Cats are living longer than ever, and senior care has become one of the most important and underserved areas of feline medicine. A cat is considered "senior" at around 11 years, and "super-senior" at 15+. The years between those markers bring a predictable set of changes — some subtle, some serious — that every owner of an aging cat should understand.
This path brings together the research most relevant to senior cat owners. You'll learn what normal aging looks like neurologically and physically, how to spot early cognitive decline before it becomes severe, why kidney disease is the leading cause of death in senior cats and what the 2025 research says about managing it, and how lifespan varies by breed, weight, and lifestyle factors you can actually influence.
We've also included articles on mobility, appetite changes, and when veterinary attention is urgent versus watchful-waiting. The goal is to give you the context to be a better advocate for your cat at vet visits — to know what questions to ask and what numbers matter.
This path is appropriate for owners of cats 8 years and older, and for anyone wanting to prepare before their cat hits senior years. Plan for about 40 minutes.
The lifespan science — what breeds live longest, what shortens life, and what the data actually shows.
How personality traits identified in the Helsinki study predict health outcomes and aging patterns.
Kidney disease kills more senior cats than anything else — here's what the 2025 research changed.
IBD and digestive issues are more common in older cats — understanding the pattern matters.
Appetite changes in senior cats are a critical signal — what's behind them and when they're urgent.
Sleep patterns change with age — what's normal for a senior cat vs. signs of illness.
Breed-specific health predispositions from the Darwin's Cats study — what your cat's genetics predict.