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Cats are known for their graceful demeanor and independent attitude. Their average lifespan is approximately 12 to 18 years. Cats over 3 years of age are deemed adults, and from the age of 11 years, they become senior cats.
Like most animals, cats’ eating habits also change with age - - kittens often need more food as they require more energy, and adult cats require a moderate amount of food to have sufficient energy. Senior cats often have a smaller appetite compared to their younger counterparts. Therefore, pet parents should keep track of their cat’s changing food requirements. Read the following if you too have queries related to feeding cats or how to feed older cats.
Your senior cat’s health and well-being are directly linked to their eating habits. Cat caregivers need to be more vigilant while feeding senior cats to ensure that their feline friend is provided with the right amount of nutrition and nourishment.
As a pet parent, you need to be mindful when feeding your cat. It has different nutritional requirements at various stages of its life. Kittens need to be fed with uttermost care to ensure appropriate growth and development, adult cats need well-monitored feeding portions to avoid overeating, and senior cats need a regularized diet to maintain their health. Hence, senior cat food contains high-quality protein and added vitamin E for more bone and joint strength.
As cats grow older, their sense of taste and smell begin to fade. Senior cats also experience deteriorating teeth which affect their ability to chew. Hence, older cats’ caregivers need to take the following measures while feeding them:
Include softer food so that it is easier for your senior cats to properly chew the food
Add food with higher meat content to enhance the food’s smell and flavor
An old kitty or senior cat may need a small quantity of food with higher nutrients. Cat feeding tips help pet parents to provide the right nutrition and nourishment to their senior kitty. Here are a few essential tips that caregivers should consider when feeding their senior cats:
Even though the food requirements of cats depend on the kitty’s age, you should also take their health condition, weight, appetite, and lifestyle into consideration. Pet parents are also recommended to consult a veterinary doctor to understand their kitty’s health requirements, nutritional deficiencies, and underlying diseases before selecting a diet plan or senior cat food brand.
Average-weight senior cats need approximately 280 to 360 calories a day. Pet parents are often advised to feed their geriatric cats high-quality cat food depending on their weight, health condition, and nutritional deficiencies.
Ideally, your senior cat should be fed a small portion of high-quality cat food at least three to four times a day. However, if your kitty has digestive issues, then you should feed it smaller portions 10 to 12 times a day.
Yes, you should feed senior cat food to your older kitty as this type of food is specifically formulated for meeting their nutritional requirements.
The benefits of senior cat food are as mentioned below:
Cats older than 11 years are considered senior cats.
A cat’s diet largely includes other smaller animals as they are carnivorous. However, most cats avoid consuming the animal’s intestinal tract which contains most fiber. This can lead to a lack of fiber in the cat’s diet. But do cats need fiber? Yes. Lack of fiber can result in irregular bowel movement, digestive issues, and other similar health concerns.
Cats often munch on green grass and leaves to ease constipation. However, they might resist including fiber in their daily meal and only rely on it when ill. But, to ensure your cat’s best physical well-being, you should choose fiber-rich food for cats.
Fiber-rich cat food is essential as it helps in maintaining their digestive health. Thus, pet parents should try to include the necessary amount of fiber in their kitty’s diet. It will help maintain their digestive health and overall well-being. Cat food fiber can be classified based on its solubility.
While choosing cat food with fiber, you should make sure it includes both soluble and insoluble fiber. Besides, the cat’s gut bacteria can break down both soluble and insoluble fiber to produce new compound that helps in nourishing their colon cells.
Fiber-rich cat food contains prebiotics, which means they also contain good bacteria that are necessary for a healthy intestine. So, as a cat parent, you should invest in high-quality cat food with fiber to keep your little fur baby’s gut health in check. However, how much fiber does a cat require??
Although fiber is essential for cats, they require it in limited quantities. Too much fiber can risk restricting absorption of nutrients in their body, whereas too little can lead to poor digestive health. The appropriate quantity of fiber for cats is between 1.4 to 3.5% of their daily calorie intake.
Planning to include cat food with fiber in your kitty’s daily diet? Consider adding the following food options to their meal to increase fiber content in your fur baby’s diet.
Besides relying on the above-mentioned plant-based and animal-based fiber, you can also buy IAMS high-fiber cat food to ensure that your kitty gets the right amount of fiber in its meal. IAMS high-fiber cat food such as IAMS ProActive Health Adult Original with Chicken contains a moderate quantity of fermentable fiber along with the chicken. This cat food with fiber is made using fermentable fiber and chicken that your cat is sure to relish. Besides, IAMS is a popular cat food brand that is known for using best-quality ingredients, so your furry friend gets nothing but the best.
