Your senior feline friend might still act and look young, but that does not mean it’s still okay to fill his bowl with the same regular cat food he has always eaten. Depending on the health of your aging cat, his diet might need an overhaul. When your cat reaches 12 years old, he’s similar to a human who’s 64 years old. In your cat’s senior years, he starts to fall prey to a lot of the same diseases as humans do.
Table of Contents
How to fed your senior cat
Feed your senior cat often and little, since he might feel overwhelmed if you give him plenty of food at a time. So long as he doesn’t have any medical issues that make him unsuitable for little feeding, you can also give him occasional treats.
Serve your cat’s food at room temperature setting so that he can smell and taste the food properly. If you are feeding him wet food, you will need to remove opened pouches or cans from your refrigerator and 2 hours before his feeding time. It is also fine to warm wet canned foods in a microwave, but only for a short time and ensure that the food will only reach room temperature. When it comes to storing wet cat food, make sure to keep it refrigerated and not open for longer than a day.
How to properly feed your senior cat wet food
It is very important to serve food to your senior cat in a low, clean saucer or bowl since most older cats od not like their food touching the bowl’s side portion. Also, do not let wet cat food dry in his bowl since older cats can be extremely particular about the freshness of cat food.
How to properly feed your senior cat dry food
If you are feeding your senior cat dry cat food, make sure to store in a clean and dry environment. Airtight containers or re-sealable packaging can help keep preserve the taste since it seals the aroma.
Senior cats are naturally habit creatures, so it is best that you feed your cat in the same location and at the same time every day. You should also choose a quiet place in your home, away from the noises of the outdoors and also away from where you and your family eat. Try placing the bowls away from his litter tray and away from his water bowl.
If there’s more than one cat in the house, make sure to keep their bowls away from each other to avoid bullying or confrontations. You might need to give your senior cat food in a separate location to avoid younger cats who are fast eaters to steal his food.
How much should you feed your senior cat?
When it comes to the specially formulated diet of your senior cat, it’s best to follow the pack’s feeding guide. But bear in mind that the guide is just here to give you ideas on how to feed a senior cat. Every cat is different, so the most important thing you should do is to feed your senior cat the most suited food for him in order to maintain a healthy and lean body condition. When it comes to specially formulated senior cat diet, the most reliable recommendations should come from your veterinarian.
[crp]
Common questions about how often you should feed your senior cat
Do older cats eat more?
When your cat gets older, it is normal for his appetite as well as eating habits to change. Some cats even lose interest in the cat food they usually loved, while other cats want to eat less than their normal food portions when they were younger. On the other hand, you should be worried if your senior cat is not eating at all, or is eating very well but still losing weight.
How much wet food should I feed my senior cat?
Most wet cat foods come in 3ounce cans and experts recommend feeding one can per day for every 3 to 3.5 pounds of body weight. But you should also remember that cat food brands tend to vary. Nevertheless, a healthy and happy feline will be able to stay active and maintain a good weight so there’s nothing to worry about as long as he’s eating well – not too much and too little.
Why is my senior cat always hungry?
Aging makes senior cats always hunger. The natural changes that take place with feline aging can make him hungry most of the time too. As your cat gets older, his ability to digest protein and fat decreases while his energy requirement increases. This shift usually happens at around 13 years of age.
Conclusion
How often you should feed your senior cat may depend not only on your cat’s preference but on your schedule too. Mornings might be difficult for you since you need to go to work or send the kids off to their respective schools. Under those conditions, feeding your senior cat may be way easier done in the afternoon or evening when it is less busy and quieter. It’s best to find the best schedule that can work well for you and your feline friend, and then try to keep that routine consistent.
