📁 last Posts

Guide to Feeding Your Senior Cat

Guide to Feeding Your Senior Cat


1. Introduction

Proper nutrition is important for supporting pets' optimal health and longevity, and senior cats are no exception. The primary goal of feeding an older cat is to maintain health by aiding in the prevention of age-related illness, and when necessary, to manage and slow down the progression of such. Older cats often have a health issue that can be controlled or improved by a change in diet, such as arthritis, chronic kidney disease, liver disease, or diabetes. A higher-quality diet can also have a positive impact on other body systems including the heart, skin and coat, and the immune system. Good health and nutrition can also help older pets stay mentally sharp and prevent changes associated with aging such as dementia.

It is important to realize that the needs of a senior cat are different from those of a young cat since their bodies and metabolisms have changed in response to aging. This section discusses the basics of senior cat nutrition, including how caloric needs change with age, benefits of antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids, the particular challenges of feeding an older cat, and how to select the 'best' diet from an overwhelming array of options. Diets that are high in bioavailable protein ingredients with low levels of poor-quality filler and moderate to high moisture contents are also increasingly recommended for older cats. Always consult your veterinarian for specific nutrition advice, but this section will help you become better informed about various feeding options and tools and how they can be used.

2. Understanding the Aging Process in Cats

As your feline friend is aging, several biological and physiological changes take place. The aging process varies depending on unique situations, including genetics. Body weight decreases, and body composition changes, affecting the quantity and quality of nutrients required for survival. The clinical signs of an aging digestive tract feature changes in appetite and gastrointestinal disturbances. Kidneys undergo the most significant changes, and a percentage of cats exhibit aging changes in their kidneys. Aging cats experience weight gain, decreased exercise, decreased lean body mass, increased body fat distribution, decreased food intake, loss of bone density, altered hormones, changes in food and water intake, altered sense of taste and smell, and changes in kidney function.

Behavioral and emotional changes in aging cats include alterations in activity levels, sleep patterns, litter box habits, and interaction with humans. The aging process can alter an aging cat’s nutritional needs. The quality and digestibility of senior diets are essential for older cats as their digestive system becomes less efficient. Health promotion products may contain vitamins like E and C. In appropriate quantities, beta-carotene and selenium lower inappropriate immune system activity. Omega-3 fatty acids can act as anti-inflammatory agents. Omega-3 fatty acids, shark cartilage, and glucosamine may decrease inappropriate immune system activity aimed at the joint. Protein energy requirements in older cats are increased compared to adult cats because lean body mass decreases and fat mass increases. Digestibility declines with age, meaning older cats must consume many diets, including protein. Relatively high levels of protein are essential for older cats as they age. As kidneys age, the ability to excrete nitrogen decreases, and older kidneys are less capable of removing waste products. The function of older kidneys continues to decline.

2.1. Common Health Issues in Senior Cats

As cats age, they are prone to developing a variety of health conditions. Some of the most common health issues seen in senior cats are listed below. If your senior cat is showing signs of one or more of these problems, you may need to adjust its diet to manage or alleviate symptoms for optimal comfort and quality of life. Elderly cats are prone to these common health issues: - Arthritis - Dental disease - Hyperthyroidism - Hypertension - Inflammatory bowel disease - Kidney decline - Neoplasia - Obesity - Periodontal disease Through regularly scheduled veterinary visits, many of these health issues can be diagnosed and managed through the appropriate nutritional strategy. Even cats that receive excellent preventive health care can develop conditions that may require dietary changes. For example, cats prone to obesity need a calorie-controlled diet as they age to prevent excessive weight gain. Older cats with arthritis or joint diseases can benefit from diets designed to support joint health through advanced nutrition containing supplements including omega-3 fatty acids, joint supplements, and L-carnitine. More severe cases of arthritis may benefit from anti-inflammatory diets that are created specifically for these conditions. Hyperthyroidism, obesity, and kidney disease in cats can occur concurrently, or these conditions may overlap in the same cat. Because cats with hyperthyroidism may also have concurrent kidney disease, managing both conditions can be particularly challenging. Provision of moderate amounts of high-quality protein is essential in these cases. As cats get older, they are more prone to developing certain health issues. Some senior cat health issues stem from genetics or health status, so, in general, there is no single cause. But keeping up with your elderly cat's health screenings can help you get ahead in providing medical treatment. Limiting euthanasia in favor of topical care can help your feline friend stay active and enjoy a fulfilling retirement. While there are ways to help keep your feline friend stress-free and nursing skills in cats can help improve things, common senior cat health issues may require long-term management. Heart and circulation, kidney health, hydration, and bone health are four key areas of how to start a diet in senior cats. Key Takeaways: - Health problems: Arthritis, dental disease, kidney problems, and obesity all become more common as cats age. - Why diet matters: Nutrition is a critical part of either managing or preventing these problems. - Management strategies: Senior cat diet and weight strategies can be targeted to slow down, prevent, or manage health problems that may arise in old age. - What to do: Work with your veterinarian to put together a proactive plan that matches diet and lifestyle strategies with your senior cat's health concerns.

3. Key Nutritional Needs of Senior Cats

Senior Cats: Senior cats require specific nutrients in their diet to enhance life quality and support body condition. What nutrients do senior cats need? The major functional requirements for senior cats include: adequate protein to maintain muscle and provide energy; judicious use of fat to prevent weight gain; vitamin and mineral fortification; easy to digest and tasty macronutrient mix; bite-sized texture appropriate for mouth health. Although exclusively formulated for senior cats, this diet contains the same vitamins, minerals, protein, fats, carbohydrates, and fiber as found in a regular adult maintenance cat diet. Therefore, it can be fed long term as the sole source of nutrition. In contrast to protein, healthy fats and omega fatty acids, micronutrients usually have more narrow functioning in the body. However, our understanding of all of their roles in the body is still expanding.

Protein: Cats require higher levels of protein than other domestic or farm animals due to their obligate carnivore status. Proteins are made up of amino acids, which can be synthesized in the body or gained from the diet. Older cats may require higher levels of protein than younger adults; decreased protein can contribute to muscle wasting and gradual weight loss. Cats with declining appetite and muscle mass benefit from highly palatable protein sources. Fats: Fat is composed of essential fatty acids, which are precursors to bioactive molecules in the body. High-quality fat supports skin, coat, cellular function and also provides calories in the feline diet. Adult cats require at least 9% fat in their diet. Essential fatty acids including LA and ALA are also necessary nutrients for senior and geriatric cats.

3.1. Protein and Amino Acids

It is incorrect to think that senior cats need less protein in their diet to safeguard their aging kidneys. The truth is that older cats have higher protein demands than younger cats – as much as double the essential amino acids requirement – chiefly for muscle health. Of course, it depends on the metabolic attitude of the cat in question. However, cats have to get a substantial portion of their energy from dietary protein to thrive. That’s the job of high-quality protein. As cats grow older, they can’t digest, absorb, and utilize nutrients – protein included – as effectively as they did when they were "couch kittens." Owners of elderly cats can ensure they get sufficient amounts of high-quality, easily digestible protein for their age. Kibble is just as appropriate for them as for the younger cats, but the digestibility of the included protein sources is also key when comparing and choosing commercial products for senior cats. It’s recommended to look for the words "highly digestible" and "quality protein sources" on the label of any commercial food on your shortlist.

Proteins are constructed as chains of amino acids. Ten of these amino acids are described as "essential," as the only way for cats to get them is via their diet. The benefits of the diet are more significant even for amino acids that the cat's body can develop. They play key roles in continuing to provide energy and help to recuperate from an illness or injury. For example, tryptophan aids in the regulation of rhythms and sleep; taurine is necessary for cardiovascular and eye health and may also aid in muscle recovery; and hydroxyproline improves skin and joint health. Although you don’t need to learn all of these acids - ordinary owners like nutritionists and veterinarians know them - this just gives an indication of the complexity of feline nutrition.

3.2. Fats and Fatty Acids

Fats are an important source of energy and part of a balanced diet for a senior cat. They are vital for healthy skin and coat and in the digestion and absorption of fat-soluble vitamins like vitamins A, D, E, and K. Fats are made up of two components: saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. Saturated fatty acids have no double bonds between carbon atoms and are thought to have negative health effects in humans and animals in large amounts. In contrast, unsaturated fatty acids have one or more double bonds between carbon atoms and are considered "healthy fats." There are two groups of essential fatty acids: omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. These fatty acids are vital to the diet of senior cats because of their role in the body. Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to reduce inflammation, support healthy brain function, and have anti-cancer effects. Omega-6 fatty acids are known for increasing skin and coat condition, promoting a healthy immune response, and supporting a healthy birth and growth period. Essential fatty acids are often the component of food that becomes hormone-like and are called eicosanoids. Eicosanoids create the feeling of hunger or fullness, produce and break down cholesterol, support the immune response to infections and disease, help repair damaged tissue, and regulate blood pressure.

Dietary fat can help senior cats maintain their overall body weight and support the management of age-related illnesses. Fats are required by the body to function well, help transport vitamins, and maintain healthy tissues. Fat content has been shown to influence taste, so senior cats may prefer to eat more fat, which will help them get enough nutrients. Ideally, fat sources should be naturally located in the pet diet. Good fat sources include pork, chicken, mutton, and beef. Other sources include fish, soybeans, and some green vegetables. As with all parts of the diet, you need to make sure that the food is balanced and complete to avoid nutritional deficiencies. Look for the terms "human grade" when buying cat food. Meat must be free of growth hormones or other drugs. Discuss this issue with the producer or industry when buying pet food.

3.3. Vitamins and Minerals

3.3.1. Vitamins Of the essential vitamins required in a carnivorous cat’s diet, some may play important roles in aging and age-related disease. Fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, and E) are necessary to support the function of the immune, cardiovascular, renal, and musculoskeletal systems, along with promoting heart, brain, and vision health. The B-complex vitamins - thiamine, niacin, riboflavin, folic acid, B12, and pantothenic acid - play a significant role in both protein and energy metabolism. A deficiency of any of these vitamins will result in complications of the skin, coat, eyes, gastrointestinal tract, and nervous system. It is important to supplement B vitamins in the senior cat’s diet, whether it be through selecting specific fortified food products or the use of additional oral supplements. Unlike their easy reproduction in dry food, some vitamins are destroyed when food is cooked. As the senior cat diet calls for an increase of animal-based proteins, poor vision and appetite may already be present, making B12 deficiencies a concern. Antioxidant vitamins primarily include the minerals selenium and zinc but also include vitamins C and E. Antioxidants are believed to help prevent free radicals from forming in the bodies of animals as they age, though it is unclear how polyunsaturated fatty acid-rich dry foods factor into the creation of free radicals. Adding vitamin E to the diet of humans has been seen to increase lifespan and the retention of certain cognitive functions. More vitamin E is seen in the plasma and urine of healthy cats than those with conditions associated with free radical damage. It is suggested that this indicates their bodies are using the extra vitamin E to neutralize free radicals, highlighting the importance of testing when supplements should be provided to other nutrients in cats. Antioxidants come primarily from fruits and vegetables and are not necessary in high quantities in the diet of obligate carnivores who can obtain small amounts from their prey. These antioxidants can also be found in certain organs from organ meats such as the kidneys and liver. Cats have the ability to turn some amino acids, such as methionine, into antioxidants when they are ingested to a manageable extent for their small requirements. Silicic acid is rich in antioxidants and is beneficial to elderly cats suffering from joint problems, diabetes, and kidney failure. It is generally suggested that the feeding of vitamins occur through commercial pet food products, especially for animals who should not be supplemented too much to avoid imbalances in their diets. The pet owner should ensure that vitamins C and E are especially provided to cats with more antioxidants through proper selection of that fortified food. 3.3.2. Minerals An increase in the supplementation of some minerals may be necessary for the senior cat’s diet. Senior cats may be more prone to tooth and bone fractures and less able to recover from them due to possible declines in calcium and phosphorus requirements for bone and dental health with age. Some of this has to do with the fact that minerals can have different levels of bioavailability in the gastrointestinal tract. Calcium, for example, is generally not absorbed more efficiently than 72% in cats, though its requirement in adulthood is said to be based on the diet’s calcium-to-energy intake. There is up to a 6000% difference in the absorption of calcium in greater amounts in some cat foods than others. Cats nearing mid-age, for example, seem to have higher levels of poorly absorbable crystals in their kidneys. Some minerals can interfere with the absorption of others. Some vitamins can help enhance or secure the amount of absorption of minerals in the body. Vitamins C and D enhance the absorption of iron and calcium from the gastrointestinal tract, making selection of a product fortified with these easier, observing when it may be necessary. Pet owners should be shown how to read pet food labels for fat and protein content.

4. Choosing the Right Food for Your Senior Cat

Selecting the right food for your senior cat is essential after recognizing their unique nutritional requirements. A custom-tailored diet can mask or ameliorate some of the adverse effects of aging, providing our beloved pets with a good quality of life in their twilight years. Cats are true carnivores, and cat caretakers most often choose between dry, wet, or intermediate diets. The choice, whether commercial, specialized complete, or homemade, should be made considering the quality of ingredients, energy and fiber content, guaranteed analysis, and dietary needs that the diet can satisfy.

Commercial dry and wet cat food provide a good nutritional balance and easy access, but have higher carbohydrate content, reduced palatability, and not-so-desirable antioxidant sources. Pre-packed specialized complete wet and dry formulas are explicitly tailored to the lifestyle and stage of feline development; most prominently, there will be an indication of senior or mature cat product lines. Moreover, these foods bear certain antioxidant content, so owners interested in these preservatives should be aware of labeling requirements. Finally, tailor-made homemade diets, if correctly managed, can provide each cat a healthy diet, adapted to their living conditions, and enriched with the finest antioxidants. This choice, however, requires considerable experience, time, and expense. It is preferable to play it safe by seeking advice from a veterinarian or a professional in the pet food industry.

4.1. Commercial Senior Cat Foods

Your local pet store is likely to have a variety of commercial cat foods appropriately marketed for aging cats. Why consider a food marketed for seniors? These foods are formulated to meet the specific nutritional and caloric needs of elderly cats. They often include natural supplements for joint health, digestive health, heart health, or other nutrition to benefit seniors. These are offered in a variety of protein sources to meet individual taste preferences. Feeding your senior cat a high-quality commercial diet might be the easiest and best solution for you; many of these diets contain specific antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, and proper protein levels for older patients. There are myriad brands that tout some wonderful benefits for a wide variety of specific "senior" needs. The ranking in no way reflects on the quality of these various products, as they have not been specifically assessed.

When choosing a commercial senior cat food, read the label to be sure of its contents. Avoid by-products as the primary protein source. Look for a named meat, such as "chicken" or "beef," as the primary protein source. The food should contain (or closely approach) the following nutrient analysis: Protein: 34-37% on a dry matter basis, Fat: 14-24% on a dry matter basis, Water: less than 78% on a dry matter basis. There should also be no added sweeteners, artificial flavors, or colors. The food should also state that feeding trials or adult maintenance testing show the food to be nutritionally adequate for the life stage of the pet.

4.2. Homemade Diets for Senior Cats

When it comes to feeding homemade, it’s a bit different. The main advantage is that you can put as much consideration into each and every ingredient as your cat’s health, preference, and your budget permit. Homemade diets are particularly good for senior cats who have specific health conditions such as kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, diabetes, or inflammatory bowel disease. A properly planned and well-prepared homemade diet can provide your senior cat with all the essential nutrients they require and cater to any intolerances or sensitivities they may have. A homemade diet for the healthy senior cat should focus on high-quality protein from a variety of sources. Provide muscle meat such as chicken, turkey, beef, lamb, rabbit, and kangaroo, and ensure that organs such as liver, kidneys, and heart are represented in the diet too. To increase moisture intake, feed chunks of cooked, not raw muscle meat, and offer daily meals of cat milk or wet food. Aim to provide protein from a mixture of sources such as chicken and kangaroo or beef and rabbit to ensure all the essential amino acids are represented in the diet. If you’re feeding your cat a whole food source, consider our tips to provide a balanced homemade diet for your cat. Be prepared to supplement your cat’s homemade diet with a dietary enzyme to assist with the pre-digestion of their food. If you’re feeding your cat dehydrated or freeze-dried commercial pet food, you may not need to supplement their diet with additional enzymes. Always consult with a pet nutritionist who can make individualized recommendations based on your pet's health and any clinical testing performed. In this way, you can be reassured that your cat is receiving all essential nutrients without too many added additives that can be a concern for our beloved friends.

5. Feeding Guidelines and Tips for Senior Cats

Guidelines and Tips for Feeding Senior Cats

As cats age, they generally need to eat more frequent, smaller meals to help their bodies better absorb nutrients and regulate blood sugar. Many senior cats with age-related conditions may need more frequent meals and regular, moderate-size portions. Since cats sleep about 16 hours daily, dividing up the day's meals into at least one or possibly up to three or four feedings is helpful. Dosage size and actual food offerings should also reflect your senior cat’s overall health, activity levels, and personal food preferences.

Hydration is especially important as cats age to avoid constipation, support the kidneys, and ensure normal liver function. You can help your cat drink adequate amounts of water in their daily diet by offering more wet food, adding water to canned food, or even switching to commercial raw or frozen diets that offer a healthy moisture content. Encourage a senior cat with a poor appetite to eat by providing various aromatic foods, warming food gently until its aroma appeals to your cat, or sometimes even offering commercially formulated canned foods of chicken, lamb, beef, or fish baby food types. Avoid onion- or garlic-seasoned and meat baby foods with added ingredients such as salt or flour. Introduce new foods to your senior cat gradually if you are not used to feeding them. Do not make sudden food changes, as doing so can lead to maldigestion, diarrhea, or vomiting in an older cat. Monitor your mature cat's weight and physical condition, adjusting its food and activity level to maintain a healthy profile. Respect your senior cat's individual food portion needs while avoiding excessive weight gain or actual weight loss, as senior cats can be prone to a decline in overall body and skin condition. Schedule regular veterinarian check-ups to ensure your senior cat is receiving the correct nutrients for good health. Read pet food labels for sound nutritional content and follow a regular, measured feeding plan for your senior cat’s optimum diet.

References:

Longo, V. D. & Anderson, R. M., 2022. Nutrition, longevity and disease: From molecular mechanisms to interventions. Cell. cell.com

Ekmekcioglu, C., 2020. Nutrition and longevity–From mechanisms to uncertainties. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition. [HTML]

Wickramasinghe, K., Mathers, J.C., Wopereis, S., Marsman, D.S. and Griffiths, J.C., 2020. From lifespan to healthspan: the role of nutrition in healthy ageing. Journal of Nutritional Science, 9, p.e33. cambridge.org

Cline, M.G., Burns, K.M., Coe, J.B., Downing, R., Durzi, T., Murphy, M. and Parker, V., 2021. 2021 AAHA nutrition and weight management guidelines for dogs and cats. Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association, 57(4), pp.153-178. canadianveterinarians.net

Case, L. P., 2023. The dog: its behavior, nutrition, and health. [HTML] 

Comments