Best Dry Cat Food For Senior Indoor Cats

As your feline friend grows older, they start to slow down and become less and less active. Further to this, their nutritional needs also change because as they perform less activities, the amount of calories that they require to function goes down dramatically. Additionally, senior cats also require lots of healthy fats in order to maintain a good coat and skin, and plenty of vitamins and minerals, and antioxidants to support their overall health.

When it becomes the time to start looking for dry cat food that is aimed at a more senior feline it can quickly and easily become overwhelming as there are lots of different options currently available on the market. What to look out for is a food that contains lots of fatty acids, is protein rich, and is fortified with essential vitamins minerals. To help you with the dilemma of finding the right dry cat food for your feline friend we have done the research and put together a list of our best picks.

Examples of the fresh ingredients contained within the food include carbohydrates, such as chickpeas, lentils, and fresh chicken. These healthy ingredients leaves the food packed full of flavor, which will keep your cat coming back for more. The Canidae Grain-Free PURE Meadow Senior Cat Food includes all the fatty acids that your cat need to stay in good health. Included are essential vitamins and minerals that have been chelated in order to aid absorption. For probiotic support, a number of fermented products have been included.

The main source of carbohydrates is brown rice, which is both easy to digest and full of important nutrients for your cat. This food product is fortified with an amino sulfonic acid called taurine, which helps to keep your cat’s heart and eyes in good working condition, as well as minerals that have been chelated for maximum absorption.

To the benefit of your pet cat it contains certain probiotics that aid digestion, cranberries to promote a healthy urinary system, as well as chelated minerals that allow for the maximum absorption of nutrients. The food contains an abundance of protein (approx. 38 percent), crude fat (approx. 13 percent), and fiber (approx. 4.5 percent), as well as specific ingredients to support healthy gums, coat, skin, and vision.

The use of natural ingredients in this food product makes for a flavor that is unbeatable, ensuring your cat keeps coming back for more.

The formulation is made up of 36 percent pure protein, 17 percent fat, and 6 percent fiber.

Consisting solely of natural ingredients, the Merrick Purrfect Bistro Healthy Senior Recipe Cat Food is also free of any sorts of man-made additives, such as preservatives, flavors, or colors. The natural meat makes up 39 percent of the formulation and the protein in it works to support your kitties muscles and muscle growth, as well as aiding weight loss. Additionally, the food contains a variety of good fats that benefit both coat and skin whilst not adding to many calories to the overall product.

The formula is made up of 33 percent protein, 12 percent fat, and 4.5 percent fiber. With so much protein in it, your cat gets everything it needs to help maintain its lean muscle. Carbohydrates come in the form of chickpeas, peas, brown rice, and potatoes, which are all grain free and provide your cat with the dietary fibers needed to support a healthy digestive system.

Those were our best picks for the best dry cat foods for senior indoor cats. If after reading these reviews you still have some questions then this section should be of some help. Here we have attempted to answer some of the most frequently asked questions regarding dry cat food for older cats. So continue to read below to find out more.

The best dry cat food for aging cats is one that meets the individual dietary needs of senior cats. This includes combating the risk of dehydration, being full of fiber, and not consisting of artificial and unhealthy allergens that many older cats are intolerant to. Any of the ones that we featured in our list of top picks meet all of these criteria points.

Some other dry food products that were not featured but are still good for older cats include Fromm Mature Gold Dry Food For Cat, Now Fresh Grain Free Senior Weight Management Recipe Dry Cat Food, Iams Proactive Health Healthy Senior Dry Cat Food, and Hill’s Science Diet Dry Cat Food for Older Cats.

Although it did not make our list of top picks, many other reviews put the Natural Balance Limited Ingredients Dry Cat Food as the best cat food aimed at older cats. This is because it not only comes in a verity of different flavors to suit your cat’s individual tastes, but it is rich in protein, whilst having limited other ingredients.

Additionally, the food is grain free – something that many older cats are intolerant to – and contains omega 3, along with six other fatty acids to ensure your cat’s good health and shiny coat. The food comes in different sized bags, including 2 lbs, 4.5 lbs, 5 lbs, 8 lbs, and 10 lbs, so you will always be able to find one to suit the size of your cat.

Senior cats have a very specific set of dietary requirements that are even more nuanced than at any stage in their lives, including as kittens. Those food products that are specifically aimed at older cats have been formulated to incorporate their lack of ability to both taste and smell. This is because as cats get older their sense of taste and smell deteriorate, thus making most foods less appealing to them.

These specialist foods are also easy to chew given that many senior cats suffer from gum disease and other dental issues such as missing or broken teeth. With senior cats drinking less they are prone to becoming dehydrated and so their food has more moisture in it in order to combat dehydration. As cats get older it gets harder for them to both digest and absorb vital nutrients from their food. Specialist senior food is easier to digest and absorb thanks to the specific ingredients used.

Both wet and dry food are good sources of nutrition for older cats. However, as with anything, each type comes with its own disadvantages and advantages. What is good about wet food is that it typically comes in cans, which are pre measured and so easy to portion out, helping with weight management. The high water content in wet food helps to flush out any crystals that may be present in your cat’s urine. The softer texture makes it easier for older cats to eat.

The main problem with dry cat food is that it lacks any sort of moisture, thus making it difficult to digest. This is particularly troublesome for more senior cats that have issues with their teeth and / or gums. Before choosing any type of food it is best to consult your veterinarian first as they can advise what is best for your pet cat.

After doing the research and considering the above questions, we came to the conclusion that the Blue Buffalo Healthy Aging Mature Dry Cat Food is the best dry cat food for senior cats because it only contains the freshest chicken protein, is easy for older cats to digest, and contains no nasties, such as artificial additives. The only slight problem we did find with the food is that some cats simply do not like the taste of it. If this is the case with your cat, then any of the other food products in our list of top picks will make a suitable alternative.

Similarly, if your cat struggles with eating a dry food given its age and / or any dental issues it may have, you should consider switching from dry food altogether and instead go for a wet cat food as this is the best option as it is much easier to chew. As we stated in the FAQ section there are also some other benefits to wet food so it may be worth doing some research in order to find the best one for both you and your cat.