title: Evaluating aging in cats: How to determine what is healthy and what is disease.
abstract: Many of the changes that occur with aging are not considered pathologic and do not negatively affect overall wellness or quality of life. Ruling out disease is essential, however, when attempting to determine whether an aged cat can be considered 'healthy'. A clear understanding of the normal and abnormal changes that are associated with aging in cats can help practitioners make decisions regarding medical management, feeding interventions and additional testing procedures for their aged patients.
  
  
  
  It can be difficult to determine if a cat is displaying changes that are appropriate for age. For example, healthy aged cats may have hematologic or serum biochemistry changes that differ from those of the general feline population. Assessment of behavioral health and cognitive changes, as well as auditory, olfactory and visual changes, can also be challenging in the aged patient.
  
  
  
  This is the second of two review articles in a Special Issue devoted to feline healthy aging. The goals of the project culminating in these publications included developing a working definition for healthy aging in feline patients and identifying clinical methods that can be used to accurately classify healthy aged cats. This second review proposes criteria for assessing 'healthy aged cats'.
  
  
  
  There is a paucity of research in feline aging. The authors draw on expert opinion and available data in both the cat and other species.
authors.affiliation: All Pets Dental, Weston, Florida, USA.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bellows
authors.affiliation: Cornell University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Ithaca, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Center
authors.affiliation: The Iams Company, Mars Pet Care, 6574 State Route 503 North, Lewisburg, OH, USA L Daristotle's current address is: The Blue Buffalo Co, Wilton, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Leighann
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Daristotle
authors.affiliation: University of Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Gainesville, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Amara H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Estrada
authors.affiliation: The Iams Company, Mars Pet Care, 6574 State Route 503 North, Lewisburg, OH, USA EA Flickinger's current address is: Kent Pet Group, 2905 N Hwy 61, Muscatine, IA, USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Flickinger
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Behavior Consultations, St Louis, MO, USA.
authors.forename: Debra F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Horwitz
authors.affiliation: North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Raleigh, NC, USA.
authors.forename: B Duncan X
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Lascelles
authors.affiliation: The Iams Company, Mars Pet Care, 6574 State Route 503 North, Lewisburg, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Allan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lepine
authors.affiliation: The Iams Company, Mars Pet Care, 6574 State Route 503 North, Lewisburg, OH, USA Sally.Perea@royalcanin.com.
authors.forename: Sally
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Perea
authors.affiliation: catsINK, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
authors.forename: Margie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scherk
authors.affiliation: The Iams Company, Mars Pet Care, 6574 State Route 503 North, Lewisburg, OH, USA AK Shoveller's current address is: Department of Animal BioSciences, University of Guelph, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Anna K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Shoveller
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002415:Cats / Q000502:physiology*; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000662:veterinary*; D011788:Quality of Life