Cats reach the geriatric life stage at the age of 15, but it is not unusual for them to live to late teens and even into their 20s, notes International Cat Care, a U.K. based nonprofit formerly known as the Feline Advisory Bureau.

Given their long lives, what does healthy aging for a cat look like? A group of experts sought to define that.

The July issue of the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery (JFMS), published by the International Cat Care's veterinary division, the International Society of Feline Medicine (ISFM) and the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP), is devoted to feline healthy aging.

Comprising two comprehensive systems-based reviews written by experts, it collates information on common changes observed in cats in a wide range of health areas of interest, from musculoskeletal system health through to cognitive and behavioral health.

As well as reviewing the available data in cats, the authors discuss resources used in other species that have application in cats.

The authors have also developed new resources such as serum biochemistry and complete blood count reference intervals specifically for mature to geriatric cats, which were generated from a population of over 600 healthy aged cats.

Photo credit: © iStock/valeriebarry