The Cat Prospective Ageing and Welfare Study (CatPAWS)

The Cat Prospective Ageing and Welfare Study (CatPAWS) is pioneering how we understand feline ageing, through offering cat owners a complimentary health screening service for mature and senior cats.

Better veterinary care and health knowledge now help cats live longer. However, the ageing process in cats is still not fully understood. To address this, the Feline Healthy Ageing Clinic launched the Cat Prospective Ageing and Welfare Study (CatPAWS). The study was the first of its kind in Europe, and has provided free and extensive health screening for mature and senior cats since the clinic opened its doors in 2017.

What does the study involve?

Once enrolled in the study, cats visit the Feline Healthy Ageing Clinic (located in Liverpool) every 6-months for health checks as they age. The complimentary consultation provided by a veterinarian once a year (every 6 months for cats >10 years) for all enrolled cats includes the following:

• Complete veterinary physical examination (Including measurements of heart rate, bodyweight, muscle and body condition scoring, blood pressure, dental health assessment, retinal examination, and a neurological examination)
• Blood testing and urine analysis
• Orthopaedic examination.

At 6-month interim appointments for cats under 10 years, cats undergo a health check by a veterinary nurse which includes the following:

• Blood pressure measurement
• Dental health assessment
• Body weight measurement
• Body condition and muscle condition scoring.

What is the aim of the clinic?

Each appointment allows us to collect ‘longitudinal’ data (i.e., data collected over a period of time). This type of data is very valuable and enables researchers to examine a more complete picture of health and ageing, by observing the same cats over time, rather than relying on single snapshots. Eventually, findings from CatPAWS will be used to educate owners and veterinary professionals about how to spot the development of age-related diseases and better care for pet cats.

Does the clinic replace my current vet practice?

No, the Feline Healthy Ageing Clinic is for health screening and research purposes only. Any diagnosis and treatment of diseases will continue to be performed by your primary vet. The clinic does, however, communicate all information we find from your cat back to your veterinarian, which will help provide them with additional information about your cat’s health. The clinic will not replace your primary veterinarian.

Current work at CatPAWS

CatPAWS will be able to run for many years to come, thanks to long-term investment in the Feline Healthy Ageing Clinic by the sponsor, Royal Canin. The clinic will continue to follow the cohort of cats as they age, which will generate more valuable information and deepen our understanding of ageing in cats. Our research at CatPAWS will not just be observational, as we are also planning to explore strategies to promote healthy ageing.

Currently, the study is focused on running its first clinical trial, which will assess the effect of nutritional intervention on ageing in cats. This new study aims to determine if, and how, nutrition can improve the ageing process in cats. Owners that choose to enrol their cat will receive complimentary cat food for a 12-month period, in addition to the CatPAWS gold standard health screening at each 6-month appointment.