BY: SAMANTHA BARTLETT, DVM

Updated 2021 AAFP Feline Senior Care Guidelines was published by the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery July issue. The guidelines establish a senior cat as one over 10 years of age and are intended to help the veterinary team in assessing and treating feline medical conditions related to aging. Examinations are recommended at a minimum of every 6 months for senior felines to catch disease early and track the progression of known conditions. Senior cats over 15 years should be examined at least every 4 months. Patients with medical conditions should be seen more frequently depending on the stage of their illness. 

The guidelines also address issues in aging cats that include weight loss, pain management, quality of life assessments and end of life decisions. When making plans for end of life, the guidelines urge veterinarians to consider four budgets – financial, time, emotional and physical – as all of these will affect owners and their relationships with their pets. 

An End of Life Toolkit has also been created by the AAFP. This toolkit includes resources for veterinarians to discuss quality of life and help owner’s come to the decision as well as anesthesia and sedative guidelines and tips for supporting clients through the process. The toolkit can be accessed at https://catvets.com/end-of-life-toolkit/. 

The guidelines can be referenced at https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1098612X211021538.

Michael Ray et al, 2021 AAFP Feline Senior Care Guidelines, Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery (2021).