The Ultimate Senior Cat Feeding Guide

Following a senior cat feeding guide can help them to live a happy, healthy life, as their dietary requirements change significantly from when they’re kittens and adults.

Just like us, cats experience changes as they age. They may become less active, lose muscle mass, become more particular about their food or simply start eating differently. This means it’s important to make sure their diet continues to provide the nutrition they need throughout their senior years.

For many owners, this means looking more closely at what they are feeding their cat and considering whether a raw diet could provide the high-quality, species-appropriate nutrition they need.

When Is a Cat Considered a Senior?

There is no exact age at which every cat suddenly becomes a senior. However, cats are generally considered to be entering their senior years from around 11 years old, which is when our senior raw cat food range becomes appropriate for them.

As your cat reaches this stage of life, you may start to notice changes in their behaviour, activity levels and appetite. Some cats may become less active and require fewer calories, while others may need more nutrition to help them maintain their weight and muscle mass.

This is why feeding your senior cat the right food is so important. A good senior cat food should provide all the essential nutrients your cat needs, while being highly digestible and suitable for their changing nutritional requirements.

What Should a Senior Cat Eat?

A senior cat still has the same fundamental nutritional needs as any other cat. Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning their bodies are designed to get their nutrition from animal-based foods.

Protein is particularly important as cats get older. Maintaining lean muscle mass can become more difficult with age, so providing a highly digestible, protein-rich diet can help support their nutritional needs.

This is one reason why raw senior cat food can be a great option. A complete raw diet can provide your cat with high-quality animal protein alongside the vitamins, minerals, amino acids and other nutrients they need as part of their daily diet.

However, not all raw cat food is the same. If you are feeding raw, always make sure that the food you choose is complete, rather than complementary. A complete cat food should contain all the nutrients your senior cat needs without requiring additional foods to balance their diet.

Why Feed Your Senior Cat Raw Food?

High-quality protein

Protein plays an important role in maintaining muscle tissue. As your cat ages, maintaining lean body mass becomes increasingly important, making a protein-rich diet an important consideration when choosing their food.

Purrform Senior has been developed with increased protein content to support lean body mass, while remaining highly digestible.

Highly digestible nutrition

Senior cats can experience changes in their digestion as they get older, so choosing a food that is easy for them to digest is important.

Raw food made from quality meat, bone and offal provides a natural source of the nutrients your cat needs, without relying on unnecessary fillers.

Supports their changing needs

As cats age, their nutritional requirements can change. This means that simply continuing with the same food they have eaten throughout adulthood may not always be the best option.

A senior-specific raw food can be formulated with these changing requirements in mind.

Purrform's Senior range has been developed for cats aged 11 years and over, with ingredients selected to support areas that can become increasingly important as cats age, including lean body mass, joint health and cognitive function.

How Much Should I Feed My Senior Cat?

There isn't one amount that will be right for every senior cat. Their ideal portion will depend on their weight, activity levels, metabolism, and individual needs, but some studies have found they need an average of 20 to 30 calories per pound of bodyweight.

As cats get older, they may become less active, meaning their calorie requirements can change. However, some senior cats can also struggle to maintain their weight, so reducing their food simply because they are older isn't always appropriate.

This is why it's important to monitor your cat's weight and body condition rather than simply reducing their food based on their age.

If you're feeding Purrform raw food, you can use our feeding calculator to help determine how much food your cat needs.

How Often Should You Feed a Senior Cat?

Most adult and senior cats can be fed twice a day, with meals provided in the morning and evening. Creating a regular feeding routine can be particularly helpful for senior cats. Feeding them at around the same time each day makes it easier to monitor how much they are eating and notice any changes in their appetite.

However, you might notice your cat suddenly starts eating significantly less. This can be attributed to them preferring to graze, as they would naturally. However, if they refuse food or begin losing weight, this should not simply be put down to old age. Changes in appetite can sometimes be a sign that something isn't right, so speak to your vet if you notice a significant or persistent change.

H2: Can You Switch an Older Cat to Raw Food?

Yes, older cats can be transitioned onto a raw diet.

However, if your senior cat has eaten the same food for many years, don't expect them to immediately tuck into a bowl of raw food. Cats can be very particular about changes to their food, particularly when it comes to smell and texture.

You should introduce raw food gradually, mixing increasing amounts of raw food with their existing food over time. This gives your cat the opportunity to become familiar with the new smell and texture while allowing their digestive system time to adjust.

Some cats will make the transition quickly, while others can take considerably longer. Don't rush the process.

If your cat refuses the new food, return to the previous ratio and try again once they are comfortable.

Purrform Senior Raw Cat Food

Our Senior range has been specially developed for cats aged 11 years and over. It contains premium cuts of human-grade meat, minced with bone and offal, with a fine texture and slightly smaller pieces of bone than our standard adult varieties.

The range has increased protein to help maintain lean body mass and includes joint care ingredients, DHA to support cognitive function and yeast as a source of prebiotics.

Our 450g Senior tubs are complete foods, meaning they contain the protein, nutrients, minerals and amino acids your senior cat needs as part of their daily diet.

With a variety of flavours available, you can give your older cat the nutritional benefits of a raw diet while keeping mealtimes interesting.

Getting your senior cat's diet right can make a big difference to their quality of life. By choosing a complete, nutritious food that is appropriate for their age and individual needs, you can help give your cat the nutrition they need to enjoy their senior years.

For owners looking for a natural, high-protein option, Purrform Senior provides a complete raw diet specifically developed for cats aged 11 years and over.