Sarcopenia, cachexia and frailty in older cats

In the August open access episode of Chattering With iCatCare, Yaiza Gómez-Mejías is joined by veterinary nutritionist Marge Chandler to explore the critical concepts of sarcopenia, cachexia, and frailty in older cats. The conversation focuses on shifting our approach to feline geriatrics, moving beyond the simple concept of the "thin old cat" towards proactive clinical management and preserving quality of life. They explore the key clinical distinctions between sarcopenia and cachexia, why measuring frailty is vital for feline well-being, and how concepts like anabolic resistance challenge traditional dietary advice for senior cats. Marge also addresses common hurdles clinicians face when implementing muscle condition scoring and shares practical, high-impact strategies to help slow muscle loss in everyday practice. For further reading material please visit: A non-randomized pilot study to test the feasibility of developing a frailty scale for pet cats Sarcopenia, cachexia and frailty in older cats: mechanisms, assessment and therapeutic considerations Host: Yaiza Gómez-Mejías, LdaVet MANZCVS (Medicine of Cats), RCVS CertAP (Feline Medicine), iCatCare Veterinary Community Co-ordinator Speaker: Marjorie Chandler, DVM, MS, MANZCVS, Diplomate DACVIM (Nutrition & Internal Medicine), MRCVS, RCVS Recognized Specialist in Nutrition