Presented by Sheilah Robertson

Advances in veterinary medicine has increased the life expectancy of cats. However, we must ensure that they enjoy this extra time. With age, the function of major body organs such as the kidneys, heart, joints and brain deteriorate. The special senses including smell and vision also decline. Although we cannot stop the clock on ageing, we can support an ageing cat if we anticipate and monitor these changes. When working as a team, veterinarians and owners can enhance these golden years and assist their cat with “the activities of daily living”.

Learning objectives

– To understand the main changes that happen as cats age
– To learn what is normal in a senior or geriatric cat
– To learn what is abnormal in a senior or geriatric pet
– To understand why regular veterinary checks are vital to maintaining an older cat’s quality of life
– To understand why mental and physical health are both important to a cat’s overall wellbeing
– To learn how to help our feline friends navigate their golden years