Feeding your cat a suitable diet is essential to their overall health and wellbeing at any stage of their life, but especially as they get older. As with humans, cats' nutritional needs change as they age and once they reach the age of 7, they're officially classed as senior pets. At this point, even the most energetic kitties may start to lack energy and lose their enthusiasm for eating. So, how can you help your feline friend to look and feel their best?
Luckily, we’ll be reviewing all of the most popular brands available, from IAMS and Lily's Kitchen to Purina, covering both wet and dry formulas to make sure we cater to every kitty's tastes. If you’re looking for the best product to feed your senior pet, this guide will leave you feeling like the cat that got the cream! Moreover, we have partnered with veterinarian Natalia Ramírez for reviewing and fact-checking the article to deliver you the best information.
Quick List - Top Senior Cat Foods
Perfect Fit
Vitamin E and Omega 3 Provides Advanced Nutrition for Ageing Pets
Natalia is a veterinarian with 10 years of experience, specialising in topics related to responsible pet ownership, preventive animal health and nutrition issues that she is currently deepening in her master's studies. She also helps new pet parents by delivering all the necessary information from their arrival at home to different stages of their life.
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Natalia is a veterinarian with 10 years of experience, specialising in topics related to responsible pet ownership, preventive animal health and nutrition issues that she is currently deepening in her master's studies. She also helps new pet parents by delivering all the necessary information from their arrival at home to different stages of their life.
Wet food has a strong smell so it can be tempting to cats, especially those who are picky eaters or who have a diminishing appetite. It's also softer on your senior cat’s mouth and easier to swallow, which is handy if they have dental problems or have lost some teeth over time.
However, wet food tends to come in smaller trays or pouches, meaning that if you like to buy in bulk, you’ll have to find somewhere suitable to store all of the packets! In addition, they work out more expensive than dry food too but can provide extra hydration due to having a higher water content.
Dry food can be bought in larger bags and will last much longer than wet food, making it easy to store and cost-effective but some cats may find the crunchy texture too hard to chew – you might need to add water to the kibble pieces to soften them.
You should always make sure that your pet has access to plenty of fresh water when eating a diet of dry food, as it contains much less moisture than wet food (only 10% as opposed to 80%). Having a bowl of water nearby means that your kitty won't get thirsty while munching on their dinner!
Cats fall way behind humans and their canine counterparts when it comes to their sense of taste, with only 470 taste buds on average compared to 10,000 and 1,700 in humans and dogs respectively. However, smell also contributes a huge amount to taste and cats are way ahead in this department – they have around 200 million scent receptors!
It's therefore important to find a food that smells appealing to your cat, especially as they might eat less as they get older. Ensuring that their food is as tempting as possible means they'll be able to absorb the nutrition they need to stay healthy in later life.
Chicken, fish, beef, and duck are all popular flavours that are bound to catch the attention of your pet! The perception of food odour is especially important for the initiation of food intake. If the odour is highly palatable to the cat, it is sufficient to encourage the cat to eat a diet.
If you're really looking to peak your cat's interest, try some cat treats as an extra special reward!
As they age, cats can lose the ability to process fats and proteins, meaning that they start to lose weight and their muscles deteriorate. If you find that your senior pet appears skinnier than they used to be, you can help them to bulk up a bit and retain energy by choosing a food that’s high in protein - over 10% for wet foods and 35 % for dry.
Proteins are made up of chemical building blocks called amino acids, and your cat's body uses these amino acids to build and repair muscles and bones, as well as to produce hormones and enzymes. They can also be used as an energy source to fuel bodily processes. Hence, the higher the percentage of protein in the food you buy, the better!
The cat is a strict carnivore, and therefore has special nutritional requirements that differentiate it from other carnivores. It requires animal tissue in its diet and has a much higher protein requirement than most mammals. If your cat continues to lose weight though, or if the onset of weight loss is very sudden, you should make a vet's appointment to check if there’s no underlying cause that may need medical attention.
Cats can suffer from chronic kidney (renal) disease and urinary problems as they get older, but restricting the amount of phosphorus your senior kitty eats may help to delay the onset of these issues.
Phosphorus is one of the first elements that will increase to a toxic level in your cat’s blood if they suffer from renal disease, so restricting how much they consume through their diet can prevent this kind of build-up from happening.
If you want to manage your cat's kidney health through their diet, you should look for a product that's low in phosphorus – ideally no more than 0.6%. Opting for a wet formula can also help, as it increases the volume of urine your cat passes, lowering the risk of kidney stones forming.
Omegas 3 and 6 are essential fatty acids with a long list of benefits for your senior cat, including reducing inflammation, boosting their immune system, and promoting heart and kidney health. Plus, they improve the condition of the coat and skin, as well as reduce anxiety and depression.
Taurine is an essential amino acid that's critical for normal vision, digestion, heart muscle function, and a healthy immune system. It keeps joints healthy too, allowing your cat to maintain an active lifestyle for longer.
Lastly, Vitamin E is an antioxidant that's often added to senior cat food. This is essential for maintaining your cat’s muscles as well as ensuring that their circulatory and immune systems function correctly.
Help your cat's coat stay healthy with a quality cat brush!
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Purina ONE Senior Chicken & Wholegrain | ![]() | 24 Vitamins and Minerals for Improved Health in Senior Cats | |
2 | IAMS Cat Food Senior 7+ With Fresh Chicken | ![]() | Expertly Balanced Nutrition With 42% Protein | |
3 | Harringtons Senior Complete Dry Cat Food - Chicken | ![]() | Dry Formula Made With Freshly Prepared Chicken | |
4 | Perfect Fit Senior 7+ |Multipack (52 x 85 g) | ![]() | Vitamin E and Omega 3 Provides Advanced Nutrition for Ageing Pets | |
5 | Hill's Science Plan Senior Cat Food - Chicken | ![]() | Dry Food Tailored for Senior Cats With Kidney Issues | |
6 | Purina Gourmet Gold Tinned Pâté | ![]() | High Protein Pâté Selection With a Soft Texture | |
7 | Applaws Senior Cat Chicken | ![]() | Naturally Rich in Protein and Taurine | |
8 | Lily's Kitchen Marvellously Mature Chicken Supper|Multipack (19 x 85 g) | ![]() | Premium Senior Cat Food in Recyclable Trays | |
9 | HiLife Chicken Terrine Mature | ![]() | Wet Food for Sensitive Stomachs That’s Easy to Digest | |
10 | Webbox Natural Adult Cat Food Selection|Multipack (12 x 100g) | ![]() | A Variety Pack With Added Prebiotics |
Purina promises that you'll see a vast improvement in your senior cat's health in as little as 3 weeks after switching to this product. With no added colours or preservatives, this recipe includes 24 vitamins and minerals to help support your cat's vital functions. It also contains PURINA ONE® BIFENSIS®: a special nutritional formula with bacteria scientifically proven to help support their natural defences.
Owners report seeing improvements in their cat's health and demeanour very quickly after changing to this formula; even cats who have previously had wet diets seem to love the taste and gobble it all up with no leftovers – that's why it takes our top spot!
IAMS believe that cats should live healthy, active, and happy lives by eating expertly balanced food that's enjoyable to munch on. Their high protein recipe will keep senior kitties in perfect shape, plus it has added glucosamine sulphate for superior joint health.
Even the fussiest of felines seem to really love eating this dry food, and customers report that their pets have fantastic skin and dental health after switching to it. We also love that the bags have a resealable opening which is handy if your cat only wants a small meal.
As well as being full of nutritional benefits for your moggy, the packaging is recyclable – so it's eco-friendly too! Healthy, tasty, and easy to digest, this is a superb formula for senior cats is made with freshly prepared chicken!
Perfect Fit individual wet cat food pouches are an advanced nutrition senior cat food made with top quality ingredients. Specially formulated for senior cats and supplemented with taurine as well as Omega 6 and Vitamin E.
This is a good all-around product with lots of health benefits and the yummy flavours are sure to appeal to your kitty. The recipe is designed to address 5 of the most common needs of all cats, including heart and kidney health.
This formula from well-respected vet brand Hill's Science Plan has been tailored especially for older adult cats with kidney issues. It contains just 0.68% phosphorus and is made from high-quality ingredients, plus plenty of added vitamins and minerals.
As is common with vet brands, this is one of the most expensive foods on our list. If your cat's kidney health is a concern for you though, this is a great option that's definitely worth the price, also promoting healthy digestion and muscle growth.
Purina has created this Gourmet Gold recipe with senior cats firmly in mind. The smooth sensation of pâté is ideal for mouths that need a softer texture and the varieties of flavours will be sure to tickle your kitty's tastebuds!
While it doesn't have any added vitamins or minerals specifically for senior cats, the soft texture makes it easy to eat and it's has a good amount of protein for wet food. It's also worth treating your cat to the occasional luxurious supper too!
This dry food from Applaws is high in protein, vegetables, and natural taurine, which assists in the development of lean muscle tissue. The recipe also contains natural pre-biotics and pro-biotics to promote protective bacteria in the gut, for better digestive health.
Cats seem to enjoy this dry formula, but their human may be unimpressed by the price! Still, the hefty 7.5 kg bag offers better value for money in the long run than wet foods. It's also grain-free and made with 80% chicken, so it's worth the investment!
This premium product from Lily's Kitchen contains shredded chicken fillet that's been steam-cooked and then served in delicious juices. For nutritional balance, the formula also includes pork and trout, providing added Omega 3.
Unfortunately, some customers have had issues with the trays bursting open and causing the food to spoil, which isn't the quality you'd expect given the high price of this product – for this reason, it's one of our lower-ranking recommendations.
HiLife pride themselves on the quality of their products and this chicken terrine is carefully prepared with all-natural ingredients to help joints and bones stay strong. The recipe is perfect for cats with dental problems who need more tender foods, or those with sensitive stomachs who require a meal that's easy to digest.
The only downside to this product is that it's fairly expensive due to the high-quality ingredients, plus it bears a slight resemblance to tinned luncheon meat which some owners may find off-putting!
Webbox's wet selection pack comes with pouches in three flavours (beef and chicken, chicken and duck, and salmon), so you can mix up your cat's menu with different protein sources. It also contains a prebiotic to assist with digestion and added Vitamin E to help with circulation.
Sadly, the individual packs aren't labelled with the flavour of the food, so choosing one at dinnertime can be a bit of a gamble! Still, this is a decent buy with plenty of food included for the low price.
You can usually tell how well a diet is working for your cat by observing their general health – good skin and a glossy coat, as well as normal digestive habits, are clear indicators that they’re getting the most from their food. However, having too much of one nutrient and not enough of another can result in unpleasant symptoms and ill health.
When you change your cat’s diet, you should introduce new food very gradually – ideally, you should start by mixing 25% of the new formula with 75% of your cat’s current food. Slowly change the proportions over the next three days or so by gradually increasing the amount of new food and decreasing the amount of the old one, until it's all just the new product in their bowl!
If you find that your cat is vomiting, has wind or loose stools, or any other symptoms that are out of the norm, you should discuss your concerns with your vet. This means you can get expert advice and make sure that there are no underlying issues unrelated to food.
Generally, you should start feeding your cat senior food from the age of seven upwards. This is when they require extra vitamins and minerals to help with digestive health, prevent muscle and joint pain, and give their immune system a boost.
Adult food is aimed at cats over the age of two, while senior food is aimed at those cats that are over seven years old. If your cat is a young senior (7-10) and healthy, feeding them adult food won't do them any harm, and good quality adult food is full of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals.
If you're looking for more cat products, we've got you covered with our extensive range of articles that'll assist you in your purchase. To deliver the appropriate information, some of our articles are also reviewed/fact-checked by veterinary, so keep browsing!
Written and researched by Catherine Torrance
No. 1: Purina ONE|Senior Chicken & Wholegrain
No. 2: IAMS |Cat Food Senior 7+ With Fresh Chicken
No. 3: Harringtons|Senior Complete Dry Cat Food - Chicken
No. 4: Perfect Fit|Senior 7+ |Multipack (52 x 85 g)
No. 5: Hill's Science Plan|Senior Cat Food - Chicken
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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