Research overview: vestibular aging and balance in senior cats

Balance can decline with age as the vestibular system and associated pathways change, affecting the steadiness of older cats. This overview surveys vestibular aging in senior cats, which may contribute to reduced agility, occasional unsteadiness, or susceptibility to balance disorders. Older cats are also more prone to idiopathic vestibular episodes that cause temporary disorientation and head tilt. The survey relates vestibular aging to the normal decline of the sensory systems and to the care of older cats whose movement may become less confident. It discusses how changes in balance interact with declining vision and joint health to affect mobility. Understanding vestibular aging extends the story of feline balance across the lifespan. It shows that the inner-ear system underlying the cat's famed agility is itself subject to age-related change, and it connects sensory aging to the practical reality that senior cats may move more cautiously as their balance sense and overall coordination gradually diminish.