Senior Cat Food: 10 Best Food for Senior Cats and Older Cats
Description
You’re a lucky owner if your cat has lived all these years to see the senior years of its life. To ensure its safety, we have the best cat food for senior cats in this post. If your cats age is over 7, it’s time to consider it senior. Be sure to go to the vet regularly as older cats may develop health issues very fast.
Here, we’re going to break down the dietary needs of aging cats as well as the best products you can buy right now.
10 Best Food for Senior Cats: Dry Food and Wet Food
When it comes to food picks for older cats, you get two types of food to choose from. Here, we’re sharing our top dry food picks to keep cats healthy and living a fulfilling life. We’ve combined both wet and dry food for senior cats. Just a note, wet food for senior cats helps with hydration while dry food is great for keeping dental issues at bay.
Hill’s Science Diet Adult 7+ Chicken Recipe
Senior Cat Food: 10 Best Food for Senior Cats and Older Cats
When choosing senior food, you have to remember that cats are obligated carnivores. Whether you give them senior dry food or wet food, it must contain animal protein. That’s why our first pick is Hill’s Science Diet Adult 7+ Chicken Recipe. Statistics show that this is a favorite among senior cats. The flavor might be basic but it’s a good choice for senior cats 7 years and older.
Now, let’s get to the nutrition. The nutritional values of this product are well-suited for senior cats. It contains a balanced mix of protein, fat, and fiber. Essential nutrients like taurine support heart health, while omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids enhance skin and coat health. The product also includes antioxidants for immune support and glucosamine for joint health.
Advantages
Suitable for cats senior 7 or more.
The classic chicken flavor is well-accepted.
Comes in a 16-pound value pack.
Disadvantages
The quality is not consistent across all batches
Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Grain-Free Mature Dry Cat Food
Senior Cat Food: 10 Best Food for Senior Cats and Older Cats
Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Grain-Free Mature is yet another hit among senior cats for its delicious chicken flavor. Blue Buffalo is known for its nutritional value as it’s specially formulated for senior cats. If you check the ingredients list, you’ll see that it has high levels of protein from deboned chicken to support muscle maintenance and energy.
On top of it, it also includes fish oil as a source of omega-3 fatty acids and DHA. It especially comes into play if you’ve got a breed with a long coat. The same applies to younger cats as well.
Advantages
Rich in protein and fiber.
Great for a silky coat and healthy skin.
Good choice for weight management.
Disadvantages
Not suitable for regular consumption
IAMS Proactive Health Healthy Senior Dry Cat Food
Senior Cat Food: 10 Best Food for Senior Cats and Older Cats
IAMS ProActive Health Healthy Senior is well-loved by many cats, thanks to its appealing chicken flavor. It’s formulated to meet the specific needs of older cats, with chicken as the primary ingredient to support muscle health.
For senior cats to maintain a healthy weight, the food’s nutritional profile is important. That’s exactly what this dry food may come into play. According to the ingredients list, it has essential nutrients like calcium and phosphorus for strong bones and joints, and vitamin E and antioxidants to boost the immune system. The inclusion of L-carnitine helps maintain a healthy weight, while the crunchy kibble aids in reducing plaque buildup.
Advantages
Supports healthy digestion.
2x antioxidants compared to other senior cat food options.
0% fillers used that vet recommend.
Disadvantages
Some reports of chronic vomiting.
Purina Fancy Feast Pate Senior 7+ Canned Cat Food
Senior Cat Food: 10 Best Food for Senior Cats and Older Cats
Since senior cats love chicken just like kittens, Fancy Feast Chicken Feast Pate Senior 7+ Canned wet food Food is a highly popular flavor. Suitable for all breeds, it’s crafted with real chicken and does not contain artificial colors or preservatives. This food may be a better choice if your cat suffers from stomach sensitivity issues.
Nutritionally, this wet food may offer more balanced profile with high-quality protein, essential amino acids, and vitamins, supporting overall health and vitality in older cats. The inclusion of fish and meat by-products adds necessary nutrients for maintaining muscle mass and energy levels.
Advantages
Classic chicken flavor is widely available.
Made with real, high-quality ingredients.
Disadvantages
Some senior cats don’t like the fish as the 2nd ingredient.
Royal Canin Appetite Control Spayed/Neutered 12+ Dry Adult Cat Food
Senior Cat Food: 10 Best Food for Senior Cats and Older Cats
Another famous dry food for senior cats. Royal Canin is a renowned brand among pet owners and it even makes a particular variant for spayed/neutered cats. Mind that cats that go through these procedures have different needs than regular cats. This particular version of adult dry cat food is a favorite among senior cats for its taste. It’s easier for senior cats to digest and is one of the best cat foods of 2024.
Speaking nutritionally, this food is formulated to support healthy aging with a precise balance of vitamins and minerals to help maintain vitality. Then there is EPA and DHA support immunity. Another unique property of this food is that it helps reduce stool odor thanks to the highly digestible protein. If you’ve got cats with kidney issues, the adapted phosphorus levels help support it.
Advantages
Specially formulated for spayed/neutered cats.
Perfect for indoor felines.
Disadvantages
Not all cats like it.
Hill’s Science Diet 7+ Wet Cat Food Pouches
Senior Cat Food: 10 Best Food for Senior Cats and Older Cats
It’s one of the best wet cat foods out there. These lickable cat treats come in a variety of flavors including chicken and tuna. This product features a blend of tender chicken and tuna in a savory gravy, which is both palatable and nutritious. As they’re wet, they keep your cat hydrated if it’s reluctant to drink water.
Besides the typical flavors, you can get the variety pack, giving your cat a wide range of wet food options to choose from. These lickable wet cat treats are very similar to raw cat food but more digestible.
Advantages
Comes in a variety pack of many flavors.
perfect for cats aged 7 or more.
Veterinarian Recommended
Disadvantages
Some reported isues with logistics
Purina Pro Plan Focus Adult 11+ Canned Food
Senior Cat Food: 10 Best Food for Senior Cats and Older Cats
We’ve got Purina again. As you can guess, this best senior cat food is formulated for felines of 11 and older. This is the ideal food your cat can eat if it’s a fan of the classic salmon and tuna. It’s also suitable for all breeds. This food provides high-quality protein, supports muscle maintenance, and includes antioxidants for immune health. As it’s soft cat food for older cats, you can rest assured that it can eat effortlessly.
Advantages
A reputable line-up from a reputable brand.
Popular flavors like salmon & Tuna, Turkey, etc. are available.
Economic option for cat owners.
Disadvantages
User reports of vomiting right after eating among some cats.
Wellness Complete Health Grain-Free Chicken Entree Senior Wet Cat Food
Senior Cat Food: 10 Best Food for Senior Cats and Older Cats
This food is ideal if your senior cat’s preferences don’t include grain. Wellness Complete Health Grain-Free Chicken Entrée Senior Wet Cat Food offers a portable and nutrition-packed food for to help cats maintain a healthy weight.
As you’d expect, it offers high-quality protein from chicken and turkey. As your cat is getting older, it’s essential for it to maintain muscle mass. This food for senior cats includes additional ingredients like cranberries and carrots provide antioxidants and fiber.
Advantages
Comes in chicken, classic Tuna & Salmon, and some other flavors.
Great value for money
Disadvantages
Not suitable for diabetic cats.
Royal Canin Aging 12+ Thin Slices in Gravy Canned Cat Food
Senior Cat Food: 10 Best Food for Senior Cats and Older Cats
Senior cats stay hydrated from the food you provide, besides water, of course. Royal Canin Aging 12+ Thin Slices in Gravy Canned Cat Food is perhaps the best cat food for older felines in the wet category. It’s well-loved by senior cats for its palatable texture and flavor.
It’s also packed with nutrition. It supports senior cats with high-quality protein from pork by-products and chicken, along with essential nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids for joint health and controlled phosphorus levels to support kidney function. The formula is designed to provide the right balance of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates for healthy aging and digestive health.
Advantages
Comes in pork, loaf in sauce, and other flavors.
Easily digestible for senior cats
Disadvantages
Some customers complaint about quality going downhill
How is Cat Food Different for Senior Cat
As cats get older, their dietary needs change from those of kittens and aged cats. Older kitties, typically over the age of 7, require a diet that addresses their health concerns and helps maintain an ideal weight. Let’s get into the details.
Nutritional Differences
While kittens need a high-calorie diet rich in protein and fat to support rapid growth and development, adult cats require a balanced diet to maintain energy levels and overall health.
In contrast, senior kitties benefit from a diet lower in calories. If you feed them the same way, it’ll lead to weight gain, because their metabolism slows down with age.
Health Concerns
To help senior cats, you need to keep a close eye on their health. Of course, you need to talk to your vet regularly. As you’d expect, older cats are more prone to health issues such as kidney disease, arthritis, and dental problems. When you pick food for seniors cats to eat, you must keep it in mind.
When choosing food for your senior cat, ensure that it includes ingredients that support kidney function, such as reduced phosphorus levels and added antioxidants. You should also look for glucosamine and chondroitin, which are commonly included to promote joint health and ease arthritis symptoms.
Weight Maintenance
Perhaps the biggest concern for many senior cats. It also comes down to the inappropriate diet administered by owners. It’s important for senior cats to keep a healthy weight. Obesity can worsen existing health problems and decrease mobility.
Digestive Health
Last but not least, many indoor senior cats suffer from digestive sensitivities. When choosing the best dry cat foods or wet food, you need to keep any allergies or sensitivities in mind.
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