Nutritional needs of older cats

I have a really fussy older cat, so I’ve been doing a little extra research to ensure that he is eating healthily for his age. This is what I found.

NUTRITIONAL NEEDS OF OLDER CATS

As cats grow older, their nutritional needs usually change. Proper nutrition can add years to a cat's life and slow down the progression of many diseases. Monitoring your older cat's appetite, food consumption, eating habits, weight, and body condition will be helpful when you and your veterinarian determine your cat's specific nutritional requirements and diet.

Nutrient requirements and ability to digest food

As dogs age, their metabolism changes and their need for calories decreases. The same is NOT true for cats. Their energy needs decrease until 11 years of age, then increase as the cat continues to age. Obesity is one of the main health problems of middle age (6-8 years of age) cats; it occurs less often by the age of ten, and greatly decreases after that.

Some studies have shown that senior cats do not digest, and thus absorb fat and protein, as well as younger cats. This means that older cats may need to consume fat and protein that is more digestible to get the same amount of energy. You'll need to monitor the weight and body condition of your cat, and adjust his diet accordingly.

The protein needs of cats are higher than the protein needs of many other animals. Inadequate amounts of protein in the diet can impair immune function. Unless the cat has a health condition which would call for protein restriction, an older cat should not be placed on a protein restricted diet.

Supplements

The level of various vitamins, minerals, and electrolytes may be decreased in older animals who either absorb less of them through the intestinal tract, or lose more of them through the kidneys and urinary tract. Some older animals eat less, such as those with oral disease, and may not receive their daily needs of vitamins and minerals. Some evidence in other species suggest that antioxidants such as vitamins A (beta-carotene), E, and C may play a role in protecting against some normal aging processes. Consult with your veterinarian to determine which supplements may be beneficial for your cat.

Special dietary needs of older cats

Various disease processes may require dietary changes to lessen the effects or progression of the disease. Cats with diabetes mellitus, colitis, constipation, or anal gland disease often benefit from diets with increased dietary fibre. Cats with inflammatory bowel disease and colitis can benefit from diets which have highly digestible sources of protein, fat, and carbohydrates. There are special diets available for cats with heart disease; these diets generally have decreased amounts of sodium and increased amounts of the amino acid taurine. Cats with chronic kidney failure should be on diets with highly digestible protein so there are fewer breakdown products, which the kidneys are responsible for eliminating in the urine. Cats with dental and oral disease which causes pain on eating hard food, may need to be placed on canned/sachet food. Cats with cancer have special dietary needs; increasing Omega-3 fatty acids may be recommended. Once again, you would need to chat to your vet to understand the specific needs of your cat.

Water

Older cats may not drink sufficient amounts of water, which can exacerbate constipation problems and contribute to dehydration in cats with kidney disease. Getting a cat to drink more water may not be easy. Offering more sources of water may help here. In my research I’ve found that feeding wet food is really beneficial too.

Increasing food intake

For a variety of reasons, including certain disease processes, some already finicky cats become even more so as they age. As soon as you find a food they seem to like and buy six more cans of it, they suddenly decide they do not like it any more. This is particularly applicable to my boy. Frustrating isn’t it?

To encourage a cat to eat more, you can:

Cats are creatures of habit, so it's best to feed them in the same place and at the same time each day. Choose a quiet area, away from the hustle and bustle of daily life and away from where you usually eat. Place feeding bowls away from the litter tray, and preferably also away from their water bowl. If you have more than one cat, keep the bowls a reasonable distance apart to avoid confrontations or bullying. You may need to feed your older cat in a separate area to avoid fast-eating younger cats stealing their food!
Heat canned or moistened dry food in the microwave to a warm temperature. This will increase the aroma of the food. Be sure to stir the food before feeding it to the cat, since microwaves do not always heat uniformly.
Serve food at room temperature so that your cat can taste and smell it properly. If you’re feeding wet food, you’ll need to remove opened cans or pouches from the fridge around two hours before feeding time.
If on dry food, switch to canned food. You may also want to switch to special diets, which are high-calorie, nutrient dense, and are made for stressed or aging animals.
Feed smaller amounts of food more often. Just as you may suddenly lose your appetite when an overflowing plate of food you could not possibly eat in its entirety is placed in front of you, the same may be true of your cat. By offering only a small amount of food multiple times during the day, your cat may actually increase his total daily intake.
Ensure your cat has a quiet, stress-free place to eat. Be sure younger cats or other pets in the household are not harassing the older cat when she eats.
If it will not disturb him, pet him and talk softly to him as she eats.
It's important to serve food in a clean, low bowl or saucer (some older felines don’t like their whiskers touching the side of the bowl) and don't allow wet food to go dry in the bowl as cats can be very particular about freshness.
When feeding wet food some cats will lick up the gravy and not eat the food. I recently was advised to squish the pouch before opening so the food becomes more minced. I immediately saw a difference in my boys food intake. (note: some foods "squish" better than others )
Consult with your veterinarian regarding use of appetite stimulants for short-term use.

* this information is only from my research. If you note changes in your cat please discuss it with your vet. Reading up about an issue before your consultation, may assist you in asking the right questions while you are there.

Maybe you would like to book for a communication to understand why your cat is not eating?

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