Cats are considered senior from around 7 years and geriatric from 11 years. With cats regularly living to 15–20 years, many owners will need to manage age-related conditions for a significant portion of their cat's life. Here are the most common senior cat conditions and what they cost in the UK.

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)

CKD is the most common cause of illness and death in older cats, affecting an estimated 30–40% of cats over 10. The kidneys gradually lose function over months to years. Early detection through routine blood and urine tests is critical.

Costs:

  • Diagnosis (blood + urine tests): £80–£150
  • Prescription kidney diet: £30–£60/month
  • Medication (benazepril/semintra): £15–£30/month
  • Monitoring blood tests (every 3–6 months): £60–£120 per test
  • Subcutaneous fluid therapy (advanced CKD, at home): £30–£50/month for supplies

Annual management cost: £500–£1,500 depending on stage and treatment approach. A prescription kidney diet alone significantly extends survival time and is the most important intervention.

Hyperthyroidism

An overactive thyroid affects roughly 10% of cats over 10. It causes weight loss despite increased appetite, restlessness, and increased heart rate. Untreated, it can cause heart failure and kidney damage.

Treatment options and costs:

  • Daily medication (methimazole/felimazole): £20–£40/month. Lifelong treatment. Requires blood tests every 3–6 months (£60–£120).
  • Prescription diet (Hills y/d): £40–£60/month. Must be the ONLY food the cat eats.
  • Radioactive iodine therapy: £1,500–£3,000 as a one-off treatment. Curative in 95%+ of cases. Available at specialist centres only.
  • Surgical thyroidectomy: £800–£1,500. Curative but carries anaesthetic risk in older cats.

Radioactive iodine is the gold standard treatment — expensive upfront but often cheaper than years of daily medication and monitoring. Discuss the options with your vet based on your cat's overall health and your budget.

Dental Disease

Dental problems are extremely common in older cats. Feline tooth resorption (a painful condition where teeth dissolve at the root) affects up to 75% of cats over 5 years old.

  • Dental examination under anaesthetic + scale/polish: £200–£400
  • Tooth extractions: £50–£150 per tooth on top of the dental procedure
  • Pre-anaesthetic blood test: £60–£120 (essential for senior cats)

A full dental procedure with multiple extractions can cost £400–£800. Signs of dental pain include dropping food, preferring soft food, drooling, and bad breath.

Diabetes

Diabetes affects an estimated 1 in 200 cats, with overweight cats at much higher risk. It requires daily insulin injections and regular monitoring.

  • Diagnosis: £100–£200 (blood tests, fructosamine)
  • Insulin: £30–£60/month
  • Needles and syringes: £10–£20/month
  • Blood glucose monitoring: £30–£80 for a home glucometer plus test strips
  • Prescription diet: £30–£50/month
  • Regular vet monitoring: £50–£120 every 1–3 months initially

Annual diabetes management: £800–£1,800. Some cats achieve remission with early, aggressive treatment and weight loss, potentially reducing long-term costs.

Arthritis in Cats

Arthritis is vastly under-diagnosed in cats because they hide pain so effectively. X-ray studies show that over 90% of cats over 12 have arthritis. Since 2022, Solensia (frunevetmab) — a monthly injection similar to Librela for dogs — has been available:

  • Solensia injection: £50–£85 per month
  • Metacam/Loxicom (cat formulation, daily): £10–£25/month

Senior Screening

Annual blood and urine screening for cats over 7 is strongly recommended by BSAVA and the International Society of Feline Medicine. The cost (£100–£200) is small compared to the benefit of catching kidney disease, thyroid problems, or diabetes early, when treatment is most effective and least expensive.

Last updated: March 2026. Sources: ISFM guidelines, BSAVA, VetCost pricing data.