Many people like to keep cats, but do you really know how to take care of a cat? Why not come and learn at the Pet Community. In the eyes of many cat owners, their little cat is still like a child, often neglecting the issue that as they grow older, their cat food must be changed too. A journalist from Southern Television consulted with a veterinarian who suggested that after about 7 years old, a cat's food should be switched to senior cat-specific food. If they continue to eat adult cat food, it will be difficult for them to metabolize, causing a burden on their bodies. Moreover, the nutritional needs of elderly cats and adult cats are different, as are their taste preferences. Owners should be more careful in taking care of their physiological and psychological needs at this time.
Cat owners know that kittens eat kitten-specific feed when they are young, and switch to adult cat food after one year of age. However, veterinarians have found that many owners never change their food again, feeding them the same cat food until old age. This leads to poor metabolic function and obesity, which can easily cause many diseases.
According to the introduction by the veterinarian to the TVS editor, old cats have a slower metabolic rate, so they need less energy. Many people think they can simply reduce the amount of adult cat food, but this is actually very inappropriate because the nutritional needs of elderly cats differ from those during adulthood. They need added nutrients such as vitamins, trace elements, and taurine. If you just reduce the amount of adult cat food fed to elderly cats, although it can limit protein content, it will also cause deficiencies in other nutrients. Therefore, it’s best to choose specially designed senior cat food for elderly cats.
Veterinarians also mentioned that an elderly cat's sense of smell and taste gradually become less sharp than when they were adults, and their chewing ability will also deteriorate. Thus, elderly cat food must be high quality, rich in all essential nutrients, have excellent flavor, and be easy to swallow. Additionally, since the digestive and absorption functions of elderly cats slow down, the feeding method should ideally involve smaller meals more frequently, and plenty of fresh water is indispensable.
Moreover, changing feed is also a science. When switching from adult cat food to senior cat food, it is recommended not to make the change all at once, to avoid gastrointestinal discomfort. The transition can be done gradually over about a week. For example, every 2 to 3 days, reduce the usual cat food by approximately 25% and increase the new cat food by 25%, until completely switching to the new food. After elderly cats get used to it, it is not recommended to suddenly change the food again, otherwise it may easily cause vomiting and diarrhea.
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