As our feline buddies age, their dietary wants evolve. Senior cats, sometimes these over 7 or 10 years outdated, could require a food plan that helps their altering our bodies and helps handle age-related well being points. Right here, we’ll discover key vitamins important for senior cats, frequent well being issues, and the way our gently-cooked Rooster Cacciatore dish can assist preserve your senior cat wholesome and completely happy.
Widespread Well being Considerations in Senior Cats
As cats age, they’ll change into extra inclined to varied well being points. Listed here are some frequent issues for our senior cats:
- Kidney Illness: A prevalent problem in older cats, kidney illness can usually be managed with a food plan low in phosphorus and excessive in moisture. The kidneys are organs that filter the blood to take away waste and produce urine. When cats are stricken with kidney illness, their means to effectively filter waste is affected. Senior cats may be extra vulnerable to growing power kidney illness as they’re unable to regenerate and could also be broken over time with age.
- Arthritis: Joint ache and stiffness are frequent in senior cats on account of wear-and-tear. For cats who could also be chubby or overweight, the chance for arthritis is larger as they age on account of elevated load on the joints. Arthritis is a painful situation for cats. In canine, a number of vitamins have been studied for his or her preventative and potential in ache administration, although much less analysis is out there for cats. That mentioned, omega 3 fatty acids are regarded as essential within the upkeep of wholesome joints.
- Coronary heart Illness: Sustaining coronary heart well being is essential for senior cats and hyper cardiomyopathies may be fairly frequent in cats. Coronary heart well being is, sadly, not closely researched in cats; nevertheless, we all know the significance of taurine, and different amino acids, in addition to the omega 3 and 6 fatty acids for coronary heart well being and performance!
- Weight Administration: Senior cats usually face weight fluctuations. The vast majority of pet cats in North America are chubby or overweight. Concerning seniors, this may end up in different points, equivalent to better threat for arthritis, in addition to for Kind II Diabetes. Nevertheless, senior cats additionally are likely to endure from lack of muscle mass – a situation generally known as sarcopenia. Senior cats will profit from a high-quality protein to take care of muscle, and in some situations, a decrease calorie dense meals might assist in stopping extreme weight reduction.
- Dental Well being: Dental points could make consuming tough for older cats. When cats haven’t had common dental checkups and cleanings all through their lifetime, this may enhance the development of dental ailments which may usually be painful and tough to deal with.
Key Vitamins for Senior Cats
Due to the better threat for sure ailments and well being situations in senior cats, there are some particular vitamins of curiosity for seniors.
- Protein: Senior cats want high-quality protein to take care of muscle mass and total well being. This can assist in stopping muscle mass loss and sarcopenia.
- Phosphorus: Phosphorus is commonly the mineral of curiosity when attempting to mitigate kidney points. In senior cats the place kidney illness could also be a priority, minimizing extra phosphorus could possibly be helpful in decreasing stress on the kidneys.
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Omega-3s, present in our cat recipes by anchovy fish oil, are very important for decreasing irritation, supporting joint well being, and sustaining a wholesome coat. They could even be essential in coronary heart well being for cats!
- Antioxidants: Elements wealthy in antioxidants, equivalent to tomatoes that are excessive in lycopene, can assist help cell well being and have potential anti-aging advantages which have been noticed in people.
- Water: Typically below regarded is the function of water in feline well being. Hydration is vital to a wholesome cat and may be useful in sustaining power expenditure, cell well being and performance, kidney well being, and pores and skin and coat well being!
Why Gently-Cooked Meals?
Gently-cooked meals is a superb possibility for senior cats. It may possibly present a extremely digestible possibility for senior cats and assist to take care of hydration by including some additional moisture into their food plan. Gently-cooked meals will also be simpler on the enamel than a conventional kibble and are extremely palatable for our cats!
Tom&Sawyer’s Rooster Cacciatore dish is crafted to supply high-quality, simply digestible vitamins that help the distinctive wants of senior cats. By utilizing contemporary, healthful components, we guarantee your cat will get the very best diet to thrive of their golden years. See Tom&Sawyer’s three full and balanced cat meals right here!
In conclusion, feeding your senior cat a food plan wealthy in important vitamins and tailor-made to their particular well being wants can considerably enhance their high quality of life.
Earlier than switching your cat’s food plan, we advocate consulting along with your veterinarian to make sure the brand new meals is correct for them.
Written by: Hannah Godfrey
Animal Nutritionist
BSc.H. | MSc. Animal Diet
www.tomandsawyer.com
References:
Churchill, J.A., & Eirmann, L. (2021). Senior pet diet and administration. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Observe, 51(3), 635-651. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cvsm.2021.01.004
Laflamme, D., & Gunn-Moore, D. (2014). Diet of ageing cats. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Observe, 44(4), 761-774. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cvsm.2014.03.001
Pittari J., et al. (2009). American Affiliation of Feline Practitioners: Senior Care Tips. Journal of Feline Medication & Surgical procedure, 11(9), 763-778. https://doi-org.subzero.lib.uoguelph.ca/10.1016/j.jfms.2009.07.0
