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. 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.
- Supplements. Your cat might need extra support to restore lost weight and maintain its health. ...
How to get an overweight senior cat to lose weight?
What You Can Do to Help Kitty Lose Weight
- Visit your vet for a checkup. ...
- Choose the best food for weight loss in your cat. ...
- Ask your vet what kind and how many treats your cat can have every day without sabotaging your weight loss efforts.
- Exercise your cat! ...
- Weigh your cat frequently to monitor their progress and stay on track.
What is the best diet for senior cats?
- Cucumber
- Pumpkin
- Steamed broccoli
- Carrots
- Asparagus
- Peas
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Blueberries
- Cantaloupe
Does your senior cat need to lose weight?
When helping older cats lose weight, Dr. Stark says, “It’s important to couple your weight loss goals with routine bloodwork. There are several diseases that older cats are especially susceptible to that can cause weight loss, such as kidney disease and hyperthyroidism .” You should monitor senior cats’ weight loss closely, Dr. Stark adds.
What is the best cat food for senior cats?
Which is healthier for my cat: dry or wet food?
- Wet vs dry cat food. Wet cat foods are very popular and are generally very appetising to cats. ...
- Look for: Life-stage feeding – buy something age-appropriate for your cat, such as kitten, senior etc.
- Avoid: If you plan to change your cat's diet it's best to slowly introduce the new food by mixing it with the old food over a week or so, to ...
What can I feed my old cat to gain weight?
Cat Food Options for Weight Gain 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.
Why is my old cat getting so skinny?
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.
What do you feed a skinny older 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.
Why is my elderly cat losing weight but still eating?
"A cat who's losing weight but still eating is extremely common in older cats, and is a primary sign of hyperthyroidism," Rucinsky says. "This disease is super-common and one of the most treatable problems we see.
Why is my 16 year old cat so skinny?
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. Most are readily suspected and confirmed based on physical examination and routine laboratory testing.
Why can I suddenly feel my cats 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.
Is Wet food better for older cats?
Moisture. Many older cats develop dental problems that make chewing kibble difficult. 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.
How do I fatten up my cat?
You can also fatten up a cat by putting wet food or canned cat food in their food bowl. The extra fat, moisture, and lower carbs make wet food a healthy method to encourage weight gain in your cat. Most cats prefer wet food over dry food, so wet food can be a good option if your cat has a diminished appetite.
Is 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.
What are the signs of a cat dying of old age?
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 is the best cat food for older cats?
Best Dry Senior Cat Food: Wellness Complete Health Senior Cat Food - Natural, Grain Free, Chicken. Best Wet Senior Cat Food: NUTRO Grain Free Natural Wet Cat Food Cuts in Gravy. Best Canned Senior Cat Food: Fancy Feast Senior Classic Pate Cat Food.
What should I expect from a 12 year old cat?
Behavior Changes She may become more vocal or develop more anxieties about change, strange people or new noises. She may show less interest in play, although she's still willing to participate occasionally, and she is more likely to indulge in longer catnaps.
Why is my cat getting skinnier and skinnier?
There are two main causes for a skinny cat: Either they aren't eating enough, or they're expending more calories than they are taking in. They may not be eating enough due to stress, dental disease, nausea or a host of other reasons.
How can you tell if a cat is dying of old age?
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.
Should you be able to feel your cats hip bones?
You should be able to feel your cat's ribs, spine and hipbones quite easily but they shouldn't stick out. Feel the base of your cat's tail.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Why is portion feeding important for cats?
Portion feeding plays an important role in controlling calorie intake and decreasing your cat's chance of becoming overweight or obese. On the other hand, portion feeding also helps you identify a decreased or absent appetite early on, which could signal underlying medical problems.
How to keep cats from drinking water?
Some cats prefer to drink running water – if your cat prefers water from the tap, invest in a water fountain for them. Clean and freshen water bowls regularly to eliminate built up debris that may deter your cat. Feeding more canned food will also increase water intake.
How old are cats considered senior?
When is a cat considered to be senior or geriatric? The American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) consider cats between 11-14 years of age to be senior while geriatric cats are 15 years and older.
How old do cats need to be to have energy?
Similar to humans, energy or calorie requirements in cats initially decrease in their senior years but unlike humans, energy requirements start to increase around 11 years of age. This is because, as cats age, they have difficulty digesting fats, proteins, and energy.
What causes a cat to die?
Cancer, kidney disease, and heart disease are the most common causes of non-accidental death in cats, but proper nutrition may help mitigate the risk of developing certain diseases and chronic conditions.
Why is it important to monitor your cat's body condition?
It is important to closely monitor your cat’s body condition and muscle condition and keep both in a good range as discussed in the handout “Obesity in Cats.”. Maintaining healthy body condition and muscle mass reduces the risk for many diseases including cancer, kidney disease, osteoarthritis, and immune-mediated disease.
How old do cats live?
In fact, 35-40% of cats in North America are at least 7 years of age, and it is not uncommon for cats to live well into their twenties. Better nutrition, safer lifestyles, and improvements to preventive healthcare have contributed to this trend.
