How is it that a 16-year-old cat can be healthy as a horse while appearing to be all skin and bones? It has to do with the frailty syndrome.
As pet cats age, they generally lose muscle, becoming more frail. They’re less active and tend to stumble as they walk, taking longer to get from Point A to B. They’re also less able to fend off infection or other stressors. That’s why geriatric cats don’t recover from illnesses as fast as they used to.
But thanks to better ways of managing senior cats, frailty is less a problem than it used to be. That TLC is helping cats live longer. In fact, over 40% of small-animal veterinary appointments are now older cats and dogs instead of kittens and puppies.
The best way to help our cats live all nine of their lives is to provide mental stimulation, a good diet and optimal veterinary care.