Nutrition
For An Aging Cat!
by
Amanda Baker
All cats are created equal,
right? Wrong. Senior cats have special dietary needs, different
from adult cats and kittens. Their bodies require different
things.
Sometimes, you will have to
supplement in order to provide them proper nutrition. Their energy
needs may stay the same, but a cat’s ability to absorb fat
changes as it ages. A cat in his senior years will need more
protein than other cats of different ages. Smaller kibble,
fortified with more vitamins and antioxidants, should be available
as an option for senior cats.
As cats age, they become much
more vulnerable to disease, as their immune system weakens over
time. A cat’s diet should reflect that change and be altered to
provide more of a defense. Perhaps they need to increase their
Omega-3 fatty acid intake due to a form of cancer, or maybe they
need a soft gentle food due to an oral disease. A thorough checkup
is necessary to establish the proper plan for your cat’s dietary
needs to help keep your senior cat healthy throughout his later
years.
A checkup is very important, as
the same checkup your cat received as a kitten and as an adult
will not be the same as the one he has as a senior. Bodies and
chemical structure, just as with humans, change. Your own health
at sixty is certainly not the same as your health as a newborn.
A lot of elderly cats have
difficulty eating. They may go several days without eating
entirely! After ruling out disease, you’re likely to find that
your cat has become rather finicky to the taste and feel of his
food. You might try warming food in the microwave, or adding juice
or gravy to the food. At the most extreme, there is something
called an animal appetite stimulator that you can get from the
vet. However, this should be used as a very last resort.
Observing your cat’s daily
dietary habits and relaying that information to your vet will help
the both of you to work out a dietary plan that is tailor-made to
your senior cat. Through careful care and love, and proper
nutrition, your senior cat can live a prosperous life without
worry, and you can rest easier knowing you’re doing all that you
can for your senior cat.
All Things
Pondered
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