- 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.
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 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.
What cat food should I feed my overweight cat?
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.
What should an overweight 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.
Is wet or dry cat food better for weight loss?
Dry cat food has a higher caloric density than wet cat food For pets that need to lose weight, a wet food is usually best because the cat eats a similar volume of food while receiving fewer calories.
Does grain free help cats lose weight?
You also want to buy food with a lot of fiber and carbohydrates—these encourage digestion and help keep your cat from becoming bloated. You will find no-grain cat food for weight loss, but many recipes include whole grains. Look for natural ingredients and real meat.
What is the best wet food for overweight cats?
That's why we recommend Smalls Cat Food as the overall best cat food for overweight cats. It's high in protein, low in carbohydrates, 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 do I get my overweight cat to lose weight?
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...•
How much dry food should an overweight cat eat?
(Make all changes very slowly). There should ideally be one dry food bowl for each cat. The location of the bowls should be visually separated from one another. Start with 3 to 6oz per day, but we may increase this to 12oz per day (as we decrease the dry food available).
What can I do for my overweight cat?
Help your cat lose weight If your cat is overweight, ask your vet for advice on an appropriate feeding regime to ensure they get enough nutrients, without being overfed. Weighing food out daily is a helpful way to control portions. Some dry foods come with calibrated scoops, but these are easy to overfill.
Is it OK to mix wet and dry cat food?
Can I Mix Wet and Dry Pet Food? Mixing wet and dry dog food or wet and dry cat food is fine as long as both options are of high quality and meet your pet's nutritional and other health needs.
Should you add water to dry cat food?
Do consider adding water to dry kibble. There are plenty of dogs and cats that love their dry kibble. But if your pet has begun showing less interest in the food, it may be time to add a little "gravy." It's real simple, too.
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.
How do I get my overweight cat to lose weight?
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...•
How do I make my fat cat skinny?
Begin exercising for 10 minutes multiple times per week and increase the activity until you reach at least 30 minutes daily. Exercising your cat for at least 15 minutes twice daily will help him/her expend energy, increase his/her metabolic rate and retain lean body mass.
Is a 19 pound cat overweight?
Most domestic cats should weigh about 10 pounds, though that can vary by breed and frame. A Siamese cat may weigh as few as 5 pounds, while a Maine Coon can be 25 pounds and healthy.
Is Blue Buffalo OK for cats?
In June of 2019, the FDA named Blue Buffalo among 16 pet food brands that may be linked to an increased risk of DCM (dilated cardiomyopathy) in dogs and cats.
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 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 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 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 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.
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 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.
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.
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.
