Feeding an older cat: what actually changes

Cats age discreetly. There is no grey muzzle to warn you, just a cat that sleeps a little longer, jumps a little less, and starts eating its food more slowly, or leaving some of it. Most cats are considered "mature" from around 8 and "senior" from around 11. Here is what changes in the bowl, and what helps.

What changes with age

• Smell and taste fade. Food that smelled wonderful at five may smell of very little at fourteen, and a cat that cannot smell its food may not want it.
• Teeth and gums. Dental problems are very common in older cats. Hard or large pieces can become uncomfortable to chew.
• Weight moves in both directions. Many middle-aged cats gain weight as they slow down. Later, from around 12, many lose weight and muscle, because they eat less or digest less efficiently.
• Thirst. Older cats often drink too little, and staying well hydrated matters even more as kidneys age.

None of this is a reason to change everything. It is a reason to watch more closely and adjust a few things.

Make the food easy to eat

• Softer textures. If your cat chews carefully, drops food, or eats on one side of the mouth, softer food helps (painful teeth are common at this age, and worth having checked). Our Senior recipes are minced fillets, tuna with mackerel or chicken with duck: the same real fish and chicken as our other fillets, in smaller pieces.
• More smell. Serve wet food at room temperature, or add a spoonful of warm water. A stronger smell often brings back interest.
• Smaller, more frequent meals. Three or four small meals can suit an older cat better than two big ones.
• A comfortable spot. A cat with stiff joints may not want to climb to its usual high feeding place. A bowl at floor level, in a quiet corner, can make a difference.

Keep the water coming

Wet food is one of the simplest ways to help an older cat stay hydrated. Our Senior fillets are made with more broth than our standard fillets (39% of the recipe), and are around 80% moisture, so every tin brings water as well as food. More on hydration in Cats and water: why wet food matters.

Keep fresh water available in several places, in wide, shallow bowls.

Watch the weight, both ways

Weigh your older cat every month on the same scale, and feel along the back and ribs:

• Gaining weight: reduce the portion by about 10%, cut back on treats, and encourage play.
• Losing weight without trying: do not just add more food. Unexplained weight loss in an older cat is a reason to see the vet, because it can be the first sign of a medical problem that is easier to manage when caught early.

From around 11, a check-up twice a year makes it easier to catch changes early.

Our guide to how much a cat should eat explains how to check the shape by hand.

A complete base, still

Like all our fillets, the Senior recipes are complementary: they are made to go with a complete food, which provides the full balance of vitamins and minerals. For an older cat, that base can be a kibble it still eats comfortably, or a complete wet food, especially if chewing has become harder. If your cat has a diagnosed condition that needs a specific diet, follow that diet; fillets can usually stay as an occasional treat, but check first.

In short

1. From around 8, appetite, teeth, weight and thirst start to change.
2. Softer textures, stronger smell and smaller meals make food easier to enjoy.
3. Wet food with plenty of broth helps an older cat stay hydrated.
4. Weigh monthly; unexplained weight loss means a vet visit.
5. Keep a complete food as the base, and check in twice a year from around 11.

Your older cat may sleep through most of the day. It will still be wide awake at dinner time, which is the one schedule age does not change.