Food for older cats: The right senior diet

Senior Food: How to Feed Your Older Cat Properly and Healthily

Your kitty isn't jumping around the apartment like she used to, her fur is slowly but surely adorned with gray hairs, and digestion isn't as smooth as before? Then your beloved four-legged friend - usually from the age of 8 - is gradually becoming a senior, and there are several things you should pay attention to. An adjusted diet is important in old age, and with the physical changes often comes a new delicacy in the food bowl. What you can consider when feeding your older cat, you will find out here.

Why is Senior Food Useful for Older Cats?

As cats age, metabolism changes - not only do we humans slow down a bit, but our cats also experience less muscle mass and not all organs function at full capacity. Alongside a sluggish intestine due to decreased enzyme activity, many cats experience a decline in kidney function. Food for adult cats usually contains the right amount of vitamins and trace elements. Your old furball still relies on these, while her energy consumption decreases. The need for different food components changes with age, and at the latest by the age of 12, an adjustment of the food is important. Senior food contains:

- the right amount of protein for healthy kidney function

- more vitamins and minerals (especially folic acid, B- and D-vitamins)

- a lower phosphorus content that relieves the kidneys

- increased fiber content to stimulate the intestines

Note that as part of the →species-appropriate nutrition for your older cat, you should always choose a high-quality food. Sugar, grains, and artificial additives can promote diseases and have no place in your beloved's food.

Ein Seniorfutter ist für ältere Katzen das A&O, weil mit den körperlichen Veränderungen auch Nährstoffe und Proteine in anderen Mengen nötig sind.

Diseases in Older Cats and the Right Nutrition

Some furballs face diseases like →Diabetes Mellitus, [→kidney insufficiency](/magazin/katzen/katze-gesundheit/harnwegsinfektionen-bei-katzen-medikamente-und-tipps), or [→liver problems](/products/nassfutter-vet-leber-nieren-fit-fur-katzen) as they age. If your furball shows symptoms and behaves differently than usual, you should consult a veterinarian to see if a →diet change is advisable. Sick four-legged friends have special needs, and the use of special diet foods is often sensible and important as part of their treatment.

With Pets Deli VET, we easily support you in serving your house tiger a food tailored to its needs. And the best part: Your beloved doesn't have to miss out on the highest culinary delights. Our special food with adjusted recipes is very popular in special cases (and furs). Because we adhere to strict guidelines and specifications regarding composition and properties, our VET food is the ideal supplement in case of illness.

Dry Food or Wet Food: What is the Best Food for Older Cats?

A →suitable senior food is tailored to the needs of a cat in its later years. Typically, this is wet food, as our house tigers no longer have the best teeth and dry food is often perceived as too hard to chew and frequently rejected by many cats. The pleasantly soft consistency of wet food is very appealing to older cats. The →right feeding method is individual depending on the cat, and when choosing, it depends on what your four-legged friend tolerates best and enjoys eating.

Alte Katzen bevorzugen meistens Nassfutter, das sich durch die weichen, verschiedenen Konsistenzen besser kauen lässt.

You can recognize the right →senior cat food by its composition. Pay attention to a short, transparent ingredient list. Instead of animal by-products, the exact meat pieces should definitely be listed. High-quality proteins are derived from muscle meat and organs like heart or liver.

An adjusted, reduced protein and phosphorus content relieves the kidneys and provides your cat with exactly the amount of energy she needs for a less active daily life. At the same time, vitamins and minerals should be present in higher amounts to meet the needs of your elderly furball. Healthy fruits or vegetables provide fiber that can help get your older cat's sluggish digestion moving. The nutritional additives should be clearly listed - this way, you can see if your cat is getting what she needs.

At Pets Deli, you will find exactly that: We have no secrets from you, and you can clearly see what you are feeding your cat for each food: a high meat content, fresh fruits and vegetables, rich oils, and healthy herbs.

How Much Food Do Older Cats Need?

You can find out how much food your older cat needs from the →feeding recommendations of the respective food. If you have chosen the right senior food for your cat, it is best to orient yourself according to these recommendations. This way, your cat receives all the nutrients that are important to her in the right dosage.

Loss of Appetite? Older Cats and Food Refusal

Does your older kitty sniff briefly at the bowl, turn on her heel, and leave her food in the bowl? →Loss of appetite and food refusal in cats can have various causes in older age. These include:

- dental problems that make chewing food painful

- portions that are too large

- declining sense of smell

- preference for wet food

- movement restrictions

Often, older cats lack what makes food so attractive to them: their sense of smell. To counteract this, you can easily enhance your beloved's food with our →tasty salmon oil or the →acceptance booster. Sometimes, a →refining cream snack is all your furball needs to better smell her food.

To rule out health issues, you should have your four-legged friend checked by a veterinarian if food refusal persists.

Weight Problems in Older Cats

Due to the changed metabolism, it can happen that your older cat does not always maintain her →ideal weight. Whether two rolls of fat too many or a few grams too little on the scale: With the right measures, you can help your older cat.

Ob zu dünn oder zu dick: Gewichtsprobleme treten bei Katzen häufiger auf. Mit einer gesunden Ernährung und der richtigen Futtermenge kannst du das vermeiden.

My Older Cat Weighs Too Much

Being overweight is a burden for your cat, and especially in old age, when joints become stiffer and muscle mass decreases, suitable countermeasures are all the more important. First, compare whether your cat is actually getting the amount of food indicated on the bowl. Does she perhaps snatch a tasty snack here and there throughout the day? Too many snacks exceed the energy needs of your older cat. If she moves less, weight gain is preprogrammed.

With our calorie-reduced, low-fat wet food Pets Deli VET Diet & Weight Management, which has just 72 kcal per 100g, you can easily support your cat in reducing excess body weight - best combined with plenty of exercise.

Why Are Older Cats Losing Weight?

If your →older cat is getting thinner, all alarm bells are surely ringing for you. If your cat is losing weight significantly and is eating as much as she can, it is advisable to get her examined by a veterinarian. If your furball catches parasites like →roundworms or →tapeworms, she can lose weight. Also, with a cat that is too thin, you should check whether your four-legged friend is getting enough food. Is she receiving the recommended amount of food or do you decide freely based on your intuition?

But don't worry if your cat loses a bit of weight in old age: Most four-legged friends lose weight as they age, which can be explained by the loss of muscle mass and connective tissue. Your cat thus becomes lighter and visibly thinner.

Even though the aging process does not spare our four-legged friends, you still have some beautiful years ahead. And what’s wrong with spending the four-legged golden years together on the sofa with lots of cuddles and delicious snacks?