Companion Animals

Companion Cat Senior Nutritional Welfare

Nutritional management of senior cats to maintain health and welfare through old age.

Key Facts

Senior cats often struggle to maintain body weight due to reduced digestive efficiency
High protein senior diets support muscle mass maintenance in older cats
Phosphorus restriction is important for cats with early kidney disease
Dental disease impairs food intake and requires treatment to restore nutritional welfare
Fresh water availability is critical for renal health in senior cats

Welfare Considerations

Senior cat nutritional welfare requires proactive management of changing requirements, with dietary adjustments and dental care preventing nutritional decline and associated suffering.

What You Can Do

Transition senior cats to age-appropriate diets after discussion with your vet
Ensure multiple fresh water sources for senior cats to encourage adequate drinking
Schedule dental assessment as part of senior cat nutritional welfare planning