As your cat gets older, they no longer get as much exercise and their metabolism slows down. They therefore require less calories and you will need to feed them less food in terms of portion size. If you notice your senior cat putting on weight, this may because you are feeding them too much.
You can adjust their feeding to two meals a day instead of three. Don't be worried if your kitten's appetite decreases slightly between four to seven months of age.
Adult cats and senior cats have less caloric intake requirements, averaging about 20 calories per pound of body weight (45 calories/kg of body weight) a day. An example of calories per day based on average weights for the categories: Kittens 0 to 4 months with a weight range of 1 to 5 lbs: 77.38 to 353.2 kcal.
Calorie control in mature and senior cats usually means reducing calorie consumption by approximately 20-30%. In geriatric cats, it may be more important to increase their caloric intake to sustain a normal physique as their body condition and weight naturally declines with advanced age.
The best thing you can do for your older cat that has stopped eating is get them to a vet. If there's a serious issue, your vet can begin treatment immediately. In case there is no cause for alarm, you can make your senior cat's diet more attractive and closer to their natural feeding habits.
Illness. Loss of appetite is one of the key clues that something is wrong. So be sure to pay attention if your cat suddenly stops eating. A number of different conditions may be responsible, including infections, kidney failure, pancreatitis, intestinal problems, and cancer.
The most common cause of a cat losing interest in food but acting normally otherwise is simply that she doesn't like the food. If it is new food or if she has been eating the same food for a long time, she may decide to be picky about what she eats. This is normal—but it can be frustrating!
"When cats get older, it's normal for their appetite and eating habits to change with time. Some cats lose interest in the food they once loved, while others want to eat less often than when they were younger.
The average lifespan for a pet cat is probably around 13 to 14 years. However, although their lifespan varies, a well cared for cat may commonly live to 15 or beyond, some make it to 18 or 20 and a few extraordinary felines even pass 25 or 30 years of age.
Feeding the older cat
Weight loss can be an early sign of illness, so check with your vet. It is common for older cats to develop medical conditions that cause them to lose weight, such as kidney and thyroid disease. If your cat is losing weight, it is important to consult your vet as soon as possible.
How often should cats eat wet food? What do vets recommend? Wet food is not a special meal or an occasional treat. Cats can and should eat wet food every day because it agrees with the feline digestive system better than dry or semi-moist food.
Too much snacking in between meals may be the reason why your cat won't eat wet food. Complementary food isn't a problem when kept below 3% of the overall diet. Anything over that is not healthy or helpful. Giving cats treats willy-nilly can mess up their appetite and hinder their metabolism in the long run.
Some cats eat less (or stop eating) when they get stressed. If your cat is stressed, you also may notice your cat is hiding more and/or you may see blood in your cat's urine. While it can be hard to predict what's causing the stress, cats can get stressed from things like: A move to a new home.
As they age, the sensitivity of senses like taste and smell (among others) are thought to decline. Both senses are important drivers of appetite, which is why it can be challenging to encourage older cats to eat the food they need to help maintain their body weight.
Age Makes a Difference
"From age six months to maturity, most cats will do well when fed two times a day." Once the cat becomes an adult, at about one year, feeding once or twice a day is appropriate in most cases. Senior cats, age seven and above, should maintain the same feeding regimen.
As in humans, female cats tend to live for longer than male cats. Neutered cats are also likely to live for longer than intact ones, and pure breed cats are less likely to live as long as crossbreeds.
This is especially pertinent now, with roughly 20 percent of cats in the US estimated to be 11 years or older.
Strong smelling foods such as fish can help encourage them to eat as a cats sense of smell may be reduced due to age. Offering foods that you know they have enjoyed in the past as familiarity is important to cats. Offer a different variety and consistency of foods.
You'll be the proud owner of a senior cat by the time it hit about 11 years old. If a cat lives beyond 15 years of age, it'd be a "super-senior". When caring for older cats, it sometimes helps to think of their age in human terms.
Why do cats get bored of their food? While Mr Whiskers may like consistency in most areas of life, it is possible for your cat to feel bored of the same food. Part of this has to do with the innate nature of cats as apex predators.
Signs of a Depressed Cat
Changes in body language, including ears held back, tucked tail, and hairs standing on end. Meowing more or less than usual or making low-pitched, mournful meows. Lack of energy or a decrease in activity level. Retreating from humans or other family pets.