In the case of a nutritional deficiency, your vet may recommend a specific supplement. In support of these calculations is a recent study that examined the diet composition of 42 clinically normal colony cats, aged 2.9 to 9.1 years, that were allowed to voluntarily choose the composition of their diet in order to fulfill their daily caloric need. ", Don't Let Your Senior Cat Become a Skinny Old Kitty, Copyright © 2020 Feline Nutrition Foundation, High Blood Pressure: Yes, Your Cat Can Get It, Too, Answers: Plant vs. Meat – The Protein Feud for Cat Food. They can help you assess your cat’s … For example, gastrointestinal conditions can interfere with a cat’s ability to absorb vitamin B12. As cats age and reach 11 to 12 years of age, both caloric and protein intake should be progressively increased by a factor of 1.1 to 1.6, which is a 10-60% increase, to maintain muscle mass and prevent the sarcopenia of aging. Summary: The optimal daily protein intake in clinically normal, young to middle-aged cats appears to range from approximately 5.5 g/kg up to 11.5 g/kg. All cats need higher amounts of protein as they age to prevent the loss of lean body mass and associated muscle wasting. “Because of this, the cat will lose nutrients from food in the stool, which results in an increased appetite and weight loss.” Diagnosis involves a thorough medical exam and blood test to check for low B12 concentration, along with an ultrasound or other imaging to look for evidence of intestinal thickening or enlarged lymph nodes, Murphy says. G Pérez-Camargo, "Feline Decline in Key Physiological Reserves: Implication for Mortality,". None of these study cats were geriatric or had sarcopenia of aging, but both studies emphasize the importance of adequate high-quality dietary protein in maintaining lean body mass. AS Green, JJ Ramsey, C Villaverde, et al., ", 27. Some aging cats lose their appetite or become obese. He eats as much as he likes, but he still seems to be losing weight. Feeding a senior cat requires tailoring the diet with the help of your veterinarian to address any specific health problems your pet may have. Every cat is individual, so the most important thing is to feed your cat enough to maintain a lean, healthy body condition. The likely reason relates to the fact that these research cats were inactive. In the short digestive tract of cats, plant proteins are far less digestible than meat proteins. On top of cats’ more sedentary lifestyle, they often eat calorie-dense foods. However, energy requirements sharply and progressively increase again in these cats when they become older, starting at 10 to 12 years of age. Other symptoms tend to include loss of appetite, lethargy, and hiding. Proper hydration is also important for the senior cat. Always book an appointment with your vet if you think your cat has lost weight. Diseases like cancer may cause a cat to lose weight and therefore need extra nutrition. Weight loss is a common feline problem, particularly in senior kitties. In that study, investigators found that the "intake target was close to 26 g/day of protein, 9 g/day of fat and 8 g/day of carbohydrate, yielding a. Change of Food. Depending on their health, your aging cat's diet may need an overhaul. Protein restriction has not been proven to be beneficial for healthy cats, but is helpful for cats with kidney problems. Today, many cats are kept indoors where there isn’t much room to roam, and the food bowl is readily accessible any time they want to eat. Gastrointestinal Problems. RR Wolfe, "Sarcopenia of Aging: Implications of the Age-related Loss of Lean Body Mass,", 4. If necessary, an appetite-stimulating drug, such as cyproheptadine or mirtazapine, may be prescribed. Therefore, to help maintain lean body mass and promote optimum health, geriatric cats should receive diets that will provide at least 6-8 g, and preferably more, of high quality protein/kg body weight per day. In their senior years, felines start to fall prey to many of the same ailments as we do. It may be better to follow one of the many senior diets, as they are lower in calories and reduce the likelihood of weight gain. Your veterinarian can recommend a weight loss plan include a specific weight loss diet and exercise. Try Wet Food. 132: pp It may be a sign of a developing heath problem, or the progression of a pre-existing condition if your cat begins to lose weight. Traditional weight loss plans include feeding an energy restricted, e.g., low-fat, high-carbohydrate, high-fiber, diet. 16. If her ideal weight is 12 lbs, she should have 230 calories a day. Because your cat’s body is burning energy too quickly, the first thing you’ll probably notice is that your cat is always hungry and is losing weight in spite of his massive food consumption. It’s not difficult for an animal to overeat and gain weight,” Michel says. Age alone doesn’t change a cat’s appetite or how much food they eat, but lifestyle does have a big impact. But some health conditions that affect older cats can make it more difficult for them to absorb certain vitamins or nutrients. Rapid weight loss is easy to spot but gradual weight loss can be tricky, especially if your cat is fluffy. Buy on Amazon. The cat should be … S1735-S1739. Here are some tips for keeping your aging cat's weight under control. Why the lower end? However, crash dieting is dangerous for cats. : Diabetes is a big problem in cats, and it’s often triggered by obesity. "There is no perfect food, because every older cat has its set of problems,” Wakshlag says. If you are feeding your senior cat a balanced diet, they shouldn’t need supplements. Weight loss commonly afflicts middle aged and older cats. Another option is to feed your cat a food formulated for kittens. These issues are important when selecting a food for any cat, but they become of utmost importance when selecting a diet for the geriatric cat. It's very clear that not all proteins are created equal, especially when feeding an obligate carnivore, such as the cat. : Many cats develop kidney failure as they age. S Little, "Evaluation of the Senior Cat with Weight Loss," In: S Little (ed), 3. 8. EN Bermingham, DG Thomas, PJ Morris and AJ Hawthorne, ", 18. Notice how much the cat eats daily. However, while these diets may result in weight loss, they do so to the detriment of lean body mass, especially as cats use protein for energy even in the face of other energy sources in the diet. Dec 2017 went for a check up she was 10 pounds perfectly healthy. 1. 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