As your cat gets older, their needs change. As they approach their senior years (10 years of age for most cats), older or senior cats may need more frequent pet wellness exams, vet-recommended cat supplements, and nutritious senior cat food to support their needs.
In this Sploot Vets guide, we focus on nutrition for senior cats, covering some of the best cat food for senior cats, and why age-appropriate nutrition is important.
Overview:
- Cat food for senior cats is formulated to support age-related needs.
- Senior cat foods can be either non-prescription (not targeted to any specific health issue) or prescription-based (meant to address a specific health issue).
- The most reliable way to get the best food for your senior cat is to consult a vet for personalized recommendations.
What Do Vets Recommend For Senior Cats?
Vets have various recommendations regarding senior cat care, which generally include:
- Thorough preventive care, starting with at least two wellness exams (with senior pet blood panels) every year
- Consistent at-home and vet-provided dental care
- Joint-friendly exercise and enrichment activities to maintain cognitive health
- Senior cat food to support age-related needs
Does Senior Cat Food Make A Difference?
Yes, senior cat food with beneficial ingredients can help your cat stay healthy and happy during their advanced years. With the right cat food, senior cats can have the following health benefits:
- Weight management for senior cats – Some senior cat food have fewer calories, higher protein content, lower fat content, and/or carnitine content, which help prevent unhealthy weight gain in senior cats.
- Brain & joint support – Most cat food for senior cats have Omega-3 and omega-6, which are great for joint support and maintaining brain function while also promoting a healthy coat.
- Free radical protection – Some senior cat food have higher levels of antioxidants like vitamin C and E, omega-3, omega-6, and lycopene, which offer cellular protection from free radicals, thus also boosting immune function.
What Is The Best Food To Feed An Elderly Cat?
We recommend getting AAFCO-compliant senior cat food that contains nutrients for a complete and balanced diet, based on a standard backed by years of scientific research. There are also other factors to consider—such as key ingredients, dry food vs wet food, and prescription vs non-prescription senior cat food.
a. Cat Food for Senior Cats: Features to Look For
While there are a variety of senior cat food formulations available, most of the top-rated ones offer 2 or more of the following features:
- High protein content, lower fat, and/or carnitine – Supports lean muscle mass and energy metabolism as cats age.
- Higher vitamin C & E – Acts as antioxidants to boost immune function and fight age-related cellular damage.
- Lycopene – This is another antioxidant that helps protect cells from oxidative stress, supporting overall health and longevity.
- Omega-3 & omega-6 – These are fatty acids that support brain function, reduce inflammation, maintain joint health, and promote healthy skin and coat. These also offer antioxidant effects.
- Glucosamine – This amino sugar helps maintain joint health and mobility in aging cats.
- Lower phosphorus – This eases the workload on aging kidneys, helping to manage or prevent kidney disease. This feature can be present in non-prescription senior cat food. However, if a cat is diagnosed with kidney disease, a vet will typically recommend a renal prescription diet, which also has a low phosphorus content.
b. Is Wet Food Better For Senior Cats?
In some cases, wet-food-only diets or mixed feeding (wet food and dry food) is better for senior cats. By incorporating wet cat food for senior cats, your cat can have the following benefits:
- Increased hydration – This helps prevent or manage kidney disease, a common issue in older cats. Better hydration also helps reduce the risk of urinary tract infections and bladder stones, which are more common in older cats.
- Easier chewing – The soft texture of wet cat food may be better for cats with dental issues or missing teeth..
- Better appetite – Wet cat food can be more appealing to some older cats, which is particularly beneficial for senior cats with reduced appetite.
c. Does My Cat Need Prescription Senior Cat Food?
Prescription senior cat food is a type of veterinary-recommended diet designed specifically for older cats with specific health conditions, such as diabetes, kidney disease, heart disease, joint issues, and so on.
However, for senior cats with multiple health issues, prescription diets may be chosen based on which condition needs to be prioritized. In some cases, non-prescription senior cat food may also be given along with prescribed medications or cat supplements for more flexibility.
To find out if your older cat needs prescription cat food or can benefit from non-prescription senior cat food instead, consult a trusted veterinarian for personalized advice.
4 Top-Rated Senior Cat Foods to Consider
It’s always best to consult a veterinarian to find out which is the best cat food for your senior cat. As a starting point for your conversation with your vet, here are some examples of top-rated non-prescription senior cat foods:
1. Hill's Science Diet Adult 7+ Senior Vitality - Dry Food
- Available on SplootRX online pet store. Get 35% off (up to $20) on your first order with the promo code WELCOME
- Dry food, one of the best senior cat foods with carnitine; has antioxidants, has lower phosphorus, has omega-3 and omega-6
Compared to some of Hill’s Science dry food for adult cats, Hill's Science Diet Adult 7+ Senior Vitality - Dry Food has a higher protein content and lower fat. These features help older cats maintain muscle mass and stay within a healthy weight. This formulation also contains relatively more carnitine, which further helps prevent excess weight by boosting the cat’s metabolism.
This senior cat food also offers antioxidant support with its high vitamin C and E content, offering cellular protection and boosting immune function.
With lower levels of phosphorus, this formulation also benefits a senior cat’s kidney health. Lastly, omega-3 and omega-6 support brain and joint health while also reducing inflammation.
2. Hill's Science Diet Adult 7+ Senior Vitality - Wet Food
- Available on SplootRX online pet store. Get 35% off (up to $20) on your first order with the promo code WELCOME
- Wet food; one of the best senior cat foods with carnitine; has antioxidants; has omega-3 and omega-6
Hill's Science Diet Adult 7+ Senior Vitality - Wet Food is considered one of the best wet cat foods for senior cats. It has high levels of vitamins C and E compared to some of Hill’s formulations for adult cats. This extra dose of antioxidants helps prevent free radical damage in cells while also boosting the cat’s immunity.
This wet cat food for senior cats also has a relatively higher carnitine content, which helps senior cats avoid unhealthy weight gain due to their slower metabolism. This formulation offers healthy levels of omega-3 and omega-6, which are beneficial for brain and joint health, helping senior cats stay physically and cognitively nimble.
This wet food also offers the benefit of added hydration, which is beneficial for a senior cat’s kidney health.
3. Royal Canin® Feline Health Nutrition™ Aging Spayed/Neutered 12+ - Dry Food
- Available on SplootRX online pet store. Get 35% off (up to $20) on your first order with the promo code WELCOME
- Dry food; one of the best senior cat food with L-carnitine; has antioxidants like lycopene; has lower phosphorus; has omega-3, omega-6, & glucosamine
Royal Canin® Feline Health Nutrition™ (Aging Spayed/Neutered 12+) is a great choice for older cats. This special formulation has moderate levels of fat and a healthy L-carnitine content to help reduce the risk of excess weight and its complications on a senior cat’s body.
This formulation also offers an exclusive complex of antioxidants, including lycopene and omega-3 fatty acids, which help promote cellular health and support the body systems through the aging process. Omega-3 also helps promote brain health and joint health.
This dry food formula also contains glucosamine, which provides further benefits for your cat’s joints. Lastly, with a moderately lower phosphorous level, this dry cat food for senior cats helps promote kidney health.
4. Royal Canin® Feline Health Nutrition™ Aging 12+ - Wet Food
- Available on SplootRX online pet store. Get 35% off (up to $20) on your first order with the promo code WELCOME
- Wet food, one of the best senior cat food with glucosamine; has omega-3
Royal Canin® Feline Health Nutrition™ Aging 12+ - Wet Food places a special focus on maintaining joint health. It contains a special combination of omega-3 and glucosamine, which both offer joint protection. In addition, omega-3 is also beneficial for cognitive health and for reducing inflammation in the body.
This senior cat food also has a controlled phosphorus content to help support kidney health. The added hydration from this wet food also contributes to maintaining kidney function, especially in cats with a low thirst drive.
Final Thoughts on Cat Food for Senior or Elderly Cats
We trust that you found this guide on senior cat food helpful! For more information on keeping your older or senior cat healthy and happy, here are some of our vet-approved resources:
- Caring for Senior or Older Dogs & Cats →
- Senior Blood Testing for Dogs & Cats: What's Included →
- How to Create an Enriching Environment to Keep Your Cat Happy →
Sploot Vets: All-in-One, Fear Free Vet Care for Your Senior Cat
Sploot Veterinary Care offers all-in-one veterinary care for senior cats—with primary care, urgent care, and emergency vet services all under one roof.
With Fear Free techniques and availability 365 days a year, we provide stress-free vet visits that you and your cat will love!
Schedule an appointment online or through the Sploot Vets App today!
