I read a report recently that has re-examined how we think about the age of our cats.

It was conducted by the Feline Advisory Bureau and has now become widely accepted. It outlined a cat’s age in relation to a human age and the results were quite interesting. (How old is your cat in relation to you? My cat, Foo would be about 69.)

It also discussed the most common diseases that cats over the age of 11 years present with in practice.

What occurred to me is how very treatable these conditions are and that by having them treated, the quality of life for that animal could be increased dramatically.

Unfortunately, many people associate the signs of these illnesses with ageing, and don’t know that they can be helped.

Owners are also understandably reluctant to take their older cat to the vets due to the stress that a car ride and waiting room can cause. Speak with your vet about an at-home visit, which is infinitely more suitable for our older cats.

Let me give you an example of a routine senior appointment which we see regularly in practice. You have a 14-year-old cat called Jimmy, so you schedule an at-home vet visit for a wellness checkup.

You describe him as “sleeping a lot” and “not jumping up any more”. You also note that he has lost a little weight but is eating really well so you’re not too worried about it. You mention that he has smelly breath and isn’t grooming very well.

Although you feel Jimmy is doing OK for his age there is a lot here that can be improved to make Jimmy’s quality of life much better.

Chances are he is displaying signs of arthritis, which most owners describe as “stiffness”.

Sixty-five per cent of cats over the age of 12 are affected by arthritis. This is a very manageable condition and when treated will help with his grooming, mobility, toileting, and general pain levels.

He may also have hyperthyroidism, a relatively common condition in older cats which causes a ravenous appetite but with significant weight loss.

Twelve per cent of cats over nine years old are affected by hyperthyroidism. This too is very manageable and can be diagnosed with a simple blood test.

His smelly breath is almost always connected to dental disease, and if you have ever had a toothache, you know how painful that can be.

Eighty per cent of cats over the age of 11 years are affected by dental disease. That is a staggering number when you think about it, but understandable since they mostly don’t brush their teeth.

Owners say to me all the time “but he is still eating”, when I talk about dental disease and the pain they are feeling.

You must remember that they have no choice but to eat, so it is up to us to recognise and treat them where we can, to relieve that pain.

If you have an older kitty cat, who has perhaps not been seen by a vet for a while, a checkup may reveal some very treatable conditions which will help them live out their golden years in comfort and health.

• Lucy Richardson graduated from Edinburgh University in 2005. She started CedarTree Vets in August 2012 with her husband, Mark. They live at the practice with their two children, Ray and Stella, and their dog, two cats and two guinea pigs. Dr Lucy is also the FEI national head veterinarian for Bermuda