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The Best Cat Foods For Older Cats To Buy

As cats become older, their dietary requirements alter, and you'll need to start thinking about senior cat food.

What worked for them as an enthusiastic kitten may not work for them as an adult cat (especially when they reach the age that vets refer to as 'geriatric cats,' which are cats over the age of fifteen).

That's why we've put together this list of the finest cat food for older cats for you and your cherished senior pet.

As you read our whole guide to the best senior cat food below, you'll see how our team's research and testing with their senior cats lead us to identify our twelve best cat foods for older cats.

We buy and test as much good food as we can and poll our team, vets, and feline nutritionists, as well as our cat-owning social media network (over one million strong), before settling on the best senior cat food we can suggest.

Here are the best cat food for older cats that BestForPets (bestforpets.org) think you should buy.

Reviews

Proactive Health Healthy Senior Iams (Overall Best Food for Older Cats)
 

The Iams Proactive Health Healthy Senior formula is an excellent method to provide a balanced diet to your senior cat. This dry meal is high in protein, with chicken as the first ingredient and no fillers.

This formula’s high protein content gives energy for playing and keeps your cat’s muscles in great shape. Other ingredients in this dry food, in addition to the protein, improve your cat’s general health.

It contains vitamin E for a robust immune system, L carnitine for weight control, and calcium and potassium for strong bones and joints.

Not to add, the kibble cleans cats’ teeth and removes plaque while remaining soft, which is ideal for senior cats with tooth concerns.

One of the best things about Iams Proactive Health Healthy Senior dry food is how adaptable and simple it is to incorporate into any cat’s diet.

It is suitable for both indoor and outdoor cats and offers the same healthy, balanced diet to kittens. This is especially useful in houses with many cats of varying ages.

Pros

  • The first component is chicken, and there are no fillers.
  • Beneficial to the muscles, bones, joints, and coat of older cats.
  • Ingredients aid in weight loss and immune system enhancement.
  • Crunchy bites polish teeth while remaining gentle on the palate.
  • Very adaptable and suitable for a wide range of ages and lifestyles.

Cons

  • This dry food has caused constipation in some cats.

 

Mature Blue Buffalo Freedom Indoor (Best Wet Cat Food for Older Cats)
 

The Blue Buffalo Freedom Indoor Mature wet cat food is an excellent method to supplement your aged cat’s diet with grain-free, natural meals.

This best wet cat food for senior cats contains no grain, gluten, by-products, artificial flavors, or preservatives and is packed with healthful fruits and vegetables.

This pate wet food also contains high protein chicken, which gives your elderly cat lots of energy and is beneficial for their digestion.

It contains all of the necessary vitamins and minerals that mature cats require in their meals to keep healthy and active. Its smooth pate texture is not only appealing, but it is also ideal for cats with few or no teeth.

Picky eaters will enjoy this excellent wet cat food for senior cats. Many indoor cats have reported having more energy and less vomiting after eating our top-rated senior wet cat chow.

This is our top recommendation for wet food and soft cat food for seniors. It comes highly recommended.

Pros

  • Gluten-free and grain-free
  • High in chicken protein, which is beneficial to energy and digestion.
  • Smooth pate texture is ideal for cats with little or no teeth.
  • Contains vitamins and minerals that are vital for the health of senior cats.

Cons

  • Outdoor cats may require a different formula than those designed for indoor cats.

 

Senior Cat Dry Food in Solid Gold (Best Dry Food for Older Cats)
 

Solid Gold Senior Cat Dry Food is a natural, grain-free dry food that contains necessary vitamins and minerals for the health of elderly cats. This senior dry food was created with common senior cat health issues in mind.

Based on our research and the favorable feedback from our community, this is an easy choice for the finest dry cat food for senior cats.

Solid Gold Senior Cat Dry Food is a balanced diet that is easy to digest, with 33% protein, 12% fat, and 4.5% fiber. This dry food has no corn, wheat, soy, artificial flavors, or preservatives, so your cat will stay fuller for longer.

It also contains cranberries, which help with urinary health and provide antioxidants to enhance immune systems, omega fatty acids, which help develop soft and lustrous coats, and prebiotics and probiotics for optimal gastrointestinal functioning.

Many fussy eaters clean their bowls of Solid Gold dry food, and many owners report that their cats’ vomiting after meals has decreased. This dry food’s little bits are extremely gentle on mouths with missing teeth or sensitive gums.

Pros

  • Picky eaters will enjoy the turkey, potato, and cranberry flavor.
  • There is no corn, wheat, soy, artificial flavors, or preservatives in this product.
  • Small bites are ideal for cats that have teeth or gum issues.
  • Cranberries are beneficial to both urinary and immune system health.
  • Omega-3 fatty acids promote healthy coats.

Cons

  • Despite little bits, dry, crunchy food may still be too rough for certain tongue conditions.

 

Wholesome Nutro Essentials (Best Cat Food for Older Indoor Cats)
 

Wholesome Nutro Essentials Indoor senior dry food contains chicken as the first component and is free of GMOs, maize, wheat, soy, and chemical preservatives. It also offers a variety of nutrients that help to keep aged cats healthy.

Taurine, which supports heart health, omega 6 fatty acids, which soften coats and skin, antioxidants, which maintain healthy immune systems, and natural fiber, which aids in digestion are among the nutrients contained.

One of the most appealing aspects of Nutro Wholesome Essentials Indoor dry food is distinguished by the use of natural, high-quality ingredients. They collaborate with farmers to ensure that each bag contains fresh, healthful ingredients.

Many fussy cats prefer this dry food, and it has also been shown to alleviate digestive difficulties such as vomiting. This is the one to get if you have an indoor cat who enjoys dry food. If they prefer wet, see our recommendation at number 2 above.

Pros

  • Contains high-quality ingredients, with chicken listed as the first ingredient.
  • There are no GMOs, maize, wheat, soy, or artificial preservatives in this product.
  • Taurine, omega-6 fatty acids, antioxidants, and fiber are key nutrients that enhance general health.
  • On this dry diet, cats can have lustrous coats and regular litter box visits.

Cons

  • On the pricey side
  • Some cats become constipated after consuming this dry food.

 

Science Diet by Hill’s Oral Care, Dry Cat Food (Best Cat Food For Older Cats with Bad Teeth)
 

Science Diet by Hill’s Dry Cat Diet Oral Care is a dry food that contains all of the key elements required for cats 11 and older.

This senior cat chow contains taurine, vitamin E, omega 3 fatty acids, omega 6 fatty acids, antioxidants, and natural fiber, among other vitamins and minerals.

Most significantly, this cta meal is designed specifically for cats who have terrible teeth.

We detail all of your options in a separate guide for cat food for older cats with bad teeth, and this is our top pick in that guide.

Many cats have reported that these senior cat diets have helped their heart health, bladder and renal health, vitality, smoother skin, shinier coats, and digestion. This dry food composition is extremely gentle on the stomach.

This dry diet, made entirely of natural ingredients, should be supplemented with wet food to guarantee adequate hydration for your senior cat. The kibble bits are incredibly small, making them ideal for cats with little or no teeth.

The Science Diet of Hill Oral Care Dry Cat Food is also the top veterinarian-recommended cat food for senior cats with bad teeth.

Pros

  • Natural substances were used.
  • Nutrients benefit the heart, bladder, kidneys, skin, coat, and digestive systems.
  • This cat food has given cats more energy and a better appetite.
  • Small bites are simple for cats with few or no teeth to chew.
  • It is the most popular veterinarian-recommended cat food for cats who have bad teeth.

Cons

  • A little pricey

Conclusion

What matters most in your senior cat’s diet is determined by their individual dietary needs and preferences.

It may take some trial and error to locate the best cat foods for older cats to meet all of their demands, but once you do, you’ll feel like you have a whole new cat!

Overall, Iams Proactive Health Healthy Senior is BestForPets‘ (bestforpets.org) top cat food for senior cats since it is a terrific method to nourish your aging pussycat.

It is high in protein, gives your cat plenty of energy for playing, and keeps him in good form. As a general rule, stick to premium brands that specialize in diets for senior cats.

You’ll be in good hands if you stick to well-known brands and select recipes dedicated to giving only the best cat food for senior cats.

Buying Guide for the Best Senior Cat Food

What dietary changes should you make for an elderly cat?

Cats’ diets must adapt as they age due to several physiological changes, just like ours!

A drastic nutritional change is not required, but because your feline pals are slower, less lively, and even more relaxed these days, a small nutritional adjustment with specialized senior cat meals can go a long way.

Senior Cat Nutrition Requires More Water

Cats grow significantly more prone to dehydration as they age. This produces weariness, which is mostly due to their lower energy levels since they are less proactive in on-boarding fresh water.

Cats are notoriously lethargic even in the best of circumstances! Dehydration is dangerous and can lead to grave illnesses, so don’t underestimate it or take your elderly cat’s thirst for water for granted.

It is vital that your cats have various sources of fresh water around the house. If they do not appear to be drinking regularly from the water placed out for them, it is a wise decision to consider purchasing a cat water fountain.

Cats prefer drinking from rushing water (don’t ask why, they just do!) As a result, a cat water fountain could be an excellent investment in order to keep their water levels stable.

The Best Soft Cat Food for Senior Cats

The best cat food for senior cats is typically soft and moist. Soft cat food for seniors has a few major advantages for your senior cat.

For starters, they retain significantly more moisture than dry foods and thus aid in the hydration process. As we’ve seen, getting adequate water into your senior or geriatric cat is critical.

Second, because elderly cats’ teeth may be weakening, softer foods will be easier for them to consume. They may find the dry kibble painful, causing them to eat less than they need, compromising their nutritional intake.

Softer foods are also more appealing to elderly cats. Wet cat food is often the best choice for fussy older cats.

They have more flavor and a stronger aroma that your senior or geriatric cat should enjoy, so keep that in mind when changing their OAP diet.

In our entire guide, we rank the best wet cat food for elderly cats second.

Senior Cat Food Requires More Fiber

Fiber is a nutrient that you can increase in your senior cat’s diet. Fiber offers numerous advantages and might help your aged cat act more youthfully.

You might also want to check out our guide to the best high fiber cat food for other options of this sort of food. Fiber is a carbohydrate that occurs naturally in a range of meals.

Fiber was typically obtained by younger cats from the hair and bones of their prey. However, elderly cats do not absorb as much fiber in this method and must obtain it from other sources of diet.

When fiber is included in your cat’s diet, it can be quite healthy. Fiber, for instance, can help prevent hairballs.

We all know that hairballs are a byproduct of cats’ grooming, but with more fiber, hairballs will travel naturally down their digestive track rather than building up until they need to be regurgitated.

Additional fiber can also help with digestive disorders including constipation and diarrhea. Because fiber is indigestible, it is extremely useful non these regions.

Because your cat cannot digest fiber, it will pass quickly through their digestive system, bringing anything else in their digestive tract with it.

Senior Cat Food with a Low Fat Content

Cats’ inherent capacity to metabolize lipids declines as they age.

When combined with their lowered activity and exercise levels, eating foods with a high fat content is likely to lead to obesity. To combat this, choose meals for senior cats and a diet with a lower fat level overall.

What Should I Feed an Elderly Cat?

Portion sizes for senior cats are highly depending on your elder pussycat’s size and weight! Because the calorific content of every cat meals varies, you must be mindful of how much you feed them and the nutritional value.

Investing in an automated cat feeder, such as the Surefeed Microchip Pet Feeder Connect, is a practical way to manage portion size.

This ingenious gizmo measures the amount of food your cat consumes and sends the information to an app on your phone. That is extremely creative and efficient.

Whether or not you use an automatic feeder, you should always contact with your veterinarian for precise guidance on how to adjust to their senior citizen diet.

If your cat needs to reduce weight, there are numerous weight reduction foods available that help older cats lose weight in a healthy way.

To reiterate, it is always preferable to seek the counsel of a veterinarian before placing your senior cat on any type of diet.

Author Image

Dr. Deborah Fletcher

Deborah R. Fletcher, DVM, is a skilled veterinarian with more than 15 years of experience dealing with companion and exotic animals. She has experience caring for a variety of animals, including household cats and dogs, reptiles, birds of prey, and even primates. Dr. Fletcher is a valuable part of the BestForPets team, where she contributes to their aim of providing pets and their owners with the finest possible treatment and services.

Veterinarian (DVM) Dr. Deborah Fletcher

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