Mary Allen
The age at which a cat is considered a senior varies – one cat is still as playful as a kitten at the age of 15, and the other withdraws from active cat life to the windowsill at the age of ten.
In general, however, one speaks of a cat senior from the age of eleven. Various researchers recommend starting retirement planning from the age of nine. In addition to an annual health check, this also includes a diet that is tailored to the needs of the older cat. There are now high-quality feeds that have been specially developed for older cats. You cannot stop aging yourself, but you can delay the consequences of aging and keep the cat vital and full of joie de vivre for longer. Although cats move less with age and their metabolism also slows down, they rarely tend to be overweight (the exception proves the rule).
Appetizers: Brewer’s Yeast And Fish
In fact, senior cats are often rather lacking in appetite. To stimulate the elderly woman’s appetite, you can warm up the food or add strong-smelling ingredients such as brewer’s yeast, fried liver, fish, or fatty meat. Brewer’s yeast also contains a lot of vitamin B, which stimulates the appetite. Both underweight and overweight pose health risks. You should therefore weigh your cat once a week and adjust the food ration so that it maintains its weight. Digestion in older cats is slower and not as effective as in young cats. The food for the seniors should therefore be easy to digest and promote digestion. All ingredients that do not remain in the stomach and intestines for long are easily digestible, e.g. E.g. lean, tendon- and gristle-free meat or egg.
Fiber: Regulates Digestion
Since older cats tend to be constipated, the food should contain fiber that promotes digestion (in moderation! Otherwise diarrhea will occur). Mixtures of indigestible fibers such as cellulose and fermentable substances such as pectin, lactose, or raw potato starch are best. Due to their volume, the roughage stimulates the intestines to work and binds water so that the intestinal contents become more slippery. Beneficial intestinal bacteria feed on fermentable substances, which strengthen the cat’s immune system. Proteins play a special role. While carbohydrates and fats are mainly used to generate energy, proteins are irreplaceable as building blocks for building and repairing all tissues. A lack of protein leads to an acceleration of the aging process in an elderly woman. The quality of the protein is of great importance. A distinction is made between high-quality and low-quality protein.
Anti-Aging: It’s All In The Mix
In the case of inferior protein, a lot of urea is produced as a waste product in the metabolism, while high-quality protein (such as fish, and muscle meat) is used almost “without residue”. For young, healthy cats, even a large amount of urea is not a problem – the organism of older cats, on the other hand, can have larger amounts of urea. This is often due to the fact that older cats have unnoticed damage to the detoxification organs kidneys or liver. Even if kidney or liver damage is already known, the protein supply must be guaranteed. It is then all the more important that the cat only eats high-quality protein cats do not turn gray like humans and dogs, but their fur and skin also show signs of aging. The skin loses elasticity and the fur can become dull and tend to become matted. Essential fatty acids, e.g. from evening primrose oil, improve the quality of the fur, but they are allowed always only in combination with vitamin E of the food g are added. Zinc is also said to be good for skin and hair – but too much zinc can impair the absorption of other important minerals and trace elements. Along with the trace elements copper, manganese, and selenium, as well as vitamins C and E, zinc is one of the so-called antioxidants (see box) that are said to slow down the aging process. But as is so often the case here, it is the mix that counts. A lot doesn’t help much, it can even do harm.