Best wet cat food for aged cats

[HappyHollyDays]

As title, my two British Shorthair girls are 16 and 17 and Sebastian the fluffy blind one has recently reached his teens. I’ve got him on Purina NutriSavour to stop the awful tummy he was suffering from and while Sparkle the elder is fine on anything Blue has started to lose weight and I can’t seem to find anything which suits her metabolism. They are wormed regularly so I don’t think that’s an issue but having lost Holly at 17 I think Blues days are numbered as her metabolism is working overtime. They don't get biscuits due to lack of teeth so I’m looking for a wet food which is kind on the tummy and provides the most calories without causing diarrhoea. Anyone got any ideas? She loves fresh chicken but I’m not sure that’s the solution because it lacks the taurine cats need or do I just accept she s an old girl in her latter years and feed her what she likes.

 

[HashRouge]

If Blue has started to lose weight I would suggest getting her checked by a vet as a first port of call. Our 16 year old, Stanley, started to lose weight last year and when he had bloods taken by the vet he was diagnosed with kidney disease. I did think that might be curtains for him but actually we are almost a year on and he is doing quite well (*frantically touching wood*). He has to have a special diet and is not as chunky as he used to be, but he has actually put a bit of weight back on and seems quite happy. We don't have to give him any special medication or do any extra vet trips - he literally just needs to be fed a particular kind of food aimed at cats with kidney disease.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

Thanks HR, she isn’t the easiest to get to the vets. As a rescue I can’t pick her up even after 15 years of tender loving care but I think I’m going to have to be brave and accept the scratches to have her bloods done. She’s full of life and other being deaf and losing weight is her usual self. Glad to hear Stanley is living life to the full and not in need of any extra meds.

 

[HashRouge]

Thanks HR, she isn’t the easiest to get to the vets. As a rescue I can’t pick her up even after 15 years of tender loving care but I think I’m going to have to be brave and accept the scratches to have her bloods done. She’s full of life and other being deaf and losing weight is her usual self. Glad to hear Stanley is living life to the full and not in need of any extra meds.

Oh god I do sympathise! Stan is actually a soppy thing at home but he is so aggressive at the vets that he has to stay in his cage and have his annual injections done through the slats in the side, and has been handled using the gloves they wear for dealing with wild animals! They don't believe us that he cuddles like a baby when he's at home! I know my Mum was a bit worried it might be something that required regular vet visits/ more invasive treatment, which just would not have been fair on him. But his special diet is fairly straightforward to manage and it does seem to have helped him put some weight on.

 

[[139672]]

What about Lily’s Kitchen tinned food? Or do Nature’s Menu do cat food? I am sure they do. Both sold by Pets at Home. My dog loves the Lily’s K food. You could mix some water with it as it is fairly dry, I think because it’s a good quality food with high protein. My dog has a sensitive tum and L K does not upset it.

 

[DirectorFury]

I’d echo HR - at that age it’s most likely either kidneys or thyroid . Both are treatable if caught early enough so vets is a must. If it’s kidneys then diet is really important so I’d want her checked before starting to try out different foods.

Would the vet prescribe a small dose of gabapentin for Blue to take at home so she’s chilled by the time you get to the vets? Our late Siamese was always a raging hellcat at the vets and had to be properly sedated for bloods but gabapentin at home meant she could at least be examined without going into attack mode!

 

[fiwen30]

Absolutely agree with a vet check, including teeth/gums, and full blood work first, if there’s been weight loss.

After that, if all is clear, then I’d recommend this for weight gain/maintenance - https://www.animeddirect.co.uk/hill...torative-care-dogs-cats-wet-food-24x156g-cans

My 10 year old cat was diagnosed with an aggressive cancerous growth in his throat, and found it very difficult to eat/loss of appetite. He gobbled up about 2-3 of these small tins a day, and was able to maintain his weight for 5 months before we had him PTS.

It’s only recommended as an intermittent food, under vetinary observation, but with aged cats I’d look into it for weight maintenance - provided there’s nothing else wrong, and ask your vet first, of course!

 

[flat3]

Thanks HR, she isn’t the easiest to get to the vets. As a rescue I can’t pick her up even after 15 years of tender loving care but I think I’m going to have to be brave and accept the scratches to have her bloods done. She’s full of life and other being deaf and losing weight is her usual self. Glad to hear Stanley is living life to the full and not in need of any extra meds.

We have a 16yr old ex-rescue who is the same and no chance of the vet being able to take a blood sample to run tests without full sedation - which carries its own risks. Apart from the weight loss she's well in herself so the vet suggested a urine test instead. After a bit of faffing with a pipette and a litter tray ? test shows her kidneys are fine and no sign of diabetes, so weighing everything up we're happy not to investigate further and to simply find a tasty high calorie food to build/maintain her weight. Given her age and attitude we know we'll have to think carefully about what is the right thing to do if/when anything serious is identified.

Might be worth asking about a urine test as a starter?

 

[Highmileagecob]

Elderly cats need an easily digested form of protein to offset kidneys not working at the same rate as ten years ago. If you can source fish or chicken, that would be good, or most tinned foods include a senior range these days. Beware of any tinned food that includes cereals to bulk it out - cats are carnivores, they are not meant to digest vegetables and cereal.
My local butcher used to make up his own pet food by putting chicken carcasses and chicken offal through the pulveriser. I'm sure that gave my lad another two years of life.
You will know if there are any underlying issues such as vomiting, diarrhoea, refusing to eat etc., and if you are still unsure about diet, give your vet a ring and run it by him/her.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

We share a chicken every week which she loves and I’ve put her on Sebastian’s food with good results. No upset tummy, she not a sicky cat anyway, no drinking lots or peeing more than usual and because of the stress of getting her to the vets unless anything changes I have decided to leave it for now. I really think it’s old age catching up with her and 16 is a good age for a pedigree cat. Flat3 that’s a good idea about the urine test and not something I would have thought of.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

I thought I would update this thread. Blue is doing really well on the ProPlan wet food and after many false biscuit starts I have found she eats the Acana Indoor Entree with gusto. In fact it’s been brilliant for all three. Sparkle doesn’t barf and Sebastian doesn’t have an upset tummy so I have remortgaged the house and sold my soul to keep them healthy and eating food which agrees with them.

 

[Emilieu]

So glad you have found a solution. When I saw the title I came to recommend Untamed, the subscription service. My girl has nasal cancer and it has affected her sense of smell and therefore taste, and this food has been a godsend, she wolves it down, especially the fish varieties. Also, protein powder sprinkled on top seems to tempt her on fussier days and gives extra cals. I know you are sorted now but thought I would add this anyway in case helps anyone else in the future.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

Thank you Emilieu, I hadn’t heard of it before and one to keep in mind.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

The old girl a few years ago.