Study tracks how multimorbidity builds in aging cats

A new Frontiers in Veterinary Science paper from the University of Liverpool-led Cat Prospective Ageing and Welfare Study offers a detailed picture of what aging looks like in real-world cats followed over time, rather than in a single snapshot. Across seven years and 1,241 examinations, the researchers found that nearly all cats in the cohort developed at least one abnormality, and most developed multimorbidity. Dental disease, orthopedic abnormalities, and heart murmurs were the most common findings, while pedigree status and muscle loss in middle age were linked to higher mortality risk. (frontiersin.org)

That matters because longitudinal feline aging data are still relatively limited. The CatPAWS project began in 2016 through the Feline Healthy Ageing Clinic at the University of Liverpool, with the aim of monitoring pet cats from middle age onward. Earlier publications from the same cohort had already shown that many cats aged 7 to 10 years had clinical abnormalities at enrollment, and that only a small minority were considered completely healthy after full assessment. Those baseline findings hinted that age-related disease may be present earlier, and more often, than pet parents or clinicians assume. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

In the new report, 209 cats were followed every six months until death or censoring for up to 6.9 years, with a median follow-up of 4.4 years. Over that time, 84% developed dental disease, 82% had orthopedic abnormalities, and 59% had heart murmurs at some point during follow-up. Overall, 175 of 209 cats developed two or more morbidities, and 59 cats died during the study, representing 28% of the cohort. Median life expectancy was 15.2 years. Pedigree cats had about 2.6 times the hazard of mortality versus mixed-breed cats, and cats with muscle loss at middle age had about double the mortality hazard compared with cats without muscle loss. (frontiersin.org)

The earlier CatPAWS enrollment paper helps explain why some of these findings may resonate in practice. At baseline, orthopedic abnormalities were already common, and the authors noted that musculoskeletal disease in cats is often under-recognized. They also found that dental disease was prevalent and may be associated with signs pet parents do notice, such as a matted coat, more sleeping, or changes in eating behavior, although some classic assumptions, like obvious halitosis, were not consistently useful markers. Heart murmurs were also common, though the authors cautioned that prevalence estimates can vary depending on study design and exam conditions. (frontiersin.org)

There does not appear to be a separate institutional press release or broad expert reaction published so far, but the study’s framing aligns with existing geroscience and feline aging guidance that emphasizes health span, not just lifespan. Royal Canin Academy materials discussing feline aging similarly point to the clinical importance of obesity, osteoarthritis, and age-related decline, and CatPAWS-related work has continued to explore longitudinal changes in body weight, body condition, and muscle condition in aging cats. Taken together, that suggests a growing focus on practical markers that can be measured repeatedly in general practice. (academy.royalcanin.com)

Why it matters: For veterinarians, the biggest takeaway is that multimorbidity appears to be the rule, not the exception, in older cats, and it starts building from middle age. That supports more structured senior and mature-adult screening, including oral exams, orthopedic assessment, cardiac auscultation, renal monitoring, blood pressure checks where indicated, and routine muscle condition scoring. The mortality association with midlife muscle loss is especially useful because it points to a potentially actionable clinical signal that might otherwise be overlooked if teams focus mainly on body weight or body condition score. It also gives practices a clearer evidence base for explaining to pet parents why “slowing down” or grooming changes should not be dismissed as normal aging alone. (frontiersin.org)

The study also has some practical caveats. This was a regional UK cohort, and some conditions, especially orthopedic disease and heart murmurs, can be sensitive to how actively clinicians look for them and what diagnostics are used. The earlier enrollment paper explicitly noted that orthopedic examination alone is imperfect for diagnosing degenerative joint disease and osteoarthritis, and that some renal and blood pressure findings may require repeat or more complete workups for definitive diagnosis. So the exact prevalence figures may not transfer directly to every primary care setting, but the broader pattern of accumulating comorbidity likely will. (frontiersin.org)

What to watch: The next phase to watch is whether CatPAWS and related groups can turn these observational findings into practical screening algorithms, biomarker panels, or wellness protocols that help practices identify higher-risk cats before overt decline becomes obvious. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)