Keys to Older Cat Health

In addition to providing nutritional older cat food, there are a number of things you can do to prolong your aging cat's life and keep your older cat in good health.

Because cats are very good at hiding their emotions and pains, it's very important for you to observe your older cat closely and make mini-physical examinations a part of the way you normally interact with your cat.  You can ask your vet for tips, but generally some things you can do include:

• Raising the cat's upper lips to examine its teeth and gums and look for abnormalities.
• Lifting the ear flaps and checking the ear canals, making sure they're clear.
• Feel for lumps or bumps on your cat as you pet him or her.
• Look for changes in your older cat's skin and coat.

If you find anything out of the ordinary, be sure to bring it up with your vet.  Early detection of problems is key to ensuring the longevity of your older or senior cat.

Other important items for your cat's health include:

• Daily brushing and grooming - It helps your cat avoid hairballs while promoting blood circumation and stimulating sebaceous gland secretions which helps your older cat maintain healthy skin and a shiny coat.  Be sure to check your older cat's nails weekly, too, and trim them if necessary, since they probably don't use scratching posts as often as when they were younger.
• Exercise - In addition to weight control, exercise is as beneficial for your older cat as it is for older people!  As arthritis develops and muscles begin to atrophy, cats become less agile.  By encouraging your cat to play and exercise, you're helping your senior cat maintain its muscles, increase blood circulation and stay at a healthy weight.  If your cat has trouble breathing or gets tired extra quickly, take note of it as it may be suggestive of disease.
• Reducing Stress - As cats age, they become less adaptable to change.  As such, if you're going to board your senior cat for an extended period of time, be sure that she has a familiar object such as a blanket or toy.  Ideally, however, the cat should be cared for by a friend or neighbor in your home.  Another key to reducing stress is not introducing new pets in the home.  One thing you can do to reduce stress in unavoidable situations is giving your senior cat more attention and affection to help ease her emotions.

A big key to your older cat's health, however, is the food you feed your senior cat!  Check out our article on senior cat food nutrition.

Nutritional Food is Key to Cat Health

Proper nutrition is vital for ensuring the health and happiness of your cat.  But what should you look for when picking a dry or canned food for your cat?

First and foremost, the brand of food you pick should have a label from the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) that verifies the nutritional balance of the food.  The association regulates nutrition and labeling in cat food products and you're only guaranteed that the food is complete if there is an AAFCO label on the food you purchase.  For your convenience, all foods reviewed on this website are AAFCO approved.

Next, since cats are carnivores by nature, you want a meat to be the primary ingredient in the food you purchase.  Just like with regular human food ingredients, the first item listed is the one that is found in the greatest quantity, then the next, and the next and so on.  The last ingredient is the one with the smallest quantity in the food.

Make sure your cat foods also has the nutrient taurine which is important for your cats health.  Quality cat foods should have this along with a lower amount of carbohydrates.  Carbs are inexpensive fillers for cat food manufacturers and the best cat foods are mostly made with meats and proteins, not carbs.

If your cat has a history of urinary tract problems, try to avoid foods with fish in them and try to provide your cat with wet or canned food.  Other things to look for are foods that advertise a pH balance and include cranberries.

Finally, choose a cat food that your cat enjoys and stick with it.  Changing your cats diet stresses her out and could cause her to become ill.  Sometimes changing her food is necessary (to prevent or treat urinary tract diseases, help her lose weight, etc) in which case the food should be changed gradually.

Be sure to consult your veterinarian about what the best food for your cat is at her stage in life.  As cats age, senior cat foods helps them remain healthy in their older age and address their changing nutritional needs.

Check out our articles on switching your cat from dry food to canned food, and which cat foods are best for a healthy urinary tract, too.

Felidae Platinum is an all natural holistic formula for older cats and overweight cats.  It has been known to be a favorite among fussy cats who have a tendency to throw up.  Its formula also ensures proper urinary tract health by including cranberries.

• Four High Quality Meat Meals: Chicken, Turkey, Lamb, & Fish

• All Natural, Human Grade, Holistic Pet Food

• Natural Ingredients Plus Essential Vitamins & Amino Acid Chelated Minerals

• Naturally Preserved Herbal Formulation

• Excellent Palatability - Cats Love FELIDAE®

• Contains Skin & Coat Conditioners to Maintain a Health Luxurious Coat

• Balanced Omega 6 & 3 Fatty Acids

• Wholesome Nutritional Brown Rice & Diversified Carbohydrates

• Superior Digestibility

• Formulated with Cranberries

• Guaranteed Viable Micro-Organisms

• Guaranteed Enzyme Activity to Help Break Down Cellulose

• Made the CANIDAE® Way with Superior Quality: No Corn, Wheat, Soy, Grain Fractions or Fillers and Naturally Preserved

Wysong Uretic™ is a great dry food for cats prone to Urolithiasis, struvite crystals, bladder stones, FLUTD, because it contains no excess minerals and gives your cat acidic urine, which in turn helps maintain urinary tract health and prevent and treat urinary diseases.

Natura Pet Products, the company that makes Innova brand foods, is known for investing a lot in research and development.  Their Innova Senior cat food is the result of a two year long effort to apply the latest senior cat scientific research findings to their popular Innova cat food formulas.