The Best Diet for Old Cats

The best diet for aging cats accounts for both age and disease. Aging cats require less calories, so senior foods with a lower fat content will help with weight management. Senior foods will also reduce the intake of nutrients that tend to contribute to disease and organ changes. Because of this, older cats can sometimes require special prescription diets. The most important aspects of feeding old cats is understanding the general nutritional needs and ensuring they are getting enough water and eating enough food. Be sure to closely monitor for changes that may signal a developing disease.

Understanding Nutritional Needs
1. All cats need a high quality protein diet, regardless of age. In general, cats typically need 1.5 g of protein per pound of body weight per day. All manufactured food should have a "guaranteed analysis" and list how much protein is in the food so you can judge whether or not your pet is getting enough protein. It is also important to make sure a cat is drinking enough water. Some cats will be more willing to drink water if it is from a fountain watering dish or if you put ice cubes of meaty broth in the water to add flavor. If a cat has not been diagnosed with a condition or disease that requires a modified diet, start transitioning from an adult diet to a senior diet. Allowing an older cat to become overweight will exacerbate health problems it may encounter down the road.
Warning Signs
2. When a cat starts to lose interest in a food once readily eaten, it may be a warning sign of a developing disease. Kidney disease is common in older cats but can be managed if caught early. One of the first signs is a lack of appetite. Another warning is an unusual increase in thirst, which can signal the onset of diabetes or hyperthyroidism. There are a lot of prescription diets available for common diseases that will help the cat adjust to the changing dietary needs. However, be aware of the difficulty in changing a cat's diet due to their finicky preferences. If a cat has always had wet food it will be hard to switch over to a dry food, and vice versa. Even changing between different wet foods or different dry foods can be hard. Then again, sometimes adding a little warm water on top of the dry food can help.
Uroliths
3. Uroliths are stones or crystals that form in the bladder due to the abnormal pH or calcium levels in the urine. Many cat foods contain restricted amounts of magnesium and contain urinary acidifiers to help reduce the risk of struvite crystals, a common problem in younger and adult cats. As cats age, they become less prone to struvite crystals but more prone to calcium oxalate crystals. Foods formulated to reduce struvite crystal formation may increase calcium oxalate formation. It is important to avoid these foods in older cats. Calcium oxalate crystals can contribute to bladder infections, urinary blockages, and may require surgical removal.
Decision Time
4. Once you grasp an understanding of a cats nutritional needs you are on a good pathway to creating a healthy diet. The main dietary concerns in a healthy, older cat are to decrease calorie intake and to monitor crystal/oxalate formation. It is wise to have annual wellness blood work and a urinalysis done for aging cats, in order to monitor organ function so that any special dietary needs can be accommodated and arising diseases can be treated early. If your cat has a clean bill of health, the best choice would be a commercial diet from a reputable manufacturer specifically made for adult or senior cats. Just remember: Changes in eating and drinking habits can be an early indicator of serious health problems so be proactive.