Research overview: geriatric care of captive big cats

Captive big cats often live well beyond their wild lifespans, so managing ageing animals has become a central welfare task. This overview surveys geriatric felid care: recognising and treating chronic kidney disease, osteoarthritis, dental problems, hyperthyroidism, neoplasia and sensory decline; adapting enclosures with ramps, easy-access resting platforms, softer substrates and warmth for arthritic cats; modifying diet and body-condition management; and providing analgesia and mobility support. It discusses how cooperative-care training enables ongoing monitoring of geriatric conditions without anaesthesia, the role of regular health screening, and quality-of-life assessment. The synthesis frames geriatric care as a growing field requiring proactive husbandry adaptation to maintain welfare in long-lived captive cats as their physical capacities decline.