Research overview: declining olfaction and appetite in aging cats

A cat's sense of smell can diminish with age, and because olfaction strongly influences feline appetite, this decline can affect eating. This overview surveys age-related changes in feline olfaction and their consequences for appetite, since cats rely heavily on smell to evaluate and accept food. A reduced sense of smell may make food less appealing to an older cat, contributing to decreased appetite. The survey relates olfactory aging to the importance of smell in feline feeding and to strategies such as warming food to enhance aroma for senior cats. It discusses how changes in smell can be hard to measure directly in cats. Understanding the decline of olfaction with age extends the story of feline smell across the lifespan. It connects sensory aging to a practical concern, appetite, and shows how the strong link between smell and feeding means that a fading sense of smell can have real effects on the nutrition and well-being of older cats.