What are the common signs that a cat is getting old?
Quick answer
The most reliable signs of ageing in cats are gradual and easy to dismiss: sleeping more, jumping onto lower surfaces, hesitating before stairs, and grooming less thoroughly than before.
The full answer
The important point is that most of these changes overlap with treatable medical conditions. Recognising them early is less about labelling the cat as old and more about finding the problems that can still be helped.
Behaviour changes that point to ageing
Older cats often sleep more, play less and choose warm, low, quiet places to rest. They may become less tolerant of change, more easily startled, and either more clingy or more withdrawn than they used to be.
Some cats begin vocalising at night, often louder and more persistent than before. This is not simply senility: high blood pressure, thyroid disease, pain, hearing loss and cognitive decline are all common causes, and several are treatable.
Physical changes you can see and feel
Muscle loss along the spine makes the shoulder blades and hip bones more prominent, even in cats that are not losing weight overall. The coat may look duller or thinner, and the skin loses some elasticity.
Cloudy eyes are usually lenticular sclerosis, a normal ageing change in the lens that does not cause blindness and is different from cataracts. Any sudden redness, cloudiness, discharge or bump on the eye should still be examined.
Grooming, claws and coat condition
A senior cat often stops reaching its back and hindquarters while grooming, which leaves greasy fur or mats along the spine and near the tail base. Claws may grow thicker and overgrown because the cat no longer scratches as vigorously.
Overgrown claws curl into the pad and become painful, and they can catch on fabric. Helping with brushing and checking nails every couple of weeks is a simple way to keep an older cat comfortable.
Changes that are not just old age
Increased thirst and urination can point to kidney disease, diabetes or hyperthyroidism. Weight loss despite a good appetite is a classic sign of an overactive thyroid, and it should never be accepted as normal ageing.
Repeated vomiting, bad breath, drooling, constipation, sudden loss of appetite, disorientation, or a cat that stops using the litter tray all deserve a veterinary visit rather than a wait-and-see approach.
Arthritis: the most under-recognised problem
Stiffness and reluctance to jump usually mean arthritis, which is common in older cats and frequently missed because cats hide pain by becoming quieter rather than limping. A cat that stops jumping onto the sofa or hesitates on stairs is often giving you the diagnosis.
Arthritis is manageable. Weight control, warm sleeping places, ramps or steps, low-sided litter trays and, where appropriate, pain relief prescribed by a vet can make a substantial difference to quality of life.
What to do about the changes you notice
Write down what you observe and when it started, then book a check-up. From around ten years of age, a wellness exam every six months is a common recommendation, usually with blood work, a urine test and a blood pressure reading.
Adjust the home as you go: keep food, water and litter trays easy to reach, add steps to favourite resting places, keep routines predictable, and continue gentle play and brushing. Small adjustments often keep an older cat far more comfortable than any single treatment.