Nutritional Needs of Senior Cats

Your cat’s nutritional needs will change as she grows older, and it can make feeding time a challenge for both of you. Like humans, cats undergo significant physical changes with age. Understanding some of these changes and altering your senior cat’s food can help maintain her weight and health.

Weight management

Obesity in cats occurs most commonly in middle age. If you notice that your cat is eating less but still gaining weight, it could be attributed to decreased metabolism or decreased activity levels. Because cats often lead a fairly sedentary lifestyle, their foods are often dense with calories that can result in overeating and weight gain. This can lead to chronic medical conditions, including heart, respiratory, skin, and joint problems, especially in older cats. Giving your cat smaller quantities of food or gradually switching her to a lower-calorie food may pare down the pounds.

Although weight loss is sometimes attributed to the aging process, it can also be the result of an underlying disease. If your senior cat has a healthy appetite but is still losing weight, consult your vet for symptoms of heart disease, thyroid dysfunction, cancer, or diabetes. A decreased appetite could be associated with periodontal disease (gum and tooth problems), gastrointestinal disease, kidney failure, or a reduction in taste sensation.

Maintaining your senior cat’s health

When determining how much to feed your cat, follow these guidelines for proper senior cat nutrition:

• Slowly adjust her caloric intake to physical and environmental conditions (for instance, indoor vs. outdoor cats, spayed/neutered)
• Give your cat a stimulating environment where she can be active
• Switch to a food with a lower energy density (reduced fat or fiber)
• Implement portion control and meal feeding
• Introduce foraging devices (meal-dispensing feeders, food-filled toys)
• Introduce barriers to food access (baby gates, elevated feeding stations)