Do Older Cats Eat Less

Some cats may need more emotional support as they age and others may prefer to be left alone he explains.

Do older cats eat less. Senior cats may stop grooming themselves and look scruffy. ¹⁵ In addition to an increased caloric intake older cats. Your old cat may not be able to eat because his teeth are aging and it will end up with his kibbles being too hard to chew.

As your cat gets older they no longer get as much exercise and their metabolism slows down. If she were drinking a lot and peeing rivers then I would suspect diabetes instead of the thyroid. If you notice your senior cat putting on weight this may because you are feeding them too much.

Generally speaking any disease that makes a cat feel unwell can cause an appetite decrease. No bowel movement for five days. You may also notice changes in sleeping patternsthe cat may sleep more or less.

The dogma that all older cats be fed reduced energy senior diets must be questioned based on what is now known about the increasing energy requirements and nutritional needs of older cats. Eating and Drinking Less. How long can a cat go without eating or drinking.

Throughout its life it is a good idea to weigh your cat every one to two months. ¹² The higher maintenance energy requirements of geriatric cats in combination with their impaired ability to digest protein will lead to loss of muscle mass if their overall energy and protein needs are not met. When you notice that your cat is eating less the first step is to have a complete physical examination performed and then diagnostic testing to identify the source of the problem.

Feeding the older cat. If cat doesnt eat one meal and then returns to normal eating habits this usually isnt a concern. Take steps to ensure your senior cats comfort during her final days.