- Canned food also has a higher moisture content, which is beneficial for senior cats who are prone to dehydration.
- Opt for organic canned food, which will have healthy, natural ingredients and no preservatives.
- The first 3 ingredients on the ingredient's list should include sources of protein, like meat or fish. ...
- If you're uncertain which food to buy, ask your vet for recommendations. They may know a good brand designed to help cats lose weight.
What should I feed a very senior cat?
- Work with your veterinarian to find the senior cat food that has the best nutritional balance for your older cat. ...
- Read the label on your cat food package. It should contain a guaranteed analysis listing the percentage of the food that is crude protein, crude fat, moisture, and crude fiber. ...
- Don't feed your cat too many calories. ...
- Use portion control. ...
What is the best food for an older cat?
Royal Canin Aging 12+ Thin Slices in Gravy Canned Cat Food, 3 oz cans
- FORMULATED FOR CATS 12+: Royal Canin Feline Health Aging 12+ Thin Slices in Gravy is wet food tailored for senior cats 12 years and older
- JOINT SUPPORT: Omega-3 fatty acids help maintain healthy joints and keep mature cats active
- SATISFIES PICKY EATERS: An instinctively preferred ratio of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates helps satisfy picky eaters
What is the Best Canned Foods for a senior cat?
The Best Senior Cat Food For Older Cats Are…
- Blue Buffalo Freedom Indoor Recipe Grain-Free Canned Cat Food. Like all cat foods from the Blue Buffalo brand, this canned cat food is made from high-quality meat, without meat ...
- Royal Canin Aging 12+ Thin Slices in Gravy Canned Cat Food. ...
- Hill’s Science Diet Adult 11+ Healthy Cuisine Canned Cat Food. ...
What is the best cat for seniors?
- Energy: Low to moderate
- Temperament: Sweet, loving, easygoing
- Weight: Males 6-9 kg (13.2 – 19.8 lbs), females 4-6 kg (8.8 – 13.2 lbs)
- Coat: Semi-longhair
- Grooming: Daily
- Similar breeds: Ragdoll
What do overweight older cats eat?
Some weight loss diets, such as Purina Proplan OM® and Royal Canin® Calorie Control, are high protein, low carbohydrate, others such as Royal Canin® Satiety and Hills® Prescription Diet w/d have high fiber content to help the cat feel more full and stop begging for food.
How can I help my overweight senior cat?
10 Tips To Help Your Cat Lose WeightHide Their Meals and Litter Box. ... Use a Treat Toy or Feeding Ball. ... Spread Out Meals. ... Try Using an Automatic Feeder That Opens Based on a Timer. ... Add Water or Replace With Water. ... Play for 30 Minutes. ... Go for a Walk. ... Replace High-Carb Foods With Filler-Free Cat Foods.More items...•
What is the best thing to feed a senior cat?
Raw or “gently cooked” fresh food is an excellent diet for elderly cats. Dr. Becker recommends that if it is impossible to feed raw that dehydrated or freeze-dried balanced food reconstituted with plenty of water is good second choice. However, feeding an all dry-food diet in the long run will cause problems.
How much should an obese cat eat?
Allowing any cat, especially an overweight cat, to go without food for much more than 36 hours can be dangerous and may result in an often fatal liver disorder called hepatic lipidosis. The average cat should eat 4-6 ounces of canned food per day split between 2-3 meals but this is just a general guideline.
How long do obese cats live?
5 to 10 yearsWhile a fat cat may look cute and cuddly, the results of feline obesity can be drastic. Statistics show that an obese cat will have an average life expectancy of 5 to 10 years.
How do you feed an overweight cat?
The fastest way to get and maintain an overweight cat is to feed both canned and dry food. Even if a cat has just filled up on dry food, most will readily pack in any canned food offered (or vice versa). It is tough to regulate the amount of each type of food, so the cat is getting the correct number of calories.
Is wet food better for senior cats?
Wet food is easier for many senior cats to manage, and the increased moisture content is important for digestion and kidney health as well. If your cat insists on dry food, try using moisture-rich wet food as a topper.
Is canned tuna good for cats?
Some tuna now and then probably won't hurt. But a steady diet of tuna prepared for humans can lead to malnutrition because it won't have all the nutrients a cat needs. And, too much tuna can cause mercury poisoning.
Why is my senior cat always hungry?
Ageing. Cats' appetite changes as they grow older. For some felines this means a bigger appetite and looking for indulging treats more often. However, it's best to make sure the vet rules out the medical conditions mentioned above before blaming the senior years for your cat's newly-found love for food.
What is the best wet cat food for weight loss?
Here are our picks for the best wet food for weight loss.Blue Buffalo Tastefuls Chicken Entree. ... Purina Pro Plan Focus Adult Weight Management Formula. ... Chicken Soup Weight and Mature Care Cat Food. ... AvoDerm Indoor Weight Control Formula Wet Cat Food. ... Hill's Science Diet Adult Perfect Weight Recipe.More items...•
Why is my old cat skin and bones?
An elderly cat grows thinner; its backbone, hips and shoulders become more prominent as it loses the insulating layer of fat under the skin. It may become rickety or unsteady on its back legs and its senses are less acute.
Can you feel the older cat's spine?
As they age, cats are not able to digest their food as well resulting in increased nutrition requirements. If their nutrition does not meet their requirements, they will lose muscle mass resulting in the ability to easily feel the bones of their spine and hips when petting them.
What are the signs of an old cat dying?
5 Signs Your Cat Is DyingLack of Interest In Eating and Drinking. Like other animals, it's common for cats to lose their appetite toward the end of their lives. ... Extreme Weakness. ... Lower Body Temperature. ... Changes in Appearance and Smell. ... Seeking Solitude.
Why is my 16 year old cat always hungry?
Ageing. Cats' appetite changes as they grow older. For some felines this means a bigger appetite and looking for indulging treats more often. However, it's best to make sure the vet rules out the medical conditions mentioned above before blaming the senior years for your cat's newly-found love for food.
What is the best cat food for losing weight?
The best cat food for weight loss isn’t necessarily a prescription diet from brands like Purina or Royal Canin. In fact, you can help your cat lose...
How do I get my indoor cat to lose weight?
Indoor cats tend to be less active than outdoor cats, so cat owners may need to be more proactive when it comes to helping indoor cats lose weight....
Is wet or dry cat food better for weight loss?
Generally speaking, you can help your cat lose weight using either dry food or wet food. That being said, wet food tends to be the better option be...
Why is it important to hydrate a senior cat?
Hydration is incredibly important for senior cats. Many cats don’t drink enough water, and this can lead to renal failure. Once I took my cat to the emergency vet because she was incredibly sick. It was a sudden illness, she was lethargic and hot to the touch. I thought she was dying, it was terrifying. Turned out she was simply dehydrated. Dehydration can make even a young and healthy cat very sick.
Can a cat lose weight?
Older cats often struggle with health issues, either gaining too much weight or losing weight. Both can cause serious problems. First, you’ll want to raise concerns with your vet, especially if the weight loss/gain is sudden. If your cat is otherwise healthy other than their weight, there are ways you can help normalize their weight.
The Senior Diet for Obese Cats
To start, seek the guidance of a veterinarian or board certified veterinary nutritionist about creating a weight-loss plan.
More Feeding Guidelines for Seniors
It may be time to adjust your feeding schedule. Serving smaller meals more frequently throughout the day may be better for your cat’s digestive system than offering bigger meals just once or twice a day.
Supplements
One way to boost your animal’s antibodies—or their innate defense against infection—to that of a younger cat? Antioxidants like vitamin E and beta carotene have been shown to improve immune system response in cats, and there is plenty of evidence that certain probiotics can help your cat fight off common feline viral infections.
Watch Out for Other Health Concerns
In addition to obesity and the other health risks related to excess weight mentioned above, many senior cats begin to have issues with their immune system—or ability to protect against disease.
Nutrition for Overweight Senior Dogs
Feeding an overweight senior dog means finding the right nutritional balance. Here's what you need to know to find the best food for your senior dog.
When is a dog a senior?
Dogs hit their senior stage at different ages, depending on the breed. Larger dogs will usually be considered seniors when they reach 7 or 8. Medium breed dogs reach the senior stage usually a few years later, at 9 or 10 years old. Small and toy breed dogs are considered seniors at around 12 years old.
So what will happen when your overweight dog becomes a senior?
You’ll start to notice some changes in your dog’s body. These are natural results of getting older. Your dog will likely experience changes in their mobility, muscle mass, eyesight, cognition, and in gastrointestinal function.
What is the best cat food for overweight cats?
The best cat food for overweight cats is rich in high-quality protein without too much fat or starch. That’s why we recommend Nom Nom’s Fish Feast as the overall best cat food for overweight cats. It’s moisture-rich, satisfying, and doesn’t have too much fat or plant matter, both of which can contribute to weight gain in adult cats.
How to help a cat lose weight?
To help your cat lose weight while maintaining healthy muscle mass, put his carnivorous needs first. From his claws to his metabolism, your cat’s body is optimized to hunt and eat animals. That doesn’t change if he’s overweight, obese, or underweight.
How many calories are in cat food?
As an indoor cat food, this recipe is formulated to accommodate cats with lower activity levels and reduced calorie needs. It’s 29 calories per ounce and is among the lower-calorie foods you can buy.
What is the ingredient in a cat food?
The ingredient list features finely ground whole rabbit, heart, liver, lungs, kidney, trachea, and blood. By featuring a lone protein source—and one that’s a novel protein for most cats—this food minimizes your cat’s exposure to potential allergens and irritants.
How much weight can a cat lose in a week?
Your cat should lose weight at a slow, steady rate of about 1-2% of his current weight each week.
What is smalls cat food?
Smalls is a fresh cat food delivery service that uses human-grade ingredients including premium proteins like chicken, turkey, and fish. Choose from minced-style recipes or classic pate to provide your cat with protein-rich, low-carb cat food formulated for cats in all life stages.
Do cats lose weight with protein?
By restricting protein intake, these diets may cause muscle loss.
What to feed a senior cat?
What to Feed Senior Cats. Depending on your veterinarian’s individual recommendations, you might want to consider a diet especially designed for senior cats. This specialized senior cat food tends to be energy dense and highly digestible to compensate for an older cat’s slower metabolism. Look for increased levels of antioxidants to slow down aging.
How many calories should an elderly cat eat?
Most senior cats will have about the same caloric needs as an adult cat—roughly 280 to 360 daily calories depending on the normal lean weight —as long as they are healthy. Some older cats will actually have an increase in energy requirements.
Why is it important for cats to have fresh water?
Feline kidney disease can be a silent killer that creeps up on an older cat. Drinking and flushing out toxins helps to keep kidney problems at bay.
How old do cats have to be to be considered a senior?
Most cats are considered seniors by the time they reach 10 or 11 years of age. Still, many cats now live to 20 or more. Why the longer lifespan? Improved veterinary care and specialized nutrition —which, for some older felines, may mean making the switch to senior cat food.
What happens when a cat is senior?
Once your cat reaches senior status, it is important to have regular checkups. Just as a kitten can go from healthy to in trouble quickly, so can a senior cat. They also have fewer reserves and often have underlying health problems that contribute to weight loss. Regular blood work can often detect problems early on.
Can cats with diabetes eat more?
At the same time, a cat with diabetes may seem ravenous and will eat more than usual while losing weight. The same symptoms can be seen in hyperthyroidism. Both conditions are treatable and respond best if caught early. Our senior cats are treasures, and every day with them is a gift.
Does senior cat food help arthritis?
Look for increased levels of antioxidants to slow down aging. Some senior cat food will also include supplements to help with worn-out joints and to combat arthritis. While cats can use carbohydrates, a senior cat food with a high level of protein is important.
When should you start worrying about what to feed a senior cat?
A fat overweight cat showing off his belly. Photography ©sdominick | Getty Images.
Ingredients to look for when thinking about what to feed a senior cat
With so many different cat foods on the market it can be hard to know what to feed a senior cat. Dr. Hofve advises that “all cats, at all life stages, need good quality protein and lots of it.
Dr. Hofve offers the following breakdown of what to look for and what to avoid
Rendered products, such as poultry by-product meal, are of lesser quality. Heat processing such as rendering diminishes nutritional value. However, chicken meal coming from a plant that only processes chickens is likely better quality than a generic “poultry” product coming from multiple sources.
What about supplements?
Dr. Hofve suggests three categories of supplements that she recommends for all cats including senior and geriatric cats:
How about joint support?
As your cat ages, the most important thing you can do to prevent joint disease is to keep your cat at a healthy weight.
Senior vs. geriatric cats
These two terms get thrown around a lot, but what do they actually mean? The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) and American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) identify six distinct life stages in cats as:
About the author
Sassafras Lowrey is an award-winning author whose novels have been honored by the American Library Association and the Lambda Literary Foundation. Sassafras is a Certified Trick Dog Instructor who shares her home and writing life with three dogs, two bossy senior cats and a formerly feral kitten. Learn more at sassafraslowrey.com.
How many calories should a cat eat a day?
The Single Cat Household. The overweight cat with an ideal body weight of 10 pounds needs about 200-225 calories (kcal) per day. The calorie needs for cats with smaller or larger ideal weights is:
How many calories are divided between two feeding stations?
One-quarter to one-third of the total calories are divided between two scheduled feedings. The remaining calories are divided evenly among feeding stations. Allow a minimum of 2-3 more stations than the total number of cats. The quantity (in grams) of food is calculated with the same formula used for single cat households.
What is senior cat food?
Senior cats require a specialist diet to meet their nutritional needs. This will contain more protein, as well as supplements to boost their vitamin intake. Senior-specific food is usually cut into smaller pieces and made softer. This ensures it’s easier for your older cat to chew and swallow.
What to do if your senior cat is losing weight?
If you have a senior cat that is eating but losing weight, you should consider changing its diet. The food that you provide could be missing vital nutrients that are essential for a healthy weight.
Why is my cat not eating dry food?
Most senior cats struggle with eating dry food due to dental issues. Their gums and teeth are not strong enough to chew through dense ingredients. Moreover, some diseases like hyperthyroidism can make it hard for your cat to digest dry food. If you notice that your cat is having trouble, consider replacing its diet with wet food.
How do older cats gain muscle?
If you want your skinny senior cat to gain muscle, then focus more on proteins. Avoid diets that have any filler or empty calories.
How to help an older cat gain weight?
You need to give it more food, albeit in smaller portions each day. The more food your cat eats, the more weight it will gain. After all, more food translates to more calories. If your cat has a health issue, its diet may need to be tailored.
Why is my cat skinny?
In other cases, an old feline will lose enough weight to become skinny and bony. This is usually due to health complications that are part of the aging process. Diseases such as hyperthyroidism, diabetes mellitus, and even arthritis are common in elderly cats. They are often characterized by rapid weight loss.
Why does my cat need extra support?
Your cat might need extra support to restore lost weight and maintain its health. If it’s been on hunger strike for a while, the depletion of its vitamin and mineral stores will be the greatest issue.
How to help a senior cat with obesity?
1. Get your vet’s advice. If you are concerned that your senior cat is heading towards obesity, speak to your veterinarian before altering its diet. Your vet can assess how much weight your cat may need to lose or if the cat's weight will cause a problem.
How to get an overweight senior cat to lose weight?
To get an overweight senior cat to lose weight, try replacing its dry food with canned wet food since it has fewer carbohydrates. Also, instead of leaving food out all day for your cat, establish set meal times twice a day, which will make it easier to monitor how much it's eating.
Why can't cats overindulge on treats?
Cats are not able to overindulge on treats because of how time-consuming it is to get them out of the toy. At the beginning, you may need to show your cat how to use the puzzle toy. Demonstrate how to get the treat out to encourage your cat to use the toy.
What to do if my cat refuses to eat?
If you observe any alarming changes, such as your cat refusing to eat, contact the veterinarian immediately .
How to get a picture of a cat's health?
To get an accurate picture of your cat’s health, weigh it every month. For a rough estimate of what your cat weighs, weigh yourself on a regular scale, then weigh yourself holding your cat, and subtract the difference. For a more accurate reading, purchase a digital scale for weighing babies.
How to get my cat to exercise?
1. Get your vet’s approval. Before making an effort to increase your cat’s exercise routine, get approval from your veterinarian. Age related issues like arthritis, vision loss, or hearing loss might make play, chasing, or jumping dangerous for your cat.
Is canned cat food better for weight loss?
Canned food generally has more protein (which should form the bulk of your cat’s diet) and fewer carbohydrates than dry food, so it is more conducive to weight loss. Dry food also contains more additives and preservatives, which are unhealthy and should be avoided as much as possible.
