It’s both a joy and a pleasure to be owned by elderly kitties. While some older cats may require special care due to the many common ailments to which some aged cats are prone, having a kitty that has reached a ripe old age says a lot about both their excellent genetics and/or the prudent care they have received.
To help maintain elderly kitties in the best possible health, choosing the most species appropriate diet to feed cats is a priority. But with the wide variety of cat food on the market today, designed to meet the nutritional needs of this elderly feline population, it can be somewhat confusing to decide which one is the best to feed, and some veterinarians still prescribe low-protein diets.
However, according to an article written by veterinarian, Dr. Karen Becker – an expert in feline nutrition,
“For many years, veterinarians recommended reduced protein diets for older cats.”
Dr. Becker explains the reason why veterinarians suggested feeding elderly cats a reduced protein diet since:
“After a lifetime of eating commercial pet food containing poor quality protein that is difficult to digest, a cat’s kidney and liver function is compromised….As crazy as it sounds, reduced-protein senior cat formulas came into being because of the terrible quality of cat foods on the market.”
As stated by Dr. Becker, premature ageing in cats, digestion, organ dysfunction and detoxification is created by diets that are hard to digest and assimilate. Fortunately, however, many veterinarians are learning today that, in fact, elderly cats actually need more protein than younger kitties.
Dr. Delmar Finco, a veterinary nutritionist discovered in 1992 that as pets age, the requirements for protein really increase. In fact, restricting protein in animals with kidney failure didn’t increase their longevity or enhance their health.
Since low protein diets have traditionally been recommended for cats with kidney disease, what I found most interesting in Dr. Becker’s article was that back in 1992, Dr. Finco’s research uncovered that cats who were fed low protein diets developed hypoproteinemia, (a condition where there is an abnormally low level of protein in the blood). They also became catabolic (the body basically wasting away), and lose weight. He discovered that the more protein was restricted these kitties became even sicker. What Dr. Finco actually discovered is that it was the level of phosphorus in foods that worsened kidney disease; basically not the amount of protein.
However, today, many veterinarians recommend that diets containing excellent highly digestible and assimilable quality protein are appropriate for kitties with kidney and liver issues. However, at the same time it is also recommended to restrict phosphorous levels.
Dr. Becker cautions that cats who have progressed into later stages of kidney failure, “as defined by the International Interest Society (IRIS) are recommended to be fed a reduced amount of high quality protein, but offered to them in a kidney- friendly fresh food format.”
What’s most important in feeding senior cats is to feed them the highest quality protein. Feeding a highly digestible protein that contains high moisture content makes it so much easier for their ageing organs to process.
Raw or “gently cooked” fresh food is an excellent diet for elderly cats. Dr. Becker recommends that if it is impossible to feed raw that dehydrated or freeze-dried balanced food reconstituted with plenty of water is good second choice. All foods that are served “dry” can, in the long run cause problems.
Of course, to prevent serious liver problems cats must eat. Some cats often become totally addicted to poor quality cat food. So if you have a junk-food addict senior, Dr. Becker recommends “Adding a whole body supplement, such as,” Feline Whole Body Support.”
What primary diet do you feed your elderly cats? Share what has worked for you in a comment.
Michael, I don’t think it’s going to happen (more good experiences with vets) due to the nature of the game. Our experiences in general, reflect the ups and downs of life itself. The only way we can have more ups is to make “investigative research” a priority. Most working people are unable to do this, so are subject to more “slings and arrows” because they lack knowledge.
I see this as job potential for those of us retired folks who are research oriented. My day revolves around research of one kind or another, usually having to do with enhancing life of humans and animals.
I’ve been this way long before the Internet arrived on the scene, and I used to pour over volumes of books at the library. I actually built my business on the back of research, which increased my profit margin 25%. It enabled me to make a minimum of 25 cents more on each dollar of product sales. And to find new sources at better prices.
Research has been a powerful tool for me, and I learned many years ago to be aware of the “source”. That’s not to say that there isn’t prejudice in studies, and that results can’t be skewed. So, effective research is actually a complex process that many people aren’t equipped to do.
I came across a cat website yesterday, and after reading for a short time, I said to myself “This person is mis-informed”. Then I saw that the site only had 65 likes on FB, as opposed to those qualified sites such as Cat Centric with over 5,000 likes, and growing daily. I’m not sure how many readers POC has, but it’s my “go to” site for cat information. I contribute new information as I find it. And always post comments on my personal FB page, and the one for CAT Advocate. Sharing wisdom and knowledge is the greatest thing we can do for each other. We will always have unique experiences, but sharing them can make a difference in our lives.
Withholding helpful information is like keeping all the cookies for oneself, instead of sharing. There are lots of cookies available on POC! Thanks to you, and so many caring, sharing readers.
Sandra Murphey, what gets me really fired up are the breed specific cat foods. Supposedly I should be feeding a diet for Siamese/Oriental cats for my OSHes, and a mixed-breed formula for our moggie. I gotta tell you that some of the cat food manufacturers will think up anything to engage consumers who think that they are doing JUST the right thing for their cats; no matter what their age.
It just drives me up the wall!!! And you are correct- most of the nutrition education that is given to vet students is done BY the cat food manufacturers, who are peddling their wares so the newly graduated vets will fill the shelves in their waiting rooms with the company’s products. Some of my vet friends tell me that they received ONE day of nutrition training. Ain’t that just dandy?
I think you have touched on something there: the studies that may have been funded by the manufacturers. The presence of the manufacturers is insidious. They influence veterinary schools sometimes and there is no question that they can also create bias in studies to make there food more acceptable at the expense cats’ health.
I, too, am losing faith in veterinarians. My experiences are not always good. I should have more good experiences.
Great question. Lower phosphorus may be necessary but cats need protein to maintain muscle mass. As obligate carnivores this is a requirement. Many vets have already changed their thoughts about low protein but many still maintain the old school thinking!! SIGH.
Jo, I appreciate your information. I didn’t change the diet of my aging cats at all. They continued to receive basic low quality canned and dry food. They were indoor/outdoor and ate their share of live prey on 5 aces in Hawaii, before moving to Northern Califoria, where they were indoor only, with no more live prey. They lived to 12 and 13yrs. In those days I knew nothing about cat care, but they were healthy and rarely saw a vet. I wonder now if that contributed to their health?
Although I’ve come to the point of not trusting vets in general, there must have been some studies done about the effects of protein on older kitties. I immediately wonder who might have done these studies? That’s always a clue that many people don’t consider. (the source of studies) Could they have been done by pet food manufacturers? That’s just me connecting the (potential) dots. The other possibility is that the studies were done by those in veterinary science, which would support the prescription foods that seem to have less protein. It’s been awhile since I looked at some of those labels, but I seem to remember corn as one of the first ingredients.
I’m hoping that someone can do research to find the source of the directive to feed less protein to aging cats. I’m focused on doing research for my kitty who has an infected tooth, and ways I can help alleviate some of her pain, until I get her in for surgery.
Thanks for this Jo. Interesting article. What I don’t understand is why vets recommended a low protein diet for elderly cats.