Skinny cats need a lot of fat to maximize their caloric intake. Fats contain more calories per gram than either proteins or carbohydrates do, so this can have a major effect on an older cat’s ability to extract calories (energy) from food.ĭiets for older cats should contain a moderate to high level of fat, with the precise amount based on the cat’s body condition score. Moderate to High Fat LevelsĪround the age of 11 or 12, a cat’s ability to digest fat starts to decline. So a food that includes these will be a great option for a senior cat. Vitamin E, Vitamin C (citric acid), Vitamin A, carotenoids and selenium are all powerful antioxidants. When another molecule is forced to give up an electron, it often becomes a free radical itself, which compounds the problem.Īntioxidants can donate electrons to free radicals without becoming free radicals themselves, thereby breaking the cycle of molecular and cellular damage. They contain oxygen and are missing an electron, which makes them highly reactive.įree radicals essentially steal electrons from whatever is nearby-proteins, cell membranes and DNA, for example. Free radicals are natural byproducts of metabolism. With advanced age comes an increase in the production of free radicals within the body. The best foods for older cats tend to have the following: High Antioxidant Levels Jennifer Coates, DVMĭigestive, physiology and nutritional needs change as cats gets older, which means that what they ate when they were younger may no longer be ideal.Īnd with our cats living longer than ever, finding the best nutritionally formulated food for senior cats is even more important.įeeding an appropriate cat food can maximize your senior cat’s health and longevity. Reviewed and updated for accuracy on November 18, 2019, by Dr.
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