Some of these are unavoidable. Others can be managed with diet. Obesity is an extremely common problem in pets and, as with humans, can be detrimental to the health of a cat. The overweight pet has many added stresses upon his body and is at an increased risk of diabetes, liver problems and joint pain. Obesity develops when energy intake exceeds energy requirements. The excess energy is then stored as fat. Once a pet is obese, he may remain obese even after excessive caloric intake stops.
The majority of cases of obesity are related to simple overfeeding coupled with lack of exercise. As a subjective assessment of body condition, you should be able to feel the backbone and palpate the ribs in an animal of healthy weight. You should also see a noticeable "waist" between the back of the rib cage and the hips when looking at your pet from above.
Viewed from the side, there should be a "tuck" in the tummy—the abdomen should go up from the bottom of the rib cage to inside the thighs. Here are some important things you can do:. You are here Pet Care Cat Care. Cat Nutrition Tips. Nutrients Your Cat Needs Nutrients are substances obtained from food and used by an animal as a source of energy and as part of the metabolic machinery necessary for maintenance and growth. Expand to read more Water is the most important nutrient.
While food may help meet some of your pet's water needs, pets need to have fresh clean water available to them at all times. A deficiency of water can cause serious illness or even death. Proteins are the basic building blocks for cells, tissues, organs, enzymes, hormones and antibodies, and are essential for growth, maintenance, reproduction and repair.
Proteins can be obtained from a number of sources. Animal-based proteins have complete amino acid profiles. Please note: Do not give your pet raw eggs. Protein is also found in vegetables, cereals and soy, but these are considered incomplete proteins.
Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, and are divided into essential and non-essential amino acids: Essential amino acids cannot be synthesized by the animal in sufficient quantities and MUST be supplied in the diet. Non-essential amino acids can be synthesized by your pet and are not needed in the diet. Taurine is required for the prevention of eye and heart disease, as well as reproduction, fetal growth and survival. This essential amino acid is only found in foods of animal origin, such as meat, eggs and fish.
Fats are essential in the structure of cells and are needed for the production of some hormones. They are required for absorption and utilization of fat-soluble vitamins. Fats provide the body insulation and protection for internal organs. Linoleic acid is an essential fatty acid for cats. Arachidonic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid, is also essential for cats for the maintenance of the skin and coat, for kidney function and for reproduction.
So watch those young kids around your elderly cat and remind them to approach quietly. Even if he has been an angel his entire life and never scratched a soul, his temper will be shorter. If you have other animals in the household, you may notice them all undergoing behavioral changes.
This is because animals develop a natural pecking order, and as your cat ages, his place in that order may change. The other animals can begin to pick on him. If this becomes a problem, you may need to separate them. Cats are often loners, but you may notice your cat keeps to himself more often now.
Also, many older cats begin to vocalize more, and they become increasingly anxious about the unknown, whether it is people or noises. Instead, try to make him as comfortable and relaxed as possible by minimizing change in his world. If anxiety problems persist or get out of hand, your veterinarian can prescribe medication to help.
Your cat will need to see the veterinarian at leasttwice a year now for a checkup. Your veterinarian will want to do a complete geriatric workup, which will include a complete physical exam and evaluation of blood, urine and stool samples.
In addition to looking for signs of serious disease, this will help to determine the dietary requirements for your cat. Many cats at this age have developed diabetes , kidney or liver disease, or urinary tract problems. All of these conditions can require medical treatment and diet modifications. Dull coats, or more than the usual shedding, could indicate that he has a systemic illness or endocrine disorder that may require further diagnostics and respond to medication or a dietary change.
I typically recommend either transitioning to a moist diet or adding low salt broth, meat juices i. Further, the study found no major difference in the crude protein, fat, and mineral concentrations between foods 1. Miller recommends that senior cats get a moderate protein diet, that is, food that is 30 to 45 percent crude protein. He also says that senior cats should get more calorically dense food. He again notes that a food that works for one cat may not work for another.
But, regardless of the formulation of the diet, I typically recommend higher protein, lower carbohydrate foods, and these can be in both wet and dry formulations. I recommend foods manufactured by companies with long-established histories of making quality food, that consult with veterinary nutritionists, and have stringent quality control measures. Further, if your senior cat is experiencing age-related health issues, you should talk to your veterinarian about which diet would be most beneficial.
All featured products are chosen at the discretion of the author. Omega-3 fatty acids are thought to be beneficial in the treatment of arthritis by reducing inflammation and the activity of enzymes that break down joint cartilage.
Feline cognitive dysfunction , which resembles dementia in people, is another common problem for older cats. Research in dogs indicate that omega-3 fatty acids appear to have some ability to reduce the effects of cognitive dysfunction and dementia.
Cold-water fish oils salmon, anchovies or sardines, for example are the best sources of omega-3 fatty acids for cats. And last, but certainly not least, the best food for older cats will smell and taste irresistible in order to stimulate their appetite. Cats can become extremely finicky as they get older, so I consider it a great success if we can get them to eat a nutritious diet.
Not only do we want to spoil them when they reach this point, but it can also be difficult to get them to eat anything at all. So instead of trying to force these cats to eat the most nutritious option, when the end is near, ideal nutrition takes a back seat to any nutrition at all. Precise dietary recommendations will vary on an individual basis, particularly if an older cat suffers from a disease that is managed, at least in part, through diet.
Ask your veterinarian to help you determine which food might be best for your cat based on their unique needs. Home News Views. What's the Best Food for Senior Cats?
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