Is Your Cat Aging Well: Senior Cat Support from Expert Vets | Live from PurrCon
Is your senior cat slowing down, or hiding pain you can't see?
Every cat parent eventually hits that moment. The jump onto the couch gets skipped, the litter box habits change, and you start to wonder whether it's just age or something more. In this episode of The Cat Conversation, KJ talks senior cat care with Maggie Placer, DVM, and Dean Vicksman, DVM. They cover when a cat officially becomes a senior, the quiet signs we tend to miss, what your vet checks during a senior exam, how to make sense of bloodwork, and the newer options helping cats with arthritis feel like themselves again.
🎤 Recorded live in front of an audience on the Cat Conversation Stage at PurrCon 2026, inside PopCon Indy. Presented by EveryCat Health Foundation.
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SIGNS YOUR SENIOR CAT NEEDS A VET VISIT
Cats are experts at hiding discomfort. Call your vet if you notice:
• Weight loss or weight gain
• Drinking more water than usual
• Using the litter box more often, or straining
• Trouble getting in or out of the litter box
• More vocalizing at night
• Changes in vision
• Avoiding stairs, or no longer jumping onto the couch, bed or counters
• Skipping the things they used to love
Tip: A baby scale and regular photos help you track changes at home. A friend or family member who only sees your cat now and then can often spot changes you've missed.
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KEY TAKEAWAYS
1. Senior starts at 10. The American Association of Feline Practitioners defines a senior cat as 10 years and older. That's a good time to start twice-yearly exams and routine senior bloodwork.
2. A year is a long time in a senior cat's life. Cats age much faster than we do, so waiting a full year between checkups can let changes go unnoticed for too long.
3. Trends tell the story. A single bloodwork result matters less than how the numbers change over time. Ask your vet to walk you through yours.
4. "Just getting old" might be pain. Arthritis is common in older cats, and it's treatable. Warm, soft bedding and easy access to the litter box, food and water can make a big difference at home.
5. Care is getting easier. Monthly injections and medications given as liquids or applied to the ear or skin mean fewer pill battles. Ask your vet whether something to help your cat relax before visits could help.
6. Trust your instincts. "You live with your cat every day and you know your cat. If you feel something's off, trust your judgment." – Dean Vicksman, DVM
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CHAPTERS
0:00 Welcome to The Cat Conversation
0:21 Meet Dr. Dean Vicksman & Dr. Maggie Placer
2:12 When you realize your cat is getting older
3:02 How often senior cats should see the vet
4:12 Signs something's off: trust your instincts
5:19 What counts as a "senior" cat?
6:05 Making sense of senior bloodwork
7:40 What vets check in a senior exam
8:31 Arthritis: the pain cats hide
9:51 New ways to ease arthritis pain
11:45 Free resources from EveryCat Health Foundation
13:41 The human-cat bond in the exam room
14:50 Quality of life and the hardest conversation
16:09 Top takeaways for senior cat parents
18:28 Thanks for watching
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RESOURCES
🐾 Learn more about feline health and support cat health research, from EveryCat Health Foundation: https://everycat.org
🐾 Free cat care guides written by feline veterinary experts: https://catfriendly.com
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JOIN THE CONVERSATION
💜 Looking for a supportive community for your cat questions and concerns? Join KJ's Cat Club, KJ's free Facebook group: https://facebook.com/groups/kjscatclub
🎧 Prefer to listen? The Cat Conversation is also on your favorite podcast app.
📱 Follow KJ: https://kjontheair.com
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SEE US LIVE AT PURRCON 2027
PurrCon returns March 26–28, 2027, inside PopCon Indy at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, with more live Cat Conversations on stage. Get the details at https://purrconindy.com
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ABOUT THE HOST
KJ is a broadcaster, author, Kitty Correspondent for Pet Pals TV and the founder of PurrCon. She connects cat parents with the experts and stories that build a deeper bond.
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💬 Tell us in the comments: What's your senior cat's name, and how old are they?
👍 If this helped, give it a like and subscribe so you never miss a Cat Conversation.
This video is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for veterinary care. If you're worried about your cat, please contact your veterinarian.
#SeniorCat #CatHealth #CatArthritis #TheCatConversation #PurrCon
