Glossary

Geriatric cat

A cat aged about 15 or older, who needs closer monitoring, a comfortable home and a focus on quality of life.

Also called: very old cat, elderly cat, old age cat, end-of-life care

In the older six-stage life-stage scheme, a geriatric cat is one aged 15 or more. A cat of 15 is roughly equal to a person in their mid-seventies. Many cats live to 18 or 20 with good care. Newer guidelines group these cats with seniors and add an end-of-life stage, which is based on health instead of age.

Very old cats tend to lose muscle and weight, move stiffly, sleep more and groom less. Several conditions often occur together, such as kidney disease, arthritis and thyroid problems. Eyesight and hearing may fade, and some cats become confused or call out at night, see night howling.

Care is about comfort. Keep food, water, soft bedding, a low-sided litter box and a warm spot close together on one level. Groom the cat gently, trim its nails and keep a steady routine. Appetite and hydration matter, and a cat that eats less may need a different food, so ask your vet, see senior diet.

Check-ups every few months help catch problems early. Talk to your vet about pain control and, when the time comes, about quality of life and end-of-life decisions. Vets can help you judge when a cat is suffering.

Last reviewed November 7, 2026

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Related terms

Senior cat A cat from about 10 or 11 years old, when joint, kidney, thyroid and dental disease become more common and check-ups should be more frequent. Mature cat A cat of about seven to ten years old, equivalent to a person in their mid-forties to fifties, when screening for age-related disease begins. Senior diet Food marketed for older cats, which varies widely, so the right choice depends on the individual cat's weight, teeth and health. Hydration Keeping a cat's body supplied with enough water, which matters because cats drink little and are prone to urinary and kidney problems. Night howling Loud calling, wailing or yowling at night, common in older cats and in cats in heat, and sometimes a sign of illness.

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Caring for a senior cat How to adjust food, vet visits, litter boxes and daily life as your cat ages, and which changes mean a call to the vet. Keeping a cat warm in cold weather How to keep indoor and outdoor cats warm in winter, the winter hazards to watch for, and the signs of cold stress that need a vet. Saying goodbye to a cat How to think about the end of a cat's life, how to weigh quality of life with your vet, the choices you have, and how to care for yourself afterward. Why cats cry at night Why a cat cries, yowls or paces after dark, how to tell normal night noise from a health problem, and what helps owners get a quiet night.