The story of Minky, who lived to 28, and three ways to care for your cat as they grow older.

Dr. Jaeyoung Kim | Greycoat Research

• Director, Taeneung Cat Hospital · Over 35 years of clinical experience caring for cats
• Minky’s guardian and veterinarian

When you share your life with a cat, you hope they will be by your side for many years.

When I first started working as a veterinarian, we considered a cat around ten years old to be a senior. In more than 30 years of clinical practice, I have seen cats living much longer. Today, most of the cats I see at my clinic are 13, 15, or even older, and a ten-year-old can seem quite young.

Cat owners’ hopes have grown, too. Just as we hope to stay healthy and live to 100, they hope their cats can stay healthy and reach 30.

Although it is rare, some cats have lived past 30. I, too, hoped to celebrate Minky’s 30th birthday with her.

Minky lived to 28 by Korea’s traditional way of counting age. Right up to her last day, she walked around the clinic, drank water, and groomed herself. Like many cats, Minky was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease, but with consistent care, she continued to enjoy her everyday life for many years.

Six Things I Believe Helped Minky Live So Long

Minky came into my life in 1995 as a young Persian cat. Looking back on our years together, I believe these six things helped support her long life and everyday comfort.

1. Close Observation and Prompt Veterinary Care

Minky lived at the clinic, where my wife and I cared for her together.

My wife has always been attentive to the little things. Even when Minky was healthy, she paid close attention to her food and surroundings. If she noticed even a small change in Minky’s condition, she would let me know so I could examine her.

Because I was both her guardian and her veterinarian, I could run tests and provide the care she needed as soon as a small change appeared.

After her blood test results began to change around age 16, I provided consistent kidney care, including nutritional support. I also examined her frequently and adjusted her care based on her test results and how she was feeling.

To me, the most important thing is noticing problems and responding before they become serious.

2. Consistent Hydration and Fluid Therapy Tailored to Her Needs

Living at the clinic meant I could keep a close watch on Minky’s hydration and nutritional status. As part of her kidney care, I used intravenous (IV) and subcutaneous fluids, adjusting them to her condition to maintain hydration and help prevent dehydration. I sometimes added nutrients to the fluids as well.

Even cats without kidney problems may lose muscle as they age, and the amount of water in their bodies can decrease. It is important to help them get enough water and prevent dehydration in ways that suit their health needs.

3. Adjusting Her Diet Based on Her Checkup Results

As cats age or chronic conditions progress, their health and energy levels can change. I adjusted both the types and amounts of Minky’s food and treats based on her checkup results.

I gave her supplements when she needed them, and from middle age onward, I also included probiotics for kidney support and omega-3s.

After her kidney values began to change, I focused on supporting her body’s antioxidant defenses and managing inflammation. I paid attention even to mild inflammation and carefully adjusted her nutritional care.

4. Freedom to Move and Explore

Minky had quite a large territory for a pet cat. It included every corner of the clinic and the area outside the front door, right up to the road.

Minky came and went freely through the clinic entrance. She walked up and down the building’s stairs, went wherever something caught her interest, and explored her surroundings. Sniffing unfamiliar scents and watching birds fly by were important parts of her day, too.

I made sure she could rest comfortably and enjoy the freedom to move and explore on her own.

5. People to Watch and Feline Friends for Company

Watching the different people who visited the clinic was another important part of Minky’s day. There were always other cats at the clinic, and she spent time with these friends.

Within the comfort of familiar surroundings, she enjoyed watching new people and spending time with her feline friends.

We often associate unfamiliar cats and new smells with stress. But for cats who spend years in the same surroundings, new experiences bring fresh energy to their daily lives.

6. Adapting Her Surroundings After She Lost Her Sight

Even after her vision began to fade, Minky continued to walk around the familiar clinic. She knew its layout well, so I kept the furniture and equipment in their usual places.

By then, several prescription medications and treatments such as subcutaneous fluids had become a large part of Minky’s daily routine. When she lost her sight as well, I found myself wondering, even as a veterinarian, whether continuing all these treatments was the right thing to do.

I still remember one morning after breakfast when Minky moved gracefully among the toys on the floor and stopped to drink water in a patch of sunlight.

Watching her groom herself with her eyes half-closed in the warm sunlight, I realized that Minky had none of the doubts I did.

In her familiar surroundings, she could still feel the warmth of the sunlight, recognize familiar scents, and hear the voices of the people she loved. Even without her sight, she was still enjoying her everyday life.

Three Things to Focus on Even When Your Cat Is Healthy

From my experience with Minky, I have put together three ways to care for your cat’s health at home. When you know how your cat usually eats, moves, and spends the day, small changes are easier to notice.

1. Act Before Problems Become Serious

The purpose of regular checkups and everyday observation is to notice changes and respond before problems become serious. Keep up with checkups even when your cat seems healthy, and compare new test results with earlier ones to look for changes.

Notice whether your cat leaves more food than usual, drinks more water, or shows changes in how much they urinate or how often they use the litter box. It is also important to notice whether they can still reach their favorite high places, groom as usual, and respond to you in their usual way.

If these changes persist, don’t wait until the next scheduled checkup. Find out what is causing the change and begin the care your cat needs.

2. Make Sure Your Cat Eats Well

To maintain strength and muscle as they age, cats need to eat enough food that suits their health needs. Choose a complete and balanced diet based on your cat’s checkup results, and make sure they get the calories and nutrients they need.

If your cat won’t eat a prescription diet, try other prescription diets for the same condition, including different flavors, textures, and wet or dry foods. Introduce the new food gradually while making sure your cat continues to eat enough.

If your cat still isn’t eating well, look for causes such as nausea or mouth pain.

Treats and supplements should not interfere with your cat eating enough of their regular food. If your cat starts eating less after you mix a supplement into their food, see how they respond to food with nothing added, and adjust how you give the supplement.

The heart of good nutritional care is helping your cat eat comfortably and get enough of the right food.

3. Provide Scratchers and Places to Climb

Scratching, stretching, and leaving their scent are important parts of a cat’s daily life. Place scratchers near favorite sleeping spots or areas your cat already likes to scratch. Choose a material and style your cat likes, and make sure the scratcher stays steady when they lean into it.

An upright scratching post should be tall enough for your cat to stretch fully. If standing to scratch becomes difficult, provide a flat scratcher on the floor as well.

Vertical space lets cats enjoy climbing and gives them a place to rest with a view of their surroundings. Add a series of low steps leading to a cat tree or window perch so they can go up and down without a big jump.

Secure the steps so they do not wobble or slip, and adjust their height and spacing to your cat’s age and physical condition. Watch how comfortably your cat gets down as well as up.

Your cat’s food bowls, water bowls, and litter box should all be easy to reach. If moving around has become difficult, add a water bowl close to a favorite resting spot and provide a litter box with a low entrance.

Keep paths clear and provide a quiet resting place with a familiar blanket. Offer opportunities to look out the window, play briefly, and spend time with people, while letting your cat choose based on how they feel and what interests them that day.

Research and Nutritional Care Built on Clinical Experience

My years with Minky continue to inform my research today. At Greycoat Research, I work with veterinarians, pharmacists, and researchers from South Korea and Japan to study feline kidney health, nutrition, and aging.

I coauthored a study analyzing 5,743 sets of blood test results from 3,006 cats. We looked at how other blood test values varied at different levels of creatinine, a marker of kidney function. The paper was accepted for publication on October 2, 2026.

I also coauthored a study on resveratrol, a compound attracting attention for its anti-aging and anti-inflammatory properties. We examined changes in blood markers of inflammation over four weeks in 12 healthy cats and four cats who were overweight or obese.

When Minky was receiving kidney care, we had not yet developed the specialized care products we offer today. Resveratrol, which we have been researching, is now one of the key ingredients in our kidney support supplements.

Explore Kidney Support with Resveratrol →

For a Longer, More Comfortable Life Together

Minky passed away on August 19, 2021. We did not get to celebrate her 30th birthday together, but she will always be my cat and my teacher.

I hope more cats will live to 30.

Respond early to small changes, and make sure your cat gets the right food and the nutrients they need. Look at their surroundings, too, so they can stay comfortable in the places they love.

I hope cats can live healthier, happier lives.

Specialists in Feline Kidney Care
Greycoat Research

Jaeyoung Kim, DVM, reviews your questions with pharmacist Alex Shin.