When and How to Feed Your Senior Cat: Tips for the Right Transition

Mature cat foods generally include

• High-quality, highly digestible protein to help maintain lean muscle mass.

• Added antioxidants to combat cell ageing.

• Added omega-3 fatty acids to support joint health.

• Either reduced or increased calories to help maintain a healthy weight depending on your cat’s needs while also helping them feel full.

• Altered mineral content to support heart and kidney health.

There are also many different dietetic foods for cats with diagnosed diseases such as kidney disease or diabetes.

If your cat is fit and healthy, this is usually pretty straightforward. You simply need to gradually increase the amount of new food you feed your cat over the course of about a week while simultaneously decreasing the amount of the old food. Make sure you keep enough of the old food to sustain the transition period. A sudden change can sometimes cause an upset stomach or make your cat more reluctant to accept the new food.

If you’re changing brands or switching from wet food to dry food or vice versa, you may need to extend the transition period over a few weeks. Cats are very good at getting hooked on flavours or textures and may need longer to adjust.

If your cat needs a dietetic food, never switch without your vet’s say-so. Some of these foods are not suitable for cats with other health conditions.

As long as the food you are feeding your cat is complete and balanced, you can buy whatever suits your budget, your lifestyle and your cat’s tastes and health conditions. There are pros and cons to both:

Wet food

Pros:

1. The easiest way to get water into your cat. Cats, especially older cats, can be prone to dehydration.

2. Looks meaty and easily adds variety.

3. Plenty of texture choices available - loaf, chunks in gravy, minced.

Cons:

1. Spoils more quickly so can’t be left out, especially in summer.

2. Messier than dry food.

3. Tends to be more expensive than dry food.

Dry food

Pros:

1. Convenient.

2. Safe to leave out for a longer period of time.

3. Comes in a wider variety of flavours.

4. Cheaper than wet food.

Cons:

1. Pet parents may feel it’s boring. Most cats don’t agree!

2. May make it more difficult to provide adequate water to an older cat.

It’s ideal, if you can, to feed your cat a combination of wet and dry food throughout their life. This way, your cat is less likely to get hooked on a certain texture and will stay more flexible. You never know when you might need to change. Your cat may develop a medical condition where water intake is essential, and so wet food may be recommended.

This depends on your cat’s ideal weight as well as their activity levels, overall health and the food you are planning to feed them. It’s essential to keep your cat slim throughout life for maximum health and longevity. Regular weight checks at home and regular vet checks will help you catch changes in weight early on. Weight gain or loss can sometimes be one of the earliest signs of disease.

Before you transition to a senior food, ask your vet if your cat has the ideal weight and body condition for their life stage. Your cat may need to start with a weight-loss food first to reach their ideal weight safely and effectively before you transition.

If your cat is already at an ideal weight, the easiest thing to do is follow the feeding guide on the packaging. There are usually mixed guides if you want to feed your cat both wet and dry foods, but you can also ask your veterinarian for feeding recommendations specifically tailored to your cat’s needs. Continue regularly checking your cat’s weight, and adjust the serving sizes according to whether your cat starts to gain or lose weight on the new food.

Cats have relatively short intestinal tracts compared to omnivores like dogs and humans. In nature, they would spend much of the day looking for food and eat 10-20 small meals a day. While we can’t do this for our domestic cats, we can split their ration into smaller, more frequent meals quite simply. Five to six meals a day is ideal. Timed feeders are very useful for this if you are out and about. For example, you could feed your cat wet food morning and evening and have a timed feeder dispense four dry meals throughout the day – and even in the night if your cat pesters you in the wee small hours. Make sure you split their total ration evenly, rather than feeding them extra!

All cats benefit from small, frequent meals, but older cats most of all. It helps keep their intestines moving and keeps their water intake up throughout the day if you’re feeding them wet food or adding water to the dry. It’s also a good way to make sure they’re getting the volume of food they need and have the energy to maintain their physical condition as they head into the super senior years.

Senior cat food is not a gimmick. Senior foods support the health of your ageing cat in lots of ways. They are gentle on the organs, combat cell ageing, help joints and can support cats’ ageing brains. They are geared toward keeping your cat in ideal body condition and giving you the maximum time possible with your furry companion. After all, isn’t that what we all want? If you’re unsure exactly when to switch to senior food, ask your veterinarian; regular contact with your vet becomes even more important in the senior years, and they will always be happy to help.

When is my cat senior? 

This will depend on your individual cat’s health and activity levels, but in general, cats are considered senior from around seven years of age.

Should I feed a senior cat food? 

Yes. Even if your cat seems fit and well, switching to a senior cat food can help keep them in optimal health and support ageing organs such as joints, kidneys and brain.

How often should I feed an older cat? 

All cats benefit from 5-6 meals a day, as they have evolved to eat small, frequent meals. However, this is even more important for older or senior cats. It helps keep their intestines moving, ensures their energy and nutrition requirements are easily met, and can help keep their water intake up throughout the day if you are feeding them wet food or soaking kibble.

How much should I feed a senior cat? 

This will vary for each individual cat. Firstly, ask your vet if your cat is an ideal weight, as you may need to address that first. Follow the feeding guide on the packaging for your cat’s ideal weight, checking their weight every couple of weeks to start with and adjusting the total amount of food to suit your individual cat.

Reviewed by Becky Mullis, DVM, DACVIM (Nutrition) and Emma Milne BVSc FRCVS.