What Should I Feed My 15 Year Old Cat
A 15 year old cat needs a high protein and fat wet canned cat food. Look for a product with a high calcium to phosphate ratio to help with kidney health.
A 15 year old cat is about 76 in human years . Like humans, they tend to have a higher risk of health conditions that include:
- Kidney disease
It is important to get frequent vet checkups. Up to two visits per year are recommended for senior cats.
A vet will perform a physical and medication examination which will help to provide your cat specific recommendations for diet. Some senior cats may need special diets depending on the circumstance .
How Much Should I Feed An Old Cat Eat
Most senior cats need a high-calorie diet to combat age related weight and muscle loss. They will need about 20 to 33 calories per pound to maintain a healthy weight. An online calculator is a quick way to find out how much to feed your senior cat.
Most commercial wet cat food labels give recommendations on feeding amounts based on the weight of your cat. However, you need to increase the amount if your senior cat is losing weight.
Calorie needs also depend on:
- Activity level
- Existing health conditions
Research finds older cats have worse digestion of fat and protein which can decrease weight. Its best to choose an energy-dense diet that is lower in fiber. Grain and plant-based ingredients increase fiber content which can reduce the digestibility of protein.
Learn more:
Best Senior Cat Food: 5 Top Brands For 2021 Revealed
When you welcome a kitty into your family, thereâs one hope you probably have above all else:
That sheâll have a long, healthy, happy lifeas close to purr-fect as she can get.
And trust us when we say we want that for your cat, too!
And for good reason: by the time your sweet feline reaches her senior yearstypically, around 7 to 11 in human yearsitâs all you can do to not swoon over her every day. After all, thereâs something so special and sweet about animals in their golden age and we want to provide them with the best care we can.
But you may be wondering something:
Does my older cat have different dietary needs compared to her younger siblingsor even compared to when she herself was younger?
The answer is almost definitely yes.
In this review, Best Senior Cat Foods, weâre going to talk about the unique nutritional needs of your senior feline, things to consider when choosing the best senior kitten food, what senior cat food is exactly, and which food brands are the best of the best based on price, customer reviews, ingredients, and of coursekitty feedback.
Here at FelineLiving.Net we have a dedicated mission to provide cat owners like you with well-researched information so they can provide the best care and nutrition to their cat.
Our readers rely upon the cat food reviews, articles and recall alerts that we research and publish. We also routinely update and review our own reviews ensuring that any changes by manufacturers are brought to your attention.
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Nutro Wholesome Essentials Indoor Senior Farm
This calorie-controlled dry food is made from farm-raised chicken, but they use the whole chicken, including chicken meal. The resulting formula is pretty high in fat, but this should be offset by the fact it is fairly low in calories.
The formula also has a lot of fiber, which is especially good for cats that have a tendency to develop hairballs, which can become a bigger problem in old age. It is also fortified with additional calcium for strong bones and joints.
It does contain grains, so it is not ideal for cats that find this problematic, but it is also free from artificial flavors, colors, preservatives, and other nasty chemicals, so there should be nothing artificial that could irritate your cats immune system.
Pros
What Do Underweight Senior Cats Eat
Give an underweight senior a wet canned cat food high in protein and fat. This will help with weight loss. Look for a product that is AAFCO approved for all life stages.
Here is a list of guidelines for feeding your underweight senior cat to help with weight gain:
| Senior Cat Nutrition Check |
| Provide nutrients needed to maintain health |
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Best To Support Your Cats Joints And Bones: Wellness Complete Health Age Advantage Chicken Pate Wet Cat Food
Wellness Complete Health Age Advantage is scientifically crafted wet cat food to support healthy aging and overall well-being in your aging cat. Added glucosamine and chondroitin nurture your pets joints, and omega fatty acids benefit his skin and coat health
Wellness makes their food in North America. The recipe is 100% free of grains, carrageenan, or artificial preservatives, colors, or flavors, and the wet formula helps keep your cat hydrated.
- This wet food is scientifically formulated to support your cat’s healthy aging
- Includes glucosamine and chondroitin for joints
- Omega fatty acids from flaxseeds promote skin and coat health
- This wet formula provides vital hydration
- 100% free from grains, carrageenan, and artificial preservatives, colors, and flavors
Best Raw Turkey Formula: Boss Cat Complete & Balanced Raw Diet Turkey Recipe Freeze
My cat loves turkey. Hell eat other proteins, but he dives into turkey with a gentle purr. For your turkey lover, the Boss Cat Complete and Balanced Raw Diet Turkey Recipe Freeze-Dried Cat Food is a complete meal with delicious protein and supplements like kelp, taurine, and salmon oil. It is also infused with 500 million probiotics per cup to support healthy digestion.
Real turkey, turkey necks, heart, liver, and gizzard, are the first five ingredients. The formula is free of corn, soy, or other fillers. Gently rehydrate the nuggets before serving them to your aging cat.
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Factors You Need To Consider When Buying Canned Cat Food Senior From Online Stores
Are you on the hunt for canned cat food senior? Well, purchasing online needs some contemplation. To help your cover all the important questions, we have prepared a list.
Just go through the question list. Feel free to do your own research while purchasing the canned cat food senior. Below are some examples you might deem right to ask:
- Is the canned cat food senior really worth the money?
- What specific advantages does it offer?
- Does the canned cat food senior youre picking have any innovative features?
- What are some of the best features of the canned cat food senior?
- Does your canned cat food senior come with a warranty?
- Does it have any con that might prove to be detrimental in the long run?
- Where will you find enough information about canned cat food senior?
- Where can you find some of the best canned cat food seniors?
Probably, you have come up with way more questions than there are on the list. Do not deprive your curious mind of the answers. Research, research, and research, until you locate the answers to the factors.
Hartz Delectables Bisque Lickable Wet Cat Treats For Adult & Senior Cats
Tender chicken and succulent fish are entangled in a smooth and satisfying sauce, so your cat eats the entire treat without just licking the sauce and leaving the meat behind.
It offers a variety of flavors, textures and types to choose from, it includes the complete nutrition needed to sustain your cat while also aiding in their overall health.
- Healthy treats with added vitamins
- Mouthwatering wet texture
- A quick snack or food topper
- An effortless way to entice your picky eaters to lick the bowl clean
- Supplements for your cats overall health
- An easy, convenient, enjoyable way to ensure your cats are getting the nutrients they need
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How Cat Nutritional Needs Change With Age
When it comes to cat food, theres no one-size-fits-all solution. Kittens generally have a higher need for protein, fat, and calories than adult cats because theyre growing and developing. But once they reach maturity, maintaining a healthy body weight becomes the focus.
So what happens when your cat starts to mature?
According to the Feline Nutrition Foundation, a cats energy requirements . With declining energy, your cat has a higher risk of weight gain. But once your cat hits 10 to 12 years of age, their calorie requirements may actually increase. Without enough calories and protein, your cat could lose muscle mass and become too skinny.
While scientific data on this phenomenon is limited, one thing is certainadequate protein intake is essential for all cats, regardless of age. And the best thing you can do is choose a healthy, protein-rich diet to make sure your cat is getting the calories they need to maintain a healthy body weight. As always, check in with your vet when monitoring your cats weight and modifying their diet.
Best Cat Food: At A Glance
- Best wet cat food: Purina One Adult Cat Food Mini Fillets in Gravy | Buy now
- Best dry cat food: IAMS for Vitality Dental | Buy now
- Best for senior cats: Harringtons Complete | Buy now
- Best for fussy eaters: Gourmet Mon Petit Duo | Buy now
- Best for weight control: Royal Canin Sterilised | Buy now
- Best for sensitive tummies: Scrumbles Kittens & Queens | Buy now
- Best for cats who love fish: Gourmet Perle Ocean Collection | Buy now
- Best for kittens: Lily’s Kitchen Curious Kitten | Buy now
- Best for no mess: Encore Cat Pot Chicken with Tuna | Buy now
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Best With Whole Prey Ratios: Ziwi Peak Rabbit & Lamb Recipe Canned Cat Food
Ziwi Peak is a high-quality brand that uses free-range proteins sourced from New Zealand. Their formulas follow a whole prey ratio which mimics your cats natural diet of fresh meat, bones, and organs.
This nutrient-rich formula includes green-lipped mussels, a natural source of chondroitin and glucosamine for mobility, joint, and bone support. Ziwi Peak does not include TSPP, BPA, or carrageenan in its canning process.
The high-protein, moisture-rich formula is free of potato, soy, or other cheap fillers your cat doesnt need to thrive.
Ziwis holistic approach is suitable for all life stages and breeds. It delivers peak nutrition and quality ingredients. Organic Kelp is added as a natural source of minerals and antioxidants to improve your cats metabolism, reduce inflammation, and protect his heart and brain. Taurine and vitamin supplements are added to further fortify the formula.
Hills Science Diet Senior Wet Cat Food
Just like with their senior dry cat food line, Hills Science Diet has a great variety of wet food recipes*. These were specially designed for senior cats aged 7+ years and senior cats aged 11+ years.
There are no artificial ingredients or preservatives in any of these recipes.
Furthermore, all are enriched with essential vitamins, minerals and healthy dietary fiber. Every ingredient is tailored to the age and life stage of your indoor or indoor/outdoor cat.
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What To Look For In Senior Cat Food
All cats are obligate carnivores, which means the majority of their diet should come from animal protein. Here are some things to look for in senior cat food:
- Highly digestible food. Digestibility is the key to proper nutrient absorptionkeep in mind that cats are designed to digest protein, not carbohydrates.
- Plenty of protein. Research suggests that older cats may need a higher percentage of protein in their diets than younger cats do.
- Taurine. Taurine is an essential amino acid critical for heart health and important for aging cats. It can be found in animal-based proteins like chicken, lamb, and fishyoull see it listed as an ingredient in any good cat food.
- Moisture. Many older cats develop dental problems that make chewing kibble difficult. Wet food is easier for many senior cats to manage, and the increased moisture content is important for digestion and kidney health as well. If your cat insists on dry food, try using moisture-rich wet food as a topper.
- Sufficient calories. While some cats gain weight as they slow down with age, many senior cats have the opposite problemthey have trouble keeping weight on. Work with your vet to determine the ideal weight for your cat. Then find the right food and feeding schedule to help them achieve and maintain that weight.
Whats The Best Food For An Elderly Cat
Recommended diet for older cats Canned wet food that has been specifically formulated for older cats is the best option to feed seniors. Wet food provides the calories, hydration and vitamins aging cats need. Most adult cats should be fed twice a day, and the same schedule should be maintained for your senior cat.
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When To Start Senior Cat Diet
This is a bit tricky. The American Animal Hospital Association puts the bar at ten years of age to be declared a senior cat. But when the animal shows signs of aging, it depends on many other factors, including genetics, which simply means it could vary between breeds and even individual cats of the same breed.
| Cat Stages of Life |
| > 10 |
Cat Stages of Life
The mature adult cats could show changing activity levels and shifting nutritional needs in their middle stage of life. And as they progress into their senior years, the change will be more pronounced. While pet parents can assess the mature and senior stages of life by keenly observing their kittys routine, behaviors, and food intake, this is not something to be left on guesswork.
Since the life stages are arbitrary demarcations instead of collating with the age of the pet, you may have a 10-year-old kitty ascribed to the mature stage by the vet. Therefore, regular visits to the vet with observations about your pets food intake, activity, and other schedules are the only way to identify when you should switch to senior cat food.
Hills Science Diet Adult 11+ Chicken Recipe Dry Senior Cat Food
Protein: 28.0% | Fat: 18.0% | Fiber: 3.5% | Moisture: 8.0%
This senior cat food formula from Hills Science Diet is one of the best cat foods for older cats available today, without a doubt. Hills recently revised their formula to better cater to the needs of older cats, and the response from the community looks to be excellent. Chicken remains the number one ingredient and is coupled with natural sources of vitamins and antioxidants to support your cat in its old age. Hills manufacturer their foods in the USA, with a focus on excellent ingredient quality. Their focus on delivering deliciously healthy senior cat food is reflected in opinions of the 95% of buyers on Chewy who would recommend this food. Hills Science Diet Adult 11+ Senior Dry review.
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Science Diet Senior Cat Food
This vet-recommended cat food for senior cats brings us back to another cat food already on our list, Hills® Science Diet® Adult 11+ Chicken Recipe cat food, which wed previously listed as one of the best dry cat foods for senior cats. It boasts of being #1 veterinarian recommended on its website.
Not too bad to make it onto our list twice!
How Much Wet Food Should A Senior Cat Eat Per Day
A senior cat may need 4-6 ounces of wet food per day to maintain strength. Use a calorie calculator to find out how much is best for your cats needs.
Another way to find out how much to feed your cat is to check the feeding guidelines. You can find this on the back of a cat food label.
How much wet food you feed your senior cat also depends on whether you feed any dry food. This will reduce the amount of wet food to meet their calorie needs.
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Hills Science Diet Senior 7+ Wet Cat Food Pouch
Hills Science Diet Senior 7+ Wet Cat Food comes in a pouch thats easy to open and easy to feed and with this variety pack, its so convenient to feed multiple flavors.
This perfectly balanced diet is made to meet all the nutrient needs of your senior cat through their 7+ years. It provides important nutrients, required protein levels and is packed with natural ingredients.
Hills Science Diet wet food cat food is made with only the finest natural ingredients, which are blended to perfection in a savory gravy. We work hard to make sure our products consistently meet strict quality standards because we believe your trust is well-deserved.
Thats why we never change formulas without asking you first. If you have any questions about nutrition or feeding, please contact us at www.hillspet.com. Science Diet is the best pet food for all life stages: from kitten to adult cat, and from kitten to senior cat!
This Is The Best Senior Cat Food In 2022 We Checked
This post may contain affiliate links to our partners like Chewy, Amazon, and others. Purchasing through these helps us further the A-Z Animals mission to educate about the world’s species..
Your cat is considered senior starting at about 11 years. Not every senior cat needs special food, but you may notice some changes in your pets appetite and energy levels as they age.
Senior cats are more vulnerable to kidney issues, and their metabolism may not be as efficient as earlier in life. So, at the least, older cats benefit from extra hydration and vitamins. Cats with dental issues also appreciate soft food since it is easier to eat.
Important supplements for your senior cat include vitamins B6 and D, fiber, calcium, omega fatty acids, and antioxidants. You can give these nutrients to your cat through enriched foods or by adding supplements to her diet.
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In addition to enriched senior cat foods, raw food can an excellent diet for elderly cats as long as its served with plenty of water. If you lean too heavily on dry food as your cat ages, it can cause problems in the long run.
Our 2022 reviews are updated to include the best high-quality cat foods that will help keep your aging pet happy and healthy for as long as possible.
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