Cats are generally considered middle-aged at about six or seven years old, and senior at about age ten, although this can vary with the individual. The average life expectancy of the cat is ten to fifteen years, but with today’s better nutrition and veterinary care, it’s not uncommon for some cats to live twenty years or longer.
Cat’s rate metabolism gradually slows with age, and the activity level declines as well. The organs typically become less efficient at digesting food or clearing waste products from the body. These physical changes may require some important adjustments to the cat’s daily diet to ensure continued good health.
Maintaining weight: All life stages labeled cat foods are designed to meet the need of cats of all ages, from senior cat to kittens. But cats, like people, age differently, so there is no single pet food or special senior formula that is suitable for all older cats. Because energy needs decline with less activity, some middle-aged and senior cats may require fewer calories to avoid obesity. For all older cats that tend to get fat, an adult maintenance food may be as good choice as any, or they may thrive on a high-fiber, reduced calorie light or senior specially formula.
The higher fiber content in some of these diets is designed to satisfy the cat’s appetite so that the animal doesn’t feel hungry even though it is consuming fewer calories, less fat, and generally a little less protein. Veterinarians dispense therapeutic diets specially designed to manage a variety of health conditions common in older cats, including weight problems, so at each annual veterinary checkup, be sure to ask if your middle-aged or older cat need a change in diet.
Being conscious of your cat’s diet and age will determine what type of cat food is suitable for their body needs.