Hootie, a 15-year-old cat living at a shelter in Salt Lake City, Utah, faced a difficult road to adoption. she was not only surrounded by younger, cuter cats, but the poor thing looked sick and sick. His coat lacked shine and he had no energy to greet potential adopters. But thanks to the veterinary care of Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, and the best senior cat food to meet their special needs, that road to adoption just got a whole lot easier.
After moving from a city shelter to Best Friends, Hootie was diagnosed with age-related kidney disease and was immediately put on more fluids and a diet to help manage her condition. she began to feel and look better. And when foster mom Amy Rohman Needham brought Hootie home to recuperate, her personality blossomed.
“He came with a lot of burping and sneezing, but he was the sweetest guy,” she says.
With her kidney disease controlled on a special diet, hootie’s health continued to improve, so she returned to her best friends to find a forever home. that’s when kelly smith fell for her. With open arms, the grad student and animal lover welcomed Hootie into her family, which included another rescue cat named Bonnie.
“hootie and bonnie love me just because I exist, and they’re glad to see me no matter how my day went,” says smith. “It has made my life so much better. I can’t believe I’ve been so lucky.”
no doubt, hootie feels the same. her special diet made a world of difference in her life, the difference between life and death. senior cats like him often have special dietary needs. If his feline friend is one of them, he’ll read on to learn all about what he should look for when selecting the best senior cat food for his senior cat, and how he can make his golden years the best they can be. /p>
nutritional requirements for adult cats
Before we explore the best senior cat food options for more mature felines like a hootie, let’s take a look at the specific dietary requirements for adult cats. Andrea Fascetti, Ph.D., VMD, a veterinary nutritionist and professor at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine in California, says that compared to other mammals, cats have some unique nutritional requirements.
“Scientific research has shown that cats have mandatory nutrient requirements that are non-essential for many other mammals,” she says.
Turns out our feline friends have good reason to be picky.
Regardless of their age, cats need protein, fat, minerals, vitamins and water, but they need some very specific amino acids and vitamins, according to the national research council committee on animal nutrition (nrc). Here’s what they recommend for each nutrient:
- Protein and Amino Acids: Because cats are carnivorous animals, they must get most of their protein from meat, fish, and other animal products. Dietary protein contains 10 specific amino acids, including arginine and taurine, all of which cats need but cannot produce on their own. the nrc recommends that an adult cat’s diet contain at least 12.5 grams of crude protein (for an adult cat that weighs 9 pounds and consumes 250 calories).
- Fats and Fatty Acids: Dietary fats are also essential for cats. They are derived from animal fats and seed oils, and provide essential fatty acids that cats need but cannot produce on their own. Fats serve as carriers for fat-soluble vitamins, play a role in cell structure and function, keep your cat’s skin and coat healthy, and make food taste good. The NRC recommends that an adult cat’s diet contain at least 5.5 grams of total fat. (again, for an adult cat weighing 9 pounds and consuming 250 calories.)
- Carbohydrates and fiber: Carbohydrates, such as grains, legumes, and other plant foods, are not essential in a cat’s diet, but they do provide an abundant source of energy, which they use to maintain normal activities of daily living.
- Vitamins: Vitamins in your cat’s food include vitamins a, d, e, k, b1, b6, b12, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, and folic acid. these organic compounds participate in a wide range of metabolic activities. It’s also vital to note that some vitamins are not only essential in small doses, but are also toxic in large amounts, according to the NRC.
- Minerals: Cats also need 12 minerals in their diets: calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, sodium, potassium, chlorine, iron, copper, zinc, manganese, selenium, and iodine. pet food manufacturers often add a mix of vitamins and minerals to their formulas to ensure diets contain the correct amounts of each ingredient.
- Water: Although they have a weak thirst drive, cats also need free access to fresh, clean water, according to the nrc. they normally drink 2 milliliters of water for every gram of dry food they eat.
- Feeding Instructions: The feeding instructions give guidelines on how much to feed your cat based on her weight. sometimes they will include information about when and how often you should feed your cat.
- Guaranteed Analysis: Guaranteed Analysis breaks down by percentage what nutrients are in the food. it lists the minimum levels of crude protein and crude fat, and the maximum levels of crude fiber and moisture. it usually also includes percentages or measures of additives, vitamins, and minerals.
- Ingredients: Ingredients, or nutrient carriers, are listed in descending order by weight. often a form of protein is listed first, followed by grains, fats, additives, and preservatives.
- Nutritional Adequacy Statement: The Nutritional Adequacy Statement indicates whether the food provides complete and balanced nutrition for a cat based on nutritional levels established by the AAFCO. The statement also provides a life stage statement, which states the life stage (growth/lactation, adult maintenance, or all life stages) for which the food is intended.
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aafco has developed two nutrient profiles for cats: growth/lactation and adult maintenance. all foods must meet at least one of these profiles. some labels state that the food is intended for all stages of life. these foods provide enough nutrients for an animal’s growth and reproduction, as well as to maintain a healthy adult, including senior and geriatric cats.
- Manufacturer contact information: The name and address of the manufacturer, packer, or distributor is required; Manufacturers sometimes include a toll-free phone number or website address, but they are not required.
- maintain your health and ideal body weight
- slow down or prevent chronic diseases
- reduce symptoms of any pre-existing conditions
what is “senior” cat food?
Because the AAFCO nutrient profiles don’t distinguish between “adult” and “senior,” it turns out that senior diets aren’t all that different from everyday adult cat food, says joseph bartges, dvm, ph.d., dacvim, dacvn, professor of medicine and nutrition in the department of small animal medicine and surgery at the university of georgia college of veterinary medicine in athens, georgia.
“There is no AAFCO designation for a ‘senior’ diet, nor is there a nutrient profile for a senior cat,” he says. “Therefore, seniors’ diets are essentially slightly modified adult foods.”
historically, foods for seniors had less protein and fat and more fiber, says dr. says bartges, but that is no longer necessarily true.
“Whether a cat needs these dietary modifications really depends on the cat,” he says.
when to switch to senior cat food
So, is there a definite age at which a cat should switch to a “senior diet”? unfortunately no, dr. barges says. It all depends on each cat and the recommendations of his veterinarian.
“If an older cat maintains body weight and muscle condition on a certain diet, then there’s no reason to change it,” he says. “If they are gaining weight for no particular health reason other than a change in metabolism, then you may [recommend] feeding them a ‘senior’ type diet or a low-energy, high-fiber diet. if they are losing weight for no apparent health reason other than a change in metabolism, then a change of diet to something more caloric, such as kitten food, might be indicated.”
and of course, if a cat develops a health problem, such as diabetes or chronic kidney disease as a hootie, a change in diet may be warranted to help manage the problem, he says.
“Owners should discuss diet with their vet at all visits, regardless of age,” says dr. barges says. “For a dietary change, whether to a senior diet or not, this is your historical information and the results of a physical examination and laboratory evaluation.”
when it’s time to change, it should be done over several days, he adds.
“In general, you should transition for [several] days to make sure the cat accepts the new food,” says dr. says bartges, also noting that it can take up to weeks or months for the cat to accept the new food when there is an illness, such as chronic kidney disease.
Get tips for transitioning your cat to a new food.
other dietary factors for older cats to consider
When choosing a food for your senior cat, dr. Fascetti says that his main objectives should be:
But other things also matter, like the taste, texture and moisture content of food, according to the national research council’s “Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats.” in fact, the report says, cats will choose foods based on these characteristics rather than nutritional adequacy. Let’s take a closer look at these features.
taste and smell
as cats age, taste becomes increasingly important as their senses begin to wane, dr. Fascetti says. wet foods, he says, tend to rank higher on the palatability scale.
“Cats are funny: some cats only eat dry food and some cats only eat wet food,” says dr. Fascetti says. “Every cat is different, but it seems that, in general, palatability tends to be a bit higher in wet cat food.”
Many of their preferences develop in their younger years. “Cats are creatures of habit, and if they’ve been eating dry food their entire lives, they may not accept a switch to a canned food,” says dr. barges says. “One way to avoid this is to provide variety from an early age, not just with dry and canned goods, but also with different flavors and different companies.”
texture
The texture of the food also makes a difference. older cats with missing teeth may prefer wet food or kibble softened with a little warm water, but some can still chew on the crunchy stuff.
“Although they have missing teeth, many cats can still eat dry food, as their gums get harder and they often still have other teeth to grind up the dry kibble,” says dr. barges says.
moisture content
Foods with a higher moisture content also tend to be more palatable to cats. as prey-eating carnivores in the wild, they prefer a diet that mimics freshly caught prey, which tends to be, well, moist.
“Cats are true carnivores and eat prey in the wild; therefore, feeding a diet that mimics as much as possible helps,” says dr. barges says. “These are moist, high-protein, low-carb foods.”
moist or moist food also has a higher water content, says dr. fascetti, which is good for cats with urinary tract problems.
“for animals that have or may be predisposed to urinary tract problems, increasing water intake and encouraging more frequent urination may help with problems such as feline urologic syndrome [or feline lower urinary tract disease] says Dr. Fascetti says.
Finding a food with the right flavor, texture, and water content, not to mention all the right nutrients, can be a challenge, especially when you have a fussy older cat. working with your vet is your best bet.
“If an older cat is fussy, the question that needs to be answered first is whether or not this is due to a health problem, which requires veterinary examination and laboratory evaluation, as older cats are prone to diseases associated with aging”, dr. . barges says.
dr. fascitti agrees. “The first step is to contact her vet,” she says. “Because we certainly don’t want someone to overlook an issue, thinking it’s just the animal being finicky, when in fact there’s a real underlying issue that needs to be addressed.”
food for senior cats for common problems
Speaking of underlying issues, older cats can develop some common health problems that can be managed with diet. Of course, before you change your friend’s diet, talk to your vet about the root cause of his health problems.
loss of muscle mass
if your feline is losing muscle, it might be time to switch to a high-protein diet, dr. barges says.
“sometimes [loss of muscle mass] is due to diseases such as chronic kidney disease, hyperthyroidism or diabetes mellitus. sometimes it is due to the diet if the diet was changed to a low protein diet. if no disease is present, a high protein, low carbohydrate diet may help,” says dr. barges says.
weight gain
for overweight older cats who need to lose a few pounds, pet owners have a couple of options, dr. bartges says, and if one doesn’t work, you can try the other.
“Conventionally and historically, a high-fiber, low-fat, low-calorie diet was used to induce energy deficiency and promote fat mobilization and weight loss,” says dr. barges says. “More recently, many have turned to a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet (the so-called metabolic switch diet), which is similar to, but not exactly, eating prey.”
behavior/memory changes
if your older cat is having trouble remembering things, such as where her litter box is, how to eat or drink, or how to play with her favorite interactive toy, or if she displays senile behaviors such as staring into space, disturbed sleep/wake cycles wakefulness, loud meowing (especially at night), or spatial disorientation, you might choose a diet with antioxidants and healthy fats.
“Theoretically, antioxidants, lipoic acid, and possibly omega-3 fatty acids may help,” says dr. barges says.
eat and drink less
sometimes not eating or drinking enough can be a problem for older cats. Rule out any medical issues first, then get creative in the kitchen.
“As with other problems, the first thing to check is whether or not disease is present, especially in an older cat,” says dr. barges says. “[Certain diseases], such as chronic kidney disease or hyperthyroidism, can be found in blood tests. but… primary gastrointestinal disease, such as chronic enteropathy or intestinal cancer, will not show up on blood tests and requires imaging, such as an ultrasound, to evaluate.”
if nothing is medically wrong, dr. bartges suggests heating the food or offering several different foods to determine what flavor and texture the cat prefers.
“Heating food close to, but not above, body temperature helps,” says dr. barges says. “Testing a smorgasbord of foods to find out what you’ll eat can also help.”
the best foods for senior cats
With the myriad of senior cat foods available on the market today, it’s hard to choose the best one for your feline friend. should i get one with more protein? without cereals? fewer calories? what about all those antioxidants? Is there a better dry food for senior cats or a preferred wet pate? It really is hard to choose the perfect diet!
To make your decision easier, we first recommend that you speak with your veterinarian for guidance on what type of food is best for your senior cat and its particular needs. then, with your options narrowed down a bit, check out some of the options we’ve listed below.
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When it comes to selecting a particular diet, dr. fascetti says quality differs between various brands, but a consultation with your vet can help you choose the right one for your particular cat.
“The vet knows you, knows your situation, and can help you choose a diet that’s right for you,” he says. “There are certainly good products at every level (grocery store, pet store, vet office) that can be used to healthily support a cat’s dietary needs. there is no reason why someone cannot find good quality cat food.”
understanding cat food labels
Now that we understand the basic nutrient requirements of an adult cat, let’s take a look at the basic guidelines for cat food and who regulates them.
in the united states, pet food is overseen by the us. uu. food and drug administration center for veterinary medicine, notes dr. fasciitis rely on the expertise of the nrc for information on what specific pet foods should contain to ensure safety and efficacy.
The FDA requires pet food manufacturers to include certain information on their labels, including the proper list of ingredients and the manufacturer’s name and address. Some states have adopted more specific regulations set forth by the Association of American Food Control Officials (AAFCO). these include feeding instructions, guaranteed analysis, and a statement of nutritional adequacy. Let’s take a closer look at each of these:
