Nutritional needs of older cats
- Avoid calories. Only foods with natural essential fatty acids will be beneficial for them. ...
- Protein-rich diet. But it should not be just any protein, as it helps older cats to maintain a lean body mass. ...
- Easy digestion. The older cat's aging digestive system will benefit from ingredients that are easy to digest completely.
What is the best cat food for senior cats?
The 10 Best Senior Cat Foods
- Wellness Complete Health Senior Dry Cat Food — Best Overall. ...
- Purina ONE Indoor Advantage Senior 7+ Dry Cat Food — Best Value. ...
- Nulo Freestyle Senior Grain-Free Dry Cat Food — Best Premium. ...
- American Journey Indoor Pate Canned Cat Food — Best Wet Cat Food for Senior Cats. ...
- Blue Buffalo Wilderness Mature Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Dry Cat Food. ...
What should older cats eat?
Why Your Old Cat Can’t or Won’t Eat?
- Hard Food. Your old cat may not be able to eat because his teeth are aging and it will end up with his kibbles being too hard to chew.
- Lack of Flavor. If the flavors are too intense or it lacks taste, then he may be disinterested or disgusted by your food, similar to humans who can’t eat if ...
- Sick. ...
- Vaccination. ...
- Unfamiliar Environment. ...
How do you feed a senior cat?
What To Feed An Older Cat That Is Losing Weight
- Age-Appropriate Diet. 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.
- Wet Food vs. Dry Food. ...
- Supplements. Your cat might need extra support to restore lost weight and maintain its health. ...
What to feed senior cats?
- Kitten
- Junior
- Prime
- Mature
- Senior
- Geriatric
What is the best food to feed an elderly 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.
What can I feed my elderly cat to gain weight?
Your veterinarian can also prescribe high-calorie cat foods like Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Recovery RS canned cat food or Hill's Prescription Diet a/d Urgent Care canned cat food. These formulations are highly digestible and provide the extra calories your cat needs to gain weight.
What can I feed an old cat that won't eat?
Instead of relying on people food, try encouraging your cat to eat commercial canned food. You may find that heating the food or mixing in fish oil, broth (make sure it does not contain onions, which are toxic to cats), or cooked egg could entice your picky cat to eat.
How can I help my aging cat?
6 Tips for Caring for Senior CatsPay Extra Attention to Your Senior Cat's Diet. ... Increase Your Cat's Access to Water. ... Know and Keep an Eye Out for the Subtle Signs of Pain in Cats. ... Don't Neglect Your Cat's Dental Health. ... Give Senior Cats Daily Exercise and Mental Stimulation. ... Don't Skimp on Biannual Vet Visits.
Why is my elderly cat so skinny?
What's going on? Well-recognized causes of weight loss in old cats include chronic renal disease, diabetes mellitus, hyperthyroidism, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, and dental problems, to name a few.
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 18 year old cat not eating?
Dental problems and gum disease can be common in older cats, and these are frequently accompanied by a lack of appetite. Infections, pancreatitis, cancer, and intestinal problems are all issues that your vet will want to rule out as they examine your cat.
What do you do when an older cat stops eating?
A reduction in appetite can be a symptom of illness and may require a trip to your veterinarian. If your elderly cat has completely stopped eating for more than 24 hours or is losing weight, you should book an emergency appointment with your veterinarian as soon as possible.
Why is my 14 year old cat not eating?
The list of potential causes for cats not eating is long and diverse and includes kidney disease, cat flu, diabetes, fever, hyperthyroidism and pancreatitis. Dental problems, pain and internal obstructions may also result in your cat not eating.
Why is my cat's back so bony?
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.
What should I expect from my 18 year old cat?
Older cats hunt less, spend less time outside, are generally less active and sleep for longer periods. They can have a reduced or fussy appetite, be less keen to play or groom and be more vocal. They also tend to become more insecure and therefore potentially more dependent on you.
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.
Why should elderly cats eat reduced protein?
She continues by explaining why veterinarians suggested feeding elderly cats a reduced protein diet because, “After a lifetime of eating commercial pet food containing poor quality protein that is difficult to digest, a cat’s kidney and liver function is compromised.
Can an elderly cat be a pet?
It’s a blessing to be owned by an elderly cat. Even though the many common medical conditions to which aged cats are prone may often require these kitties to require a great deal of extra-special attention and care; nothing rivals the experience of living with a kitty who has reached a ripe old age. Elderly cats speak strongly about the excellent care they have received over the years.
Do older cats need more protein?
Fortunately, however, many veterinarians are becoming aware that in fact, elderly cats actually need more protein than younger kitties. In 1992, Dr. Delmar Finco, a veterinary nutritionist discovered through his research, that as pets age, the requirements for protein really increase.
Do cats eat meat?
As obligate carnivores, cats require meat as their diet mainstay. With the wide variety of cat food available today that is designed to meet the nutritional needs of this elderly feline population, it can be rather confusing to decide on which brands to feed.
Can elderly cats eat raw food?
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.
Can cats with kidney disease eat low protein diets?
Although low protein diets have been traditional ly prescribed for cats with kidney disease, fortunately Dr. Finco’s work uncovered the fact that cats who were fed low protein diets developed hypoproteinemia; a condition where there is an abnormally low level of protein in the blood.
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.
What fatty acids are good for cats?
Omega-3 Fatty Acids. Most older cats suffer from some degree of arthritis. Omega-3 fatty acids are thought to be beneficial in the treatment of arthritis by reducing inflammation and the activity of enzymes that break down joint cartilage.
How old can a cat be to digest fat?
Moderate to High Fat Levels. Around the age of 11 or 12, a cat’s ability to digest fat starts to decline. Fats contain more calories per gram than either proteins or carbohydrates do, so this can have a major effect on an older cat’s ability to extract calories (energy) from food. Diets for older cats should contain a moderate to high level of fat, ...
Why is my cat's food low in phosphorus?
High blood-phosphorous levels can leach calcium from the bones, make cats feel unwell, lead to more kidney damage and cause other problems within the body. For these reasons, senior cat foods generally contain reduced levels of phosphorus. High-quality protein sources contain less phosphorous than do those of low quality.
Why is muscle loss so bad for cats?
The loss of muscle mass is especially concerning because these individuals are at increased risk of illness and death. Studies reveal that 15% of cats over the age of 12 have a body condition below the ideal, and cats who are over 14 years of age are 15 times more likely to be skinnier than they should be. Senior cat food must contain enough ...
What does it mean when a cat is older?
Jennifer Coates, DVM. Digestive, physiology and nutritional needs change as cats gets older, which means that what they ate when they were younger may no longer be ideal. And with our cats living longer than ever, finding the best nutritionally formulated food ...
Can cats become finicky?
Cats can become extremely finicky as they get older, so I consider it a great success if we can get them to eat a nutritious diet. If we’re talking about cats who are truly nearing the end of their lives, I think the ideal food for them to eat is whatever they will actually eat.
Can cats have omega 3?
Research in dogs indicate that omega-3 fatty acids appear to have some ability to reduce the effects of cognitive dysfunction and dementia. While there have been no studies in cats, there’s a good chance that omega-3 fatty acids could be beneficial. Cold-water fish oils (salmon, anchovies or sardines, for example) are the best sources ...
What Should Senior Cats Eat?
Senior cats’ nutritional needs are closely tied to their overall health. “Senior cats become less active and tend to have reduced lean body mass, which ultimately results in a lower basal metabolic rate,” Miller explains.
Senior Cat Food: What to Look For
Most commercially available cat foods will meet your pet’s nutritional needs. Miller explains, “Commercial cat foods meet certain base-level criteria for nutrition.
Best Senior Cat Food: 8 Great Options to Consider
All featured products are chosen at the discretion of the author. However, Great Pet Care may make a small affiliate commission if you click through and make a purchase.
Senior Cat Food: Tips and Advice
As you consider which food would work best for your senior cat, perhaps the most important factor is whether the food helps your cat maintain a consistent, healthy weight. “It is vital that senior cats stay at a healthy weight,” Miller says.
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.
Why does my cat's taste fade?
As your cat gets older , their sense of smell fades, which makes food less appetizing. You’ve probably experienced a similar phenomenon when you’ve had a cold. When you can’t taste your food, it’s less enjoyable to eat it. Therefore you need to amp up the flavor of your cat’s food.
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.
What is the best food for a senior cat?
Fish is an excellent source of fatty yet nutritional oils for cats. When we think of their love for fish, tuna might be the first swimmer to pop into our heads, but mackerel is a much healthier option. This recipe would be a great treat for a senior cat once or twice a week to ensure they get their fill of the healthy fats mackerel provides! Sardines are another great alternative if you are looking to swap mackerel occasionally.
How long do cat patties last in the fridge?
The recipe yields 6 patties and depending on your cat’s feeding schedule will last two or three days in the fridge. The best part about this recipe is that the ingredients are simple enough to stockpile in your pantry.
How to help a cat with aging?
A thorough veterinary exam and routine dental care can drastically improve your cat’s quality of life, and can even extend their lifespan. 5. Give Senior Cats Daily Exercise and Mental Stimulation.
How to care for an aging cat?
Here are the top six ways to care for aging cats. 1. Pay Extra Attention to Your Senior Cat’s Diet. Senior cats have unique dietary and behavioral needs. It is more important than ever for your cat to be a healthy weight to maintain optimum health.
How old is a cat when it is a senior?
While these changes are obvious as your kitten matures into an adult cat, the changes when your cat transitions from an adult to a senior—starting at 11 years old—can be harder to spot. Here are the top six ways to care for aging cats. 1.
What is the best way to help a cat stay healthy?
Environmental enrichment is an essential part of your cat’s quality of life. All cats need places to climb, places to hide, things to scratch, and ways to hunt and play. All of these things will help your cat stay physically and mentally stimulated as well as healthy.
How to help a cat lose weight?
Your veterinarian will help you asses your cat’s optimum weight and can recommend a senior food to help maintain, lose or gain weight. A cat’s digestion is also improved by feeding them small, frequent meals throughout the day and night. Measure your cat’s daily food and distribute it in small portions.
How to help elderly cats with constipation?
2. Increase Your Cat’s Access to Water. As cats age, they are prone to constipation and kidney disease, especially if they are not staying hydrated enough. Increase your senior cat’s water intake by providing canned food and more options for drinking water.
Can cats have arthritis?
Cats are masters at hiding their pain . As many as nine out of 10 senior cats show evidence of arthritis when X-rayed, yet most of us with senior cats have no idea. The most important thing you can do to prevent the pain from arthritis is to keep your cat at healthy weight.
