All cat owners hope their cats remain healthy. Naturally, you want to make sure your cat gets all the nutrition he needs at old age. Your cat might not jump as it used to do in ancient times. Also, their dietary needs change as cats age. So they need exceptional formulated best top rated senior cat food.
Just like humans, cats also experience changes in their body parts as an older adult does. Senior cats experience changes in their sight and become less active. Therefore, it becomes necessary to maintain a healthy weight.
In addition, be sure is that an adequate amount of protein is essential for all senior cats. Senior cats also face some gastrointestinal problems, making it difficult to digest the food for older cats.
A cat owner needs to focus on keeping track of all the dietary needs of your cat. Otherwise, it may gain weight or become too skinny. For unusual changes in your senior cats, take your older cat to the vet for monitoring if you are not sure.
Is Senior Cat Food Necessary for My Cat?
A feline health center reports that a cat becomes senior when its age is more than 7 years. We can say a 10 years old cat is similar to a 55 years old person. Accordingly, the cat’s health needs change related to food and mobility.
However, there is no age when your cat may need senior cat food. Some cats may never need it and continue feeding the adult cats. If your cat is fine on their regular adult cat food, do not move to senior cat food.
There is some situation which tells you to change for senior cat food. Senior cats are prone to health problems. They may start gaining weight due to less mobility. Also, they may get skinny due to a lack of nutrition in their food. Kidney issues can be developed in older cats.
To encounter these health problems, senior cat food is designed with essential nutrition. For instance, Taurine is necessary for a senior cat’s heart functionality, and omega fatty acid supports joint issues. Also, senior cat food is helpful for easy digestion.
12 Best High in Quality Rated Senior Cat Foods
If you have decided to change to senior cat food, we are here to help you with several excellent options. As long as the senior cat food you choose that provides the right balance of essential nutrition is helpful to maintain a healthy weight.
If you are looking for senior cat food, especially for particular health issues, you are in the right place. We have listed the 12 Best senior cat foods that are helpful for different health issues. The recommended foods include high protein wet cat food for senior cats.
1. Iams Proactive Health Healthy Senior – Best Food for Older Cats
Iams Proactive Health Healthy Senior dry cat food is the best food for your older cat. This food contains chicken as the primary ingredient and primary source of protein. This food is full of protein to provide energy to keep your cat active.
Overall, it is prepared to support the health of the older cat. For instance, vitamin E for the immune system, minerals for strong bones and joints, kibbles for healthy teeth, and easy digestion. It works for indoor and outdoor cats. It contains ground whole corn to balance nutrition for older cats’ diets.
Pros:
- Inexpensive
- Full of protein
- Support muscle, joints, skin, and coat.
- Boost immune system
Cons:
- By Product meal
2. Nutro Wholesome Essentials – Best For Indoor Senior
Nutro Wholesome Essentials Indoor dry cat food includes chicken as the core ingredient. Also, there are no added grains, corn, wheat, soy, or artificial preservatives. It is a complete and well-balanced diet for aging cats.
There is an antioxidant present in the food to boost the immune system. It includes Taurine to support heart health, omega fatty acids to make skin and fur coats soft. Also, there is an extra natural fiber that helps indigestion.
Nutro wholesome essentials are made of all-natural ingredients. Even picky cats love this food.
Pros:
- Natural Ingredients
- No grains
- No added preservatives
- Taurine
- Fibre for good digestion
Cons:
- Pricey
3. Hill’s Prescription Care Cat Food – Best for Older Cats with Kidney Problems
Older cats are prone to developing kidney problems as they age more. Hill’s prescription diet kidney care dry cat food is specially designed for such senior cats. Kidney functioning of older cats declines due to which cats tend to consume less nutrition from their food. It results in a loss in weight and becoming skinny.
This food protects vital kidney function and supports the natural ability to build lean muscle daily. It comes in an ocean flavor and is clinically tested to improve & lengthen the quality of life of older cats.
Pros:
- Kidney care
- Oceanic flavor
- Clinically tested
- Well balanced diet
Cons:
- Expensive
- Not for general health
4. Hartz Delectable Bisque lickable – Best Treat for Senior Cats
Hartz Delectable Bisque lickable cat treat comes in two delicious flavors. It is made with real chicken and tuna, blended into a smooth gravy. It is a moisture-rich cat food that helps in healthy digestion for senior cats.
If your older cat is facing a teeth problem, this lickable wet cat treat is a great choice. This food is a complete and balanced diet for older cats. Also, this food is suitable for those cats who have become skinny due to low appetite.
Pros:
1. Easy to feed
2. Yummy flavor
3. Well balanced diet
4. Affordable
5. Prebiotic
Cons:
1. Too wet
2. Not for mealtime.
5. Merrick Purrfect Bistro Grain-free – Best for Aged Cats with Vomit
This food comes with over 70% chicken and turkey animal protein and includes organic alfalfa, sweet potatoes, and peas. It is free of grains. It provides a wide range of vitamins, minerals, and Taurine to support all functions of older cats.
Moreover, antioxidants in the food boost the immune system, and omega fatty acid supports good skin and fur coats. Fiber’s presence helps in better digestion for older cats. It also improves vomiting due to hairball.
Pros:
- High protein
- Fibre
- Improve health
- Natural ingredients
- Grain-free
Cons:
- Not for picky eaters
6. Purina Beyond simply indoor Grain-free – Best Natural diet
This food is made with only wild-caught salmon as the core ingredient. Also, there are added peas for peas protein. However, this food does not include grain. The meat present in the recipes is high in omega fatty acids and natural fibers to prevent hairballs.
Also, the fat content is low in the food if your cat is sensitive to being overweight. In addition to it, for good digestion health, natural prebiotics is added.
Pros:
- Natural diet
- Grain-free
- Prebiotics
- Aids immune system
- Low fat
- Prevent hairball
Cons:
- Peas protein
- Expensive
7. American Journey Indoor Pate Grain-free recipe – Best wet cat food for senior cats
American Journey wet cat food is beneficial to those cats with dental problems and unary tract problems. Also, it is a budget-friendly food.
American Journey Recipe is primarily made with chicken-based meat such as chicken liver and chicken broth. This food is a great choice to provide lean animal-based protein and amino acids to your senior cat.
Moreover, this recipe does not make use of grains, soy, and by-products meals. So there is no chance of any allergy to your older cat.
Pros:
- Meat-based ingredients
- No grains
- Budget-friendly
- Balanced diet
Cons:
- Only for indoor cats
8. Fancy feast senior cat food – Best Canned Old Cat Food
Fancy feast is a common choice for many cat owners because it is budget-friendly. Most meat ingredients used in this recipe are meat by-products. However, meat by-products also have nutritional value.
This food comes in a variety of packs to ensure to attract the finicky cats. It is available in chicken, beef, and tuna minced with complete vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to keep your cat healthy.
Pros:
- Four delicious flavor
- Complete diet
- Support better health
- Inexpensive
Cons:
- Meat by-products
9. Purina Pro Plan Prime Plus dry cat food
This dry cat food of Purina Pro is prepared after over 9 years of research to provide a complete and well-balanced diet. This recipe contains antioxidants, vitamin E, Taurine to support the better functionality of senior cats.
Chicken is added as a primary ingredient along with poultry by-products. For better healthy skin and coat, there are enough omega fatty acids. Also, there is a prebiotic to aid in digestion—beef fat to control the overweight of a senior cat.
Pros:
- Chicken
- Prebiotic fiber
- Essential nutrients
- Natural flavor
Cons:
- May cause digestion problem
- Poultry by product
10. Royal Canin Gravy Canned-Wet Cat Food
This food is specially designed for 12 plus aged cats with optimum balanced nutrients. It comprises pork, chicken, and chicken liver slices dibbed in gravy that is easy to chew and digest.
This food is nutritionally complete with high-quality proteins, fats, and low carbohydrates. This supports the kidney and maintains healthy joints.
Pros:
- Complete a balanced diet
- Healthy digestion
- No added preservatives and color
Cons:
- Expensive
11. Purina Pro Plan classic canned cat food – Best for easy digestion
This food is a natural combination of salmon and tuna in one once pack. Also, it is highly digestible and loaded with antioxidants to boost the immune system of an adult cat. Purina Pro Plan Classic wet cat food is nutritionally complete with protein, vitamins, and minerals, plus taurine, an amino acid.
Pros:
- Easy to digest
- Highly moisturized
- Balanced diet
Cons:
- May cause too much urine
12. Nulo Freestyle Grain-Free dry cat food
This savory recipe contains Alaska Pollock and Duck as primary ingredients to provide high-quality protein. It is prepared with natural fibers and L-carnitine to aid healthy weight. Also, there are added prebiotics for good digestion and boost the immune system with loaded fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals.
Pros:
- Grain-free
- High-level protein
- Prebiotics
- Well balanced diet
Cons:
- Dry and hard to eat
Buying guide for senior cat food -Things to consider
There are many things to consider in cat food if you’re purchasing it for older cats. Senior cats have different nutritional needs compared to adult cats.
Here we’ve mentioned all the factors that you must remember.
Nutrition needs for senior cats
Senior cats need different amounts of calories depending on their current weight. There must be a well-balanced nutrient diet for them. Taurine is essential for older cats to support heart functions. Also, make sure food is grain-free and has no added preservatives to avoid any allergies.
Dental problems
Most of the older cats have teeth problems that make them difficult to eat. The food must be soft and easy to chew for older cats.
Appetite changes
A senior cat experiences a decrease in appetite and eats less than before. Fatigue and not eating, as usual, are the signal of losing appetite. Providing tastier food with balanced nutrition is a great option to recover desire.
Urinary tract issues
All senior cats suffer from urinary tract problems at this age. At this age, older cats also develop stones in their kidney. It’s because they feel less thirst. To prevent this, cat food must have a good amount of moisture.
Conclusion
To sum up, these all recommend senior cat foods that are specially formulated to fulfill the dietary needs of an old cat. However, the best food for your senior depends on your cat’s specific nutritional needs and preferences.
However, we recommend Iams Proactive Health healthy senior as the best senior cat food. It is high in proteins and has well-balanced nutrition to keep your cat fit and fine.
I hope this article was helpful for you. If you have any query leave us a comment, we will get back to you as soon as possible.
