Nutritional Needs of Senior Cats
Your cat’s nutritional needs will change as she grows older, and it can make feeding time a challenge for both of you. Like humans, cats undergo significant physical changes with age. Understanding some of these changes and altering your senior cat’s food can help maintain her weight and health.
Weight management
Obesity in cats occurs most commonly in middle age. If you notice that your cat is eating less but still gaining weight, it could be attributed to decreased metabolism or decreased activity levels. Because cats often lead a fairly sedentary lifestyle, their foods are often dense with calories that can result in overeating and weight gain. This can lead to chronic medical conditions, including heart, respiratory, skin, and joint problems, especially in older cats. Giving your cat smaller quantities of food or gradually switching her to a lower-calorie food may pare down the pounds.
Although weight loss is sometimes attributed to the aging process, it can also be the result of an underlying disease. If your senior cat has a healthy appetite but is still losing weight, consult your vet for symptoms of heart disease, thyroid dysfunction, cancer, or diabetes. A decreased appetite could be associated with periodontal disease (gum and tooth problems), gastrointestinal disease, kidney failure, or a reduction in taste sensation.
Maintaining your senior cat’s health
When determining how much to feed your cat, follow these guidelines for proper senior cat nutrition:
- Slowly adjust her caloric intake to physical and environmental conditions (for instance, indoor vs. outdoor cats, spayed/neutered)
- Give your cat a stimulating environment where she can be active
- Switch to a food with a lower energy density (reduced fat or fiber)
- Implement portion control and meal feeding
- Introduce foraging devices (meal-dispensing feeders, food-filled toys)
- Introduce barriers to food access (baby gates, elevated feeding stations)
Tasty Tips
We can help
Choosing the best cat food for your senior cat will provide her with a higher quality of life. Cats have shown health benefits from a food supplemented with antioxidants, fatty acids, and a prebiotic source. Thanks to an easy-to-digest formula, along with an exclusive blend of antioxidants, Omega-3 fatty acids, and other nutrients, Science Diet® Adult 11+ Age Defying pet food, with its natural ingredients, can help:
- Nutrition to support youthful vitality
- Exclusive multivitamin blend to help keep older cats agile, more alert and interactive
- Optimal levels of key nutrients to support eye, heart, kidney and joint health
- Natural, high quality, easy-to-digest ingredients with no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives for a flavorful, nutritious meal
Find out more about transitioning your cat to Science Diet® Adult 11+ Age Defying cat food.
If you have an older indoor cat, we also offer Science Diet Adult 11+ Indoor Age Defying dry cat food. It offers precisely balanced nutrition tailored to senior cats with an indoor lifestyle. This senior cat food contains balanced nutrients that help:
- Nutrition to support youthful vitality
- Optimal levels of key nutrients to support eye, heart, kidney and joint health
- Healthy fiber supports digestive health and high-quality ingredients make litter box clean-up easy
- Clinically proven antioxidant blend with vitamins C + E to help support a healthy immune system
- Natural, high quality, easy-to-digest ingredients with no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives for a flavorful, nutritious meal
Choosing the right kind of food for your senior cat can help her to lead a long, healthy life. For more information on what’s best for your senior cat’s food needs, consult your veterinarian. Read more about wellness visits for senior cats.
Related products
Hill's Science Diet Adult Urinary Hairball Control Savory Chicken Entrée cat food
Supports the health of the whole urinary system with optimal levels of magnesium
Hill's Science Diet Adult 7+ Senior Vitality Chicken & Rice Recipe Cat Food
Improves Everyday Ability to Get Up & Go
Hill's Science Diet Sensitive Stomach & Skin Salmon & Tuna Dinner
Carefully made, gourmet daily nutrition. Tasty chunks with Salmon & Tuna in a decadent gravy. Supports digestive health, nourishes skin and promotes a lustrous fur.
Hill's Science Diet Adult Chicken Recipe Cat Food
Supports lean muscle and beautiful fur for adult cats
Hill's Science Diet Senior Vitality Adult 7+ Tuna & Vegetables Stew
Improves Everyday Ability to Get Up & Go
Hill's Science Diet Kitten Sensitive Stomach & Skin Salmon & Vegetable Stew
Supports kitten growth, digestive health, nourishes skin and promotes a lustrous fur
Hill's Science Diet Adult Urinary Hairball Control Chicken Recipe Cat Food
Supports the health of the whole urinary system with optimal levels of magnesium
Hill's Science Diet Adult 7+ Savory Turkey Entrée Cat Food
Delicious taste of gourmet minced turkey in precisely balanced nutrition. Provide a synergistic ingredient blend to help support energy & activity level.
Hill's Science Diet Adult Hairball Control Ocean Fish Entrée Cat Food
Precisely balanced nutrition to help avoid the formation of hairballs with the delicious taste of savory minced ocean fish
Hill's Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach & Skin Pollock & Barley Cat Food
Highly digestible food that is gentle on the stomach. Nourishes skin & promotes lustrous fur.
Hill's Science Diet Hill's Science Diet Adult Perfect Weight Canned Cat Food Variety Pack, Vegetable & Chicken and Liver & Chicken
Feline Adult Perfect Weight Variety Pack
Hill's Science Diet Adult Chicken & Spinach Casserole Cat Food
With delicious chunks in a decadent gravy
Hill's Science Diet Kitten Sensitive Stomach & Skin Salmon & Brown Rice Recipe
Highly digestible food that is gentle on the stomach. Nourishes skin & promotes lustrous fur.
Hill's Science Diet Adult Turkey & Liver Entrée Cat Food
Precisely balanced nutrition with the delicious taste of minced turkey & liver to help fuel the energy needs of cats during the prime of their life
Hill's Science Diet Adult Hairball Control Savory Chicken Entrée Cat Food
Natural fiber comfortably reduces hairballs
Hill's Science Diet Adult Indoor Salmon & Vegetable Medley Cat Food
Precisely balanced nutrition for indoor cats with the delicious taste of savory salmon and vegetables
Hill's Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach & Skin
Supports digestive health, nourishes skin and promotes a lustrous fur
Hill's Science Diet Adult Savory Salmon Entrée Cat Food
Precisely balanced nutrition with the delicious taste of savory minced salmon to help fuel the energy needs of cats during the prime of their life
Hill's Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach & Skin Cat Food
Highly digestible food that is gentle on the stomach. Nourishes skin & promotes lustrous fur.
Hill's Science Diet Adult No Corn, Wheat, Soy Tender Tuna & Vegetables Stew cat food
Related articles
Tips for Managing Your Cat's Kidney Disease
Understand the importance that kidneys play in your cat's health, and know how to spot the warning signs of kidney disease.
Subtle Signs that Your Cat is Aging
Health-related issues in cat become more common as they age. Here are 6 senior feline health concerns you need to know about.
Five Common Cat Digestive Problems
Discover some vet-recommended advice about some common cat digestive problems, including how to deal with upset stomachs, worms, hairballs, and more.
Cat Ear Infections: Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment & Prevention
Learn about common causes, signs & symptoms, and treatment of a cat ear infection, as well as tips for how to prevent them from happening.
Cat Grass: Is it Safe for My Cat?
Learn what cat grass is, whether it's safe for your kitty and why it may be beneficial for certain breeds, especially ones that are prone to hairballs.
From Kitten to Senior Cat Food: Cat Nutrition by Lifestage
Learn the importance of changing your cat's food with their changing life stages because one size does not fit all.
Cat Food Puzzles: How They Benefit Your Cat
Cat food puzzles let your feline channel their hunter-gatherer side and can also help with weight management. Learn about different types & benefits.
6 Signs of Aging in Cats
Your cat may not be a wound-up kitten anymore, but what does being a "senior" cat really mean? Learn how to spot the signs of aging in your feline.
Should I Get My Cat Groomed by a Professional?
Cats often do a lot of grooming themselves, but learn some sticky situations where consulting a professional groomer might be the right call.
Is Daycare Right for Your Cat?
Learn all you need to know about daycare for cats, from how to choose a facility to tips for helping your cat feel comfortable at their daytime home.
Causes & Types of Digestive Disorders in Your Cat
Learn about digestive disorders that might be afflicting your cat. Spot the symptoms and realize the importance of proper treatment.
10 Important Health Tips for Senior Cats
Read our Top 10 Health Tips for your senior or aging cat, specifically tailored for the special health needs of a mature cat.
Cat Diabetes: Symptoms & Treatment
Learn from a Veterinarian: Discover the underlying causes, typical symptoms and possible treatments for both type 1 and type 2 of diabetes in cats.
Vaccines Your Kitten Should Have
Learn the schedule of vaccinations a vet may recommend for your kitten, as well as the diseases and conditions they can help protect her from.
Essential Oils for Cats: Are They Safe?
Wondering if you can use essential oils for cats? Learn all about essential oils and if there are any that are actually safe for your cat.
Preparing Your Nervous Cat for Large Gatherings at Home
Having a large group over? Learn some helpful ways to prepare your nervous cat and keep her from feeling overwhelmed by the amount of people and noise.
5 New Fun Things to Do With Your Cat
Looking for way to enrich playtime for your kitty? Discover fun new cat activities, such as cat apps, that can keep your furry friend occupied for hours.
How to Talk to Cats (and Are They Really Listening?)
Learn tips for talking & communicating with your cat, including suggested gestures like blinking, as well as how to tell if they are actually listening.
Can Cats Get Lyme Disease?
Learn how common lyme disease is for cats, signs of the disease, treatment options and prevention tips (especially during tick season).
Origins of 6 Common Cat Sayings
Learn about the origins of the most common cat phrases and exactly what it means when you hear one.
Put your cat on a diet without them knowing
Our low calorie formula helps you control your cat's weight. It's packed with high-quality protein for building lean muscles, and made with purposeful ingredients for a flavorful, nutritious meal. Clinically proven antioxidants, Vitamin C+E, help promote a healthy immune system.
Put your cat on a diet without them knowing
Our low calorie formula helps you control your cat's weight. It's packed with high-quality protein for building lean muscles, and made with purposeful ingredients for a flavorful, nutritious meal. Clinically proven antioxidants, Vitamin C+E, help promote a healthy immune system.