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Senior Cat Nutrition Facts and Fixes

So, your baby's not a baby anymore.

You remember the first time you met like it was yesterday, but lately you find yourself wondering if your cat has entered the golden years.

Here are some things to know about senior cats, including signs they’re ageing and ways to alter their diets to keep them going strong.

Cats reach their senior years around age 11.

Gasp!

Is my baby ... old?

But older cats are kinda like older people

A 12-year-old cat is equivalent to a 64-year-old human.

This 64-year-old

ran a marathon,

so you never

know.

Don't worry; it's normal.

Just like people, cats often show signs that they're getting older:

• Decreased activity

• Joint weakness

• A picky palate

• Confused by the internet

A complete and balanced diet is important, whether or not your cat has underlying health issues.

Reasons to change a senior cat's diet:

1. Obesity

We get it. Indoor cats have less opportunity to exercise than outdoor cats. Just don’t let those calories add up to unwanted pounds.

10 extra calories a day = up to 1 pound a year.

2. Underweight

Picky eating in older age often comes from a reduced ability to taste and smell. Cats 14 years and older are 15 times more likely to be too skinny.

So make sure you’re feeding your cat a food that’s high in calorie density and as tasty as possible.

3. Heart Disease

Senior cats with heart disease may need a special veterinarian-prescribed food.

4. Kidney Disease

Senior cats with kidney issues may need veterinarian-prescribed food that's lower in potassium and protein.

5. Diabetes

Cats with diabetes may need to eat a special veterinarian-prescribed diet.

6. Dental Issues

Consider adding dry food to your cat’s diet which can help remove plaque buildup.

Bring on the meat!

All adults cats, regardless of age, should be fed a carnivorous diet.

An animal-based protein should be the first ingredient on any cat food label.

What about supplements?

Good news: You don’t have to worry about providing additional supplements when you choose IAMS™. All foods are nutritionally complete and balanced.

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5 Shocking* Secrets about Single-serving Cat Food

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*Actually very obvious things no one thinks about

Okay, we admit it: We’re kind of obsessed with cat food. And while we’ve done tons of research to create the world’s best single-serving menu items, all it really took was observing the obvious. Here are five basic facts about cat food you didn’t know you already knew.

1. Cats don't like leftovers any more than people do

We presented a neighbor’s 12-year-old tabby with both a Perfect Portions™ fresh salmon meal and yesterday’s salmon leftovers from a can. Guess what happened? She sniffed us out and chose fresh. Is it because her sense of smell is more powerful than a human’s? Or was it completely obvious that the leftovers had mixed with the scent of the blue cheese and pea soup sitting next to the can in the fridge?

2. A picky eater might be your fault

How would you like to have tuna salad for lunch? And then for dinner? And then for breakfast? Don’t assume your cat doesn’t mind just because her taste buds are different — feeling superior is a cat’s job. Your job is to give them variety, which is hard when you have leftovers coming out of your ears. Try a multipack of Perfect Portions™ for the ultimate in no-leftovers variety.

Why your cat judges you

3. Leftovers smell bad

A focus group of four people at a recent dinner party revealed that opened cat food smells less than good. It’s especially embarrassing if you're the host and the smell keeps wafting over your mashed potatoes.

What cat food smells like when it's left over in your fridge

4. Cans. Very messy.

Canned food has been around for more than 100 years, so it seemed high time for a design update. When we reimagined canned cat food, we decided to get rid of the can altogether in favor of Perfect Portions™, with no-mess, no hassle containers. The results have been, uh, uncanny. Everyone agrees we should can the can. For good.

5. Cats like to (over)eat, just like us.

With food this good, lunchtime for cats can be just as tempting as Thanksgiving dinner for humans. Cats can have problems maintaining a healthy diet — and sticking to healthy portions — just like we do. It’s why we’ve taken the guesswork out of meals with Perfect Portions™. Each pack contains just enough (and not too much) every time. So don’t be fooled by cat food cans with 1½ servings. Unless you plan on training your cat to use the treadmill.

Cats after mealtime on regular canned food

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