Many people like to keep cats, but do you really know how to take care of a cat? Why not come to the pet-loving community and learn. In the eyes of many cat owners, their little felines are still like children, so they often neglect the fact that as their age increases, their cat food must also be changed accordingly. A journalist from Southern Television consulted with a veterinarian who suggested that after cats reach about 7 years old, their diet should be switched to senior cat food. If they continue to eat adult cat food, it will be difficult for them to metabolize it, causing a strain on their bodies. Moreover, the nutritional needs of elderly cats differ from those of adult cats, as do their taste preferences. Owners should be more meticulous in caring for their physical and mental well-being at this stage.
Cat owners know that kittens eat kitten-specific food when they are young, and switch to adult cat food after turning one year old. However, veterinarians have found that many owners never change their cats' food again after this point, continuing to feed them the same food all their lives. This can result in poor metabolic function, obesity, and an increased risk of many diseases.
According to the veterinarian's introduction to TVS editors, older cats have slower metabolism, so their energy requirements are less. 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. Simply reducing the amount of adult cat food fed to older cats may limit protein content, but it can also cause deficiencies in other nutrients. Therefore, it is best to choose specialized senior cat food designed specifically for older cats.
Veterinarians also mentioned that older cats' sense of smell and taste become less acute than when they were adults, and their chewing ability also deteriorates. Therefore, senior cat food must be of high quality, rich in all essential nutrients, delicious, and easy to swallow. Since older cats' digestion and absorption functions slow down, feeding methods should ideally involve small, frequent meals, and plenty of fresh water is essential.
Additionally, changing food 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 take about a week, gradually replacing the old food. For example, every 2-3 days, reduce the usual cat food by about 25% and increase the new food by 25%, until the entire diet is switched over. Once older cats get used to a particular food, it is not recommended to suddenly switch it again, as this could easily lead to vomiting and diarrhea.
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