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Your vet may recommend a diet to help support healthy aging. Free-feed your aging cat so that it doesnt lose out on a meal just because its not hungry at that time.
Find out more about transitioning your cat to Science Diet Adult 11 Age Defying cat food.
Aging cat diet. In healthy mature cats providing the same high proteinlow carbohydrate option fed to younger obesity-prone cats is just fine. Once kidney disease is diagnosed however a kidney support diet with a modified protein component optimizes longevity and quality of life. Excessive phosphorus should be avoided in senior cats.
Diet is a major part of managing the disease. Many vets recommend that cats with diabetes eat a high-protein low-carbohydrate diet which may help. To support their health and slow down the progression of diseases associated with aging your senior cats diet should include specific nutrients.
For instance glucosamine chondroitin and fatty acids like EPADHA together with New Zealand Green Mussel extract can support mobility in. Cats is the wild eat the same food at any ages kittens and pregnant cats just eat more. You may need to adjust your cats diet only if there is disease and then a healthy raw meat diet can easily be adjusted.
A cats urinary pH is maintained naturally when they are fed the foods they evolved to eat namely raw meat bones and organs. Find out more about transitioning your cat to Science Diet Adult 11 Age Defying cat food. If you have an older indoor cat we also offer Science Diet Adult 11 Indoor Age Defying dry cat food.
It offers precisely balanced nutrition tailored to senior cats with an indoor lifestyle. This senior cat food contains balanced nutrients that help. Senior cats need to be fed a high-quality diet with a careful balance of nutrients.
They require a similar amount of calories to adult cats so one meal a day should prove sufficient. If you find one large serving overwhelms them split into smaller portions and serve at different points throughout the day. Raw or gently cooked fresh food is an excellent diet for elderly cats.
Becker recommends that if it is impossible to feed raw that dehydrated or freeze-dried balanced food reconstituted with plenty of water is good second choice. However feeding an all dry-food diet in the long run will cause problems. To get your cat to eat more food warm up its meals or add flavors to stimulate appetite.
Any dietary changes must be made gradually over 1-2 weeks. Wet food will be easier to chew especially for old cats with bad teeth. Free-feed your aging cat so that it doesnt lose out on a meal just because its not hungry at that time.
A diet of homemade food may benefit your senior cat particularly if it contains fewer carbohydrates and more pure protein because preventing obesity is vital for older cats. Raw Foods A raw-foods diet has been shown to have many benefits for senior cats. Both energy needs and protein requirements progressively increase as cats age starting at age 10-12 years.
Therefore to help maintain lean body mass and promote optimum health geriatric cats should receive diets that will provide at least 6-8 g and preferably more of high quality proteinkg body weight per day. Caring For An Aging Cat Health Diet FAQs. Home Pet Wellbeing Caring For An Aging Cat Health Diet FAQs.
Growing old is a privilege but not without its challenges. The same could be said when talking about caring for an ageing cat. At mealtime choose a food thats rich in antioxidants and omega fatty acids to help improve your cats cognitive function.
Incorporate a puzzle ball or maze into feeding time to encourage your cat to hunt and stimulate brain activity. At night make sure your cats sleeping area is both quiet and safe. Many cats begin to show physical signs of aging between 7 and 10 years of age.
Aging often means decreased energy difficulty walking and loss of appetite. Older cats also have a greater chance of developing various medical conditions. Your vet may recommend a diet to help support healthy aging.
Cats evolved as hunters that consume prey that contains high amounts of protein moderate amounts of fat and a minimal amount of carbohydrates and their diet still requires these general proportions today. Cats also require more than a dozen other nutrients including vitamins minerals fatty acids and amino acids. Dont forget the basics.
Fresh water and good food are vital to cats of any age but may be particularly important for older cats. Your veterinarian can offer advice on choosing a diet that provides appropriate nutrition and the right amount of calories for your aging cat. Diets for older cats should contain a moderate to high level of fat with the precise amount based on the cats body condition score.
Skinny cats need a lot of fat to maximize their caloric intake. Overweight cats can do with a bit less. Having a good water filter solution is important for an aging cat.
As an owner you should ensure that only fresh and clean water is provided to your cat. The aging cat may also suffer from loss of hearing and vision. And they might need special diets to treat specific health conditions too.
They might need a kidney diet or a liver diet or something like that. Do elderly pets still require yearly vaccinations. You have to look at risk factors including environmental risk.
Indoor older cats with a normal immune system probably dont need vaccines. Best Wet Cat Food for Geriatric Cats. Royal Canin Aging 12.
Best Cat Food for Senior Cats with Digestive Issues. Hills Science Diet Adult 7 Perfect Digestion. Best Bone Broth for Senior Cats.
Its really hard to identify pain in cats since most cats dont carry on like humans do when theyre uncomfortable. Most choose to hide their discomfort as a survival mechanism. However older cats who suffer from pain and dementia may show more signs than others.
They may resist being petted seem more off aggressive anxious or vocal.