As cats get older, their nutritional requirements start to change. In general, cats of eight years and older start taking life a bit easier. They're less active, spend more time indoors and have a slower metabolism, so fewer calories and less fat are required. But high quality, easy to digest protein becomes more important than ever to help maintain a good overall body condition.
Cats spend roughly 40% of their lives as seniors, so it's important they eat the right food to stay in good health. A good senior diet provides concentrated, high quality, low fat, protein and easy to digest carbohydrates for energy. Key minerals support ageing joints, and vitamins, along with proteins, help fight infections that the body may become vulnerable to as the immune system declines.
Senior cat foods
This is why it's advisable to move older cats onto a specially formulated senior cat food. Manufactured senior cat foods provide high-quality protein and lower levels of phosphorous to reduce the strain on the kidneys, plus added Vitamin E to strengthen the natural defences. Senior cat food also contains fewer calories, helping to maintain an optimum body weight as activity levels drop. So your cat can continue to enjoy mealtimes to the full without compromising on the essentials.
As cats age their senses of smell and taste can fade a little, along with their ability to chew effectively. Smaller, softer pieces will help your older cat get the most out meals, particular for sensitive mouths, perhaps with missing teeth. Higher meat content helps whet the appetite.
As always when changing onto a new food, you should start by mixing the new formula with what they are used to, slowly building up the proportion over a week to ten days until you are only feeding the new senior formula food.
How to feed
Feed older cats little and often, offering an occasional treat if they seem to be losing interest in food. But be careful not to overfeed. Older cats are particularly prone to weight issues. If your cat is sometimes reluctant to eat, try adding the juice from a sardine can or warm water for a treat to make it more appealing. But if your cat has not eaten for two days, consult your vet.
Serve food at room temperature to ensure your cat can taste and smell it properly. This is especially important for older cats, with their diminishing sense of smell. If you are feeding canned food, warming up an opened can may take up to two hours from being taken out of the fridge. Alternatively, you might consider microwaving canned foods for a short time, but be careful of hot spots. In general avoid serving food that is either too hot or too cold.
It's important to serve food in a clean bowl, and don't let canned food go dry in the bowl, cats can be very fussy eaters. Never keep wet food opened for longer than 24 hours.
If feeding a dry complete food store it in a dry, clean environment. Re-sealable packaging or an airtight container keeps it tasty by sealing in the aroma.
Cats are creatures of habit, so it's best to feed them away from where you eat and in the same place and at the same time each day. Choose a reasonably quiet area, away from the hustle and bustle of daily life. It's always a good idea to feed on a surface that is easily cleaned, like a tiled floor or a mat. Place feeding bowls away from the litter tray and, if you have two cats, keep the bowls a reasonable distance apart to avoid confrontations or bullying.
How much?
Follow the feeding guide on the back of the pack, but remember the guide is only there to give you an idea. Every cat is an individual, so the most important consideration is to feed enough to maintain a lean, healthy condition.
Ensure you provide plenty of clean, fresh water in a large metal or ceramic bowl. Water intake helps to keep older kidneys healthy and reduce the risk of Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD).
Weight concerns
Older cats have a natural tendency to put on weight as their activity-level decreases. Obesity is a common nutritional disorder in cats, and needs to be monitored carefully. Overweight cats are more likely to develop diabetes, heart and respiratory problems, bladder stones and arthritis. Lower calorie levels in senior foods can help control the tendency. But if weight is a growing concern, consider trying a specially formulated 'light' product, lower in fat while still containing all the necessary vitamins and minerals, ensuring a balanced diet despite reduced calorie intake.
At the same time, very old cats can often get thinner and may need a bit more food to maintain a healthy weight. This is because their digestion is less efficient at getting the goodness out of food. If you think this might be an issue, consult your vet before changing your cat's feeding regime.