Feeding a Senior Cat: What Actually Changes After Ten

The protein myth

For years owners were told to cut protein for aging cats. Modern thinking is mostly the opposite: many senior cats digest protein less efficiently and lose muscle without enough of it. Unless your vet prescribes a restricted diet for kidney disease, quality protein stays central.

Watch the scale, both directions

Weight loss in a senior cat eating normally is a lab test, not a diet win — hyperthyroidism and kidney disease are classic causes. Weight gain matters too: extra kilos on arthritic joints hurt. A monthly weigh-in on a baby scale catches both early.

Making food easier

Raise the bowl so an arthritic neck doesn't have to fold to the floor. Warm wet food slightly to release aroma — senior noses are duller, and smell drives feline appetite. Smaller, more frequent meals suit older digestion better than one big serving.

Water is part of the diet

Senior cats are chronically prone to dehydration, which strains aging kidneys. Wet food, water fountains, and wide shallow bowls in several rooms all help. If drinking suddenly increases, that's not good hydration — it's an early warning sign worth a vet visit.