American Association of Feline Practitioners. Senior Care Guidelines

Background: Cats are the most popular pet in the United States and much of Northern Europe. Although 78% of owners consider their cats to be family members, many cats, particularly seniors, do not receive appropriate preventive care. One of the main obstacles to owner compliance is the lack of a clear recommendation by the veterinary team. Guidelines can help veterinarians to minimize this obstacle, strengthen the human-pet-veterinary bond, and improve the quality of life of cats. Goals: The goals of this article are to assist veterinarians to:. - Deliver consistent high-quality care to senior cats. - Promote longevity and improve the quality of life of senior cats by: recognizing and controlling health risk factors; facilitating and promoting early detection of disease; improving or maintaining residual organ function; and delaying the progression of common conditions. - Define aspects of screening, diagnosis, treatment and anesthesia of senior cats.