blood pressure can make a cat blind within hours, with dilated pupils, and retinal damage quickly becomes permanent. Vestibular syndrome or weak hind legs give the same signs.
My old cat pees next to the litter box: why?
Pain when stepping over the side or going down the stairs, a box that is too small, larger volumes of urine, an infection or cognitive decline. Start with a low-sided box on every floor, and have the cause investigated.
How often should an older cat see the vet?
A yearly work-up from 7 to 10 years, with blood pressure, then every six months from 11, and every 3 to 6 months for a very old or already ill cat. Between visits, weigh it once a month.
How do I know if my old cat has arthritis?
It no longer jumps as high, hesitates at the stairs, grooms less, misses the litter box or growls when picked up. On X-rays, 90% of cats over 12 have it. There are treatments suited to cats, including those with kidney disease.
How do I know if my old cat is in pain?
A cat hides pain: look for a cat that withdraws, grooms less, avoids jumps, eats less, growls when touched, with half-closed eyes and low ears. Vets look for pain at every senior cat visit: ask them.
Should I change an older cat's food?
Not on your own. Small frequent meals, wet food for the water and accessible bowls suit every cat; but a cat with kidney disease, hyperthyroidism or diabetes each needs a different diet, to be decided with the vet.
What are the signs that a cat is near the end of life?
It no longer eats, no longer gets up for the litter box, hides all the time, no longer responds to you, breathes with difficulty, and the bad days outnumber the good. Palliative care exists, and the decision is made with your vet.
Sources
- Ray M. et al., 2021 AAFP Feline Senior Care Guidelines, Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery
- Quimby J. et al., 2021 AAHA/AAFP Feline Life Stage Guidelines
- Cornell Feline Health Center, "Loving Care for Older Cats", "The Special Needs of the Senior Cat" and "Feline Dental Disease"
- Taylor S. S. et al., ISFM Consensus Guidelines on the Diagnosis and Management of Hypertension in Cats, 2017
- Sparkes A. H. et al., ISFM Consensus Guidelines on the Diagnosis and Management of Feline Chronic Kidney Disease, 2016 and Marino C. L. et al., prevalence of chronic kidney disease in randomly selected cats, 2014
- Hardie E. M. et al., radiographic degenerative joint disease in 100 cats over 12, JAVMA, 2002; Lascelles B. D. X. et al., Veterinary Surgery, 2010; Slingerland L. I. et al., The Veterinary Journal, 2011
- Gunn-Moore D. et al., cognitive dysfunction and the neurobiology of ageing in cats, Journal of Small Animal Practice, 2007
- Peterson M., hyperthyroidism in cats, Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 2012
- International Cat Care, cat life stages
Article updated on 15 October 2026. This article is no substitute for a consultation: in an older cat, any change in appetite, thirst, weight or behaviour should be examined. The photos in this article were generated by AI. Read also: cat age in human years, cat sleeping a lot, cat meowing and cat urine, as well as the cat that is not drinking.
