Best Cat Food Senior Cats

How Much Wet And Dry Food To Feed A Cat

The amount of food given to your cat should be divided by three to meet his energy requirements: give him two quarters of the amount in dry food and divide it into two ration areas .

There are pros and cons to each of these products, according to pet nutrition experts, who arent sure of a definitive answer. Adult cats require one to three portions of food per day on average. Make an appointment with your veterinarian to discuss which food is the best for your cats age, weight, and lifestyle requirements. A kitten should eat three times a day. The convenience of dry food allows you to leave it in your cats bowl all day. You can use both wet and dry cat food to make a variety of flavors and recipe combinations. If your cat eats too much wet or dry food, it will become overweight.

What Are The Nutritional Requirements Of My Senior Cat

Unlike dogs whose requirements vary, cats require the same amount of energy throughout their adult life. Specifically:

• Cats need a much higher amount of protein than many other animals
• Senior cats can find it hard to digest and absorb fats

This means that senior cats require fats which are easier for their bodies to digest, to help ensure they still get the amount of energy they need.

Its important to monitor the weight and condition of your cat closely, particularly as he ages, and adjust his diet accordingly, following the recommendations of your vet. Older cats can either have problems with obesity or can become very thin, with both extremes possibly indicating underlying conditions which you will want to investigate with your vet.

Healthy senior cat food should include high-quality protein, digestible carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, magnesium, fibre, antioxidants, and fatty acids. Your vet will answer any questions you may have about how to feed your senior cat dont be afraid to ask, however big or small your query.

Understanding The Nutritional Needs Of Cats

All cats have a few basic nutritional requirements, and their diet needs to be able to support and meet these needs. This is essential at every stage of life, but especially in her earliest and latest years when her immune system may need some extra help to remain fully functioning .

In general, here’s the basic nutritional checklist for kitties:

Keep in mind that, like humans and other animals, kitties do best when they don’t consume artificial preservatives, fillers, and other chemicals which can disrupt normal digestive and gut health.

And while higher quality food that’s free from these ingredients costs more than the typical commercial options, it really is worth it when you consider how much healthier it can make your animal over the course of her lifetime.

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Best Senior Cat Food: 5 Top Brands For 2022 Revealed

When you welcome a kitty into your family, there’s one hope you probably have above all else:

That she’ll have a long, healthy, happy lifeas close to purr-fect as she can get.

And trust us when we say we want that for your cat, too!

And for good reason: by the time your sweet feline reaches her senior yearstypically, around 7 to 11 in human yearsit’s all you can do to not swoon over her every day. After all, there’s something so special and sweet about animals in their golden age and we want to provide them with the best care we can.

But you may be wondering something:

Does my older cat have different dietary needs compared to her younger siblingsor even compared to when she herself was younger?

The answer is almost definitely yes.

In this review, Best Senior Cat Foods, we’re going to talk about the unique nutritional needs of your senior feline, things to consider when choosing the best senior kitten food, what senior cat food is exactly, and which food brands are the best of the best based on price, customer reviews, ingredients, and of coursekitty feedback.

Here at FelineLiving.Net we have a dedicated mission to provide cat owners like you with well-researched information so they can provide the best care and nutrition to their cat.

Our readers rely upon the cat food reviews, articles and recall alerts that we research and publish. We also routinely update and review our own reviews ensuring that any changes by manufacturers are brought to your attention.

Halo Holistic Wet Cat Food For Senior Cats

This soft senior chicken and chickpea cat food* is grain-free, GMO-free and highly palatable for cats with sensitive stomach issues.

With lower fat and calories but a higher protein content and higher dietary fiber, this is one of the best wet cat food for older cats. It helps to optimize nutrition without packing on the pounds.

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Is Commercial Cat Food Necessary For Cats

We keep dry food as recommended by our vet available at all times to our cat. He greatly prefers the wet food, and most weeks doesnt even touch the dry food. Still, I dont want to have to worry that Im not giving him enough, so I do have a feeder for Bob that always has dry food in it.

I dont think that a little dry food here and there is bad for cats, but I would always want to have raw meat, including organ meats, as the main part of their diet.

This Is The Best Senior Cat Food In 2022 We Checked

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Your cat is considered senior starting at about 11 years. Not every senior cat needs special food, but you may notice some changes in your pets appetite and energy levels as they age.

Senior cats are more vulnerable to kidney issues, and their metabolism may not be as efficient as earlier in life. So, at the least, older cats benefit from extra hydration and vitamins. Cats with dental issues also appreciate soft food since it is easier to eat.

Important supplements for your senior cat include vitamins B6 and D, fiber, calcium, omega fatty acids, and antioxidants. You can give these nutrients to your cat through enriched foods or by adding supplements to her diet.

In addition to enriched senior cat foods, raw food can an excellent diet for elderly cats as long as its served with plenty of water. If you lean too heavily on dry food as your cat ages, it can cause problems in the long run.

Our 2022 reviews are updated to include the best high-quality cat foods that will help keep your aging pet happy and healthy for as long as possible.

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Final Thoughts On Best Cat Foods For Shedding

My choice for the best cat food for shedding would be Hill’s Science Diet Wet Cat Food, Adult, Urinary & Hairball Control Wet Cat Food. The manufacturer makes sure that this cat food has everything a cat needs to support a healthy glowing coat.

There is adequate fiber to keep your cats bowel movements regular and prevent the build-up of hairballs. They have successfully maintained the delicate balance of protein and fats, which is great for moderately active cats.

Unlike other brands, it is affordable, so you dont need to burn a hole in your pocket to prevent excessive cat shedding.

The Best Cat Food For Indoor Cats: Our Top 7 Picks

By Charles Grisham | Updated November 23, 2022

Reviewed by: Ivana Crnec, DVM

If you buy something from a link on our site, we may earn a commision. See our advertising disclosure.

• 30% off on first orders of $30+ using code VETERINARIANS30
• 100% human grade dry cat food.
• Your cat will love this savory turkey and chicken recipe because its irresistibly delicious.
• Natural fiber & live probiotics to help support digestion.
• No artificial preservatives, feed grade by-products, fillers, GMO ingredients, corn, wheat or soy

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Best Senior Cat Food For Older Cats

Updated: March 16, 2021 by Kristen Chapple

While I will always think of my cat as my little kitten, as she is now in her 13th year, I have had to accept that she is getting older! From about the age of 11, I noticed her slowing down and spending less time outdoors.

I also noticed that she was much fussier with her food and regurgitated her meals more often. I consulted my vet, and they told me that now that she is older, her nutritional needs have changed.

If you also have a senior cat and you are looking for the right food to keep them healthy and happy in their older years, fear not, I have done all the research, and found what I believe are the best senior cat foods for older cats.

To know which one is right for your cat will depend on their particular age issues. Read on to find out more about how cats nutritional needs change as they get older, and to find the right food for your senior cat.

But I prefer the Blue Buffalo recipe because it is made only with quality meat, and no meat meal or by-products, which naturally contains more of the nutrients that my cat needs. While I appreciate the way that cat food are enriched with extra nutrients, I want her to get as much of her nutrients as possible from natural sources.

The Best Cat Food For Senior Cats Supports Kidney Health

With renal failure being the most common condition affecting senior cats, a kidney-friendly diet is essential.

While you dont want to put a healthy senior cat on a prescription renal diet, all senior cats can benefit from a kidney-friendly diet. Perhaps most importantly, senior cats should eat a controlled-phosphorusthough not necessarily low-phosphorusdiet.

Manyperhaps even mostcat foods have several times the minimum requirement of phosphorus. While excessive phosphorus is generally thought to be harmless, research done in 2018 suggests that excessive dietary phosphorus may hasten damage to a cats kidneys.

Keeping phosphorus close to AAFCOs minimum required amount will help to prevent and control kidney damage.

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Blue Buffalo Basics Limited Ingredient Grain

Our Top Pick for the Best Sensitive Stomach Cat Food for Kittens: If your kitten already has a sensitive stomach, you need to be extra careful about what you feed him. This Blue Buffalo Basics Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Indoor Kitten Recipe is a great option because it comes from a trustworthy brand and youll easily be able to transition your kitten into a similar adult recipe. This formula features a limited number of ingredients with a single source of novel protein and grain-free carbohydrate to maximize its digestibility and reduce the risk for triggering a food allergy or sensitivity. It is gentle on your kittens stomach but still packed with protein and essential nutrients to help him grow and thrive. It is also rich in omega fatty acids for healthy skin and coat. This recipe also comes in an adult formula which is one of the best wet cat food for sensitive stomach in adult cats.

• Pros: Limited number of main ingredients, novel source of protein, grain-free carbohydrates, fresh fruits and vegetables, supplemental fiber, rich in protein and healthy fat, chelated minerals
• Cons: Contains unnamed source of fat , somewhat expensive

Best Fresh Cat Food For Senior Cats

Containing only USDA-certified, humanely harvested, sustainably sourced ingredients, Smalls is a subscription meal service for cats that offers high-in-protein, human-grade wet food with no fillers. Available in three proteinschicken, beef, and turkeyand two textures, smooth and ground, this food is ideal for cats who can be a bit picky about what they eat. Even though this food isnt specifically formulated for senior cats, we like it for older kitties for a few reasons. First, the food has super-high quality ingredients with a plethora of tastes and textures for even the pickiest cat. Second, the food is high-protein, which is a desirable trait for senior cat food. And third, we especially enjoy that Smalls is available via a delivery service, so you will never run out and have to rush to the store for your kittys supper.

Highlights

• Shows up at your doorstepno trip to the store required
• High-protein food without any fillers
• USDA-certified and sustainably sourced ingredients
• Made in the USA

Things to Consider

• Food arrives frozen and should only be thawed 24 hours before you are ready to use it
• Open wet food must be kept in the fridge and only keeps for 5-7 days
• This food is only available through a subscription service

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How Much Should You Feed A Senior Cat

Just as your cats nutritional needs change with age, so does the amount of food they need. If you are unsure about how much to feed your senior cat, you should consult your veterinarian.

Sudden changes in a cats diet can be harmful and cause problems such as Hepatic Lipidosis. In general, the key to determining how much to feed your cat depends on their weight and activity level.

Indoor senior cats generally have a sedentary and inactive lifestyle. As a result, the amount of calories they need decreases with age. It is also important to manage portions as senior cats are especially prone to obesity. You should avoid giving them treats and feeding calorie-dense meals.

Outdoor senior cats tend to be more active and will need more calories than indoor cats. An outdoor cats needs a formula specifically designed for outdoor cats to meet their nutritional needs.

How much you feed on your cat also depends on whether your senior cat can maintain a healthy weight easily. Many senior cats struggle with maintaining a healthy weight and might either be over or underweight. If your cat is overweight, you should opt for a low-calorie food. If your senior cat is underweight, you should feed them a high-calorie food to encourage weight gain.

Feeding your cat the right amount of food is not only necessary, but can impact how long they live. The right diet plays an essential role in keeping your felines health at her best through every stage of life.

What Causes Cats To Vomit Or Throw Up

There are several reasons why a cat may throw up or vomit after they eat. Your vet will be able to tell you what they think the most likely cause is. A few very common reasons include but are not limited to:

Hairballs

Your cat licks their fur to clean themselves, but this can cause them to ingest a lot of hair. This hair can cause the hair to build up in their digestive tract and upset their stomach. As a result, your cat will throw up quite a bit, especially if they keep ingesting hair.

Urinary Tract Infection

Any infection in your cats body can upset their digestive system. Additionally, urinary tract infections are very common in older cats. If your cat has an ongoing or chronic issue, you can find them throwing up more. As the infection gets worse, so can the vomiting.

Ate Something Inedible

Think of everything you have laying around your floor. Pieces of string, plastic, bottle caps, fibers, and more are all things your cat may pick up and eat. When these inedible things get in your cats stomach, the body can start to try and dispel it. If this happens, your cat may experience runny stool or vomiting. The object can take between 10 and 24 hours to pass.

Diabetes

Another possible reason your cat is throwing up is diabetes. Diabetes is common in older cats that are overweight. Diabetes can cause excessive thirst. And this means your older cat will drink much quicker over shorter periods. This quick influx of water can lead to vomiting.

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Best Cat Food For Senior Cats With Kidney Disease

As cats age, they sometimes develop chronic health problems. One of the most common issues in older cats is kidney disease , and there are foods specially formulated to help maintain kidney function. Our favorite of those is Darwin Intelligent Design Kidney Support. This recipe was formulated by experts in pet nutrition to provide a minimally processed cat food that maintains vital nutrients and is only available via prescription. Darwin only makes raw cat food, which means it isnt cooked. It arrives at your house frozen, and you just thaw and serve!

Highlights

• Raw food created to be easy-to-digest
• Delivered to your door via subscription service
• Made from antibiotic-free and pesticide-free meats
• No grains, fillers, or chemical preservatives

Things to Consider

Cats that are really getting along in years have different nutritional requirements than those spritely 7-year-old senior cats. We like Royal Canin Aging 12+ for those geriatric kitties. Royal Canin canned formulas are designed around a cats nutritional needs and offer a balance of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. This food brand was also developed with long-term palatability and dietary satisfaction in mind. This means that its specifically formulated to entice your cat to eat, even when his interest in food might be naturally waning.

Highlights

Things to Consider

• Comes in a 1-oz. can
• Like all wet food, open cans must be stored in the fridge