The ideal nutrition for older cats

As your cat matures, their body is changing – and as that happens, their nutritional needs change too. It’s a natural life transition for them, and with the right nutrition and care, you can confidently support their health through it.

Choosing a specially formulated senior cat diet is key, as these diets support healthy ageing by addressing both internal and external changes. They can help maintain joint and dental health, ensuring your cat thrives in their golden years.

To help prepare you for the years ahead, we explore what to feed old cats – and why a change in diet is so beneficial to their health.

The right nutrition for the right age

Senior cats’ nutritional requirements are very different to what they need when they’re younger. Here’s what you need to know.

From around 7 years of age, a cat’s biological needs begin to change. It’s likely that you won’t notice any outward signs of these changes, so it’s worth consulting your vet when they reach this age, to establish the right diet and to ensure that their bodies are supported with the right nutrients for the years to come. Discover ROYAL CANIN® Feline Health Nutrition Adult +.

At age 11, changes start to become more visible. You might notice your senior cat’s skin and coat become less silky or turn whiter, and they may find it harder to groom themselves than they used to. They may also be less steady on their paws and have trouble leaping for their favourite toy or hunting in the garden. This is when their diet should give extra support for mobility and joint health, to keep them active and stimulated as they age. Discover ROYAL CANIN® Ageing 11+.

Another key stage is 15 years, when additional dental and digestive issues can also affect the way your super-senior cat eats. It’s around this age when you might need to consider what kind of food texture you should choose for an ageing cat, as they could begin to find it harder to eat or to chew the food they previously loved. Soft and wet food for senior cats is a great alternative to kibble and will be easier to eat. Discover ROYAL CANIN® Ageing 15+.

Alongside this, a decreased ability to smell and taste can affect appetites, so a super-senior cat’s diet needs to be particularly palatable, encouraging them to feed and continue to get the nutrients they need.

Your senior cat’s nutritional needs

To support their health, older cat diets include nutrients that are particularly beneficial to their needs. Here are some key ingredients:

• To support mobility, food and supplements for older cats often include nutrients such as glucosamine and chondroitin, as well as fatty acids such as EPA and DHA.
• To support digestion, highly digestible proteins can be added. Additionally, beet pulp can also be beneficial, while omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA can help support digestive health.
• Wet food for ageing cats increases your cat's water intake and helps support lower urinary tract health. and helps support lower urinary tract health.
• To support kidney function, diets for ageing cats should contain high-quality protein and adapted phosphorous levels.
• To maintain skin and coat health, diets for ageing cats often contain nutrients such as omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids and zinc.

When feeding older cats, there are four important things to remember for their diet. It should be easy to digest; complete and nutritionally balanced; maintain their well-being; and support the healthy ageing process.

For more advice on which specific food is the best choice to help your senior cat age healthily, speak to your veterinarian.