best cat foods for older cats

There are so many things that cats need to stay healthy as they grow older. One major thing that cats should be eating is good cat food for older cats because these foods often have more nutrients and benefits for senior kitties. Here’s what to look for when choosing the suitable types of food for older cats:

Buying Guide

1. High Protein:

The older a cat gets, the more protein it will need. Good cat food for older cats will have at least 30% protein. High carbohydrates are also suitable for older cats, so look for higher carb content.

2. Less Sodium:

All sodium is not bad in your cat’s diet, but when it comes to senior kitties, you’ll want to look for cat food that has less sodium than other foods on the market. Good cat food for senior cats will have less than 1,500 mg of sodium.

3. Omega Fatty Acids:

Omega fatty acids are great for older cats to help keep their skin and coat healthy. Look for foods that have a good amount of omega fatty acids in them and other nutrients such as calcium and phosphorus.

4. Omega 3/6 Fat Ratio:

For older cats, the omega 3/6 fat ratio is more important. The higher the quality of the oil used in a food, the better this ratio will be.

5. Preserving Vitamins and Minerals:

Good cat food will last longer than other foods, so it’s essential to look for foods that have been preserved in some way. A company that makes their cat food with whole protein naturally preservatives will also use heat, which will kill the bacteria in the food and keep it fresh.

6. Digestive Enzymes:

Another thing to look for in cat food for older cats is digestive enzymes. These are important to help your cat digest the food and keep its digestion flowing correctly.

7. Real Meat:

Good cat food for older cats will have real meat and whole protein that doesn’t come from animal by-products. By-products are used in most foods and may be less healthy than whole proteins.

8. No Fillers:

Good cat food for senior cats will have as few fillers as possible. By-products such as corn, potatoes, or wheat can be fattening and unnecessary when choosing the best cat foods for older cats.

9. No Artificial Colors or Flavors:

Artificial colors and flavors should also be considered in the ingredients of good cat food for older cats since they can cause gastrointestinal problems in some cats.

10. Gluten Free:

As cats get older, they tend to have more difficulty digesting gluten. Look for cat food that is free of gluten and soy since these can be difficult to digest for some cats. Companies that make the best cat foods for older cats should have this on their ingredients label, so you know what you’re buying before buying it.

Now that you know what to look for when choosing the best cat foods for older cats, here is a list of 10 foods that have been known to be suitable for older cats, along with their pros and cons:

1. Iams Proactive Health Healthy Senior Dry Cat Food

Iams Proactive Health Healthy Senior Dry Cat Food, Chicken Flavor

Iams Dry Cat Food is suitable for those kitties who are a bit picky about their food—it’s very easy to stomach and digest. It has a high percentage of protein and contains omega fatty acids in the form of flaxseed oil, which helps keep your cat’s skin and fur healthy, and vitamins B6 and E. This is also a food with good packaging, made with real protein instead of artificial ingredients.

Pros:

  • It’s very easy to digest.
  • It has a good amount of protein in it.
  • It contains omega fatty acids, which help keep your cat’s skin and fur healthy.

Cons:

  • This food contains wheat, which some cats cannot digest properly
IAMS PROACTIVE HEALTH Healthy Senior Dry Cat Food with Chicken Cat Kibble, 7 lb. Bag
  • Complete and Balanced for Adult Cats: 100% nutrition, 0% fillers, this dry cat food supports whole-body health with essential nutrients and is enriched with antioxidants for a strong immune system
  • Supports Healthy Digestion: Formulated with natural fiber and prebiotics, this dry cat kibble helps support healthy digestion

2. Purina ONE Sensitive System Adult Dry Cat Food

Purina ONE Sensitive Systems Adult Dry Cat Food

Purina ONE combines the right proteins, real chicken, and healthy fats, making it a good cat food for older cats with sensitive stomachs. It also contains an anti-microbial agent to help fight off unwanted bacteria in your kitty’s tummy and keep digestion flowing smoothly.

Pros:

  • It helps reduce gas in older cats.
  • This food is a good choice for cats with digestive problems.
  • This food is good for cats with sensitive stomachs.

Cons:

  • This cat food is costly in comparison with other cat foods
Purina ONE Sensitive Stomach, Sensitive Skin, Natural Dry Cat Food, +Plus Sensitive Skin and Stomach Formula - 16 lb. Bag
  • Real turkey is the first ingredient in our high protein cat food to help support strong muscles, including a healthy heart in adult cats
  • Made for cats with sensitive systems, this Purina ONE sensitive stomach cat food features an easily digestible formula with added prebiotic fiber

3. Hill’s Science Diet Dry Cat Food, Adult 11+ for Senior Cats

Hill's Science Diet Dry Cat Food, Adult

Hills Science Diet makes a good cat food for older cats called Adult 11+. This particular food is designed to help your cat’s digestion and is recommended by veterinarians. It has an easy-to-digest texture and contains many nutrients that your older cat will need, such as omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, antioxidants, and taurine.

Pros:

  • This food helps fight off inflammation in older cats.
  • This food contains taurine for heart health in your kitty.
  • This food has an easy-to-digest texture and low moisture content.

Cons:

  • Some cats react negatively to the preservatives in this cat food.
Hill's Science Diet Indoor, Senior Adult 11+, Easy Litter Box Cleanup, Dry Cat Food, Chicken Recipe, 7 lb Bag
  • Made with natural fibers to promote healthy digestion and easy litter box clean-up
  • Easy to digest ingredients for a flavorful, nutritious meal

4. Purina Pro Plan PRIME PLUS Senior 7+ Adult Dry Cat Food

Purina Pro Plan Prime Plus Senior 7+ Adult Dry Cat Food

Purina Pro Plan is another cat food recommended by veterinarians and, although it isn’t made with all-natural ingredients, it’s still a good cat food for senior cats. It has a high percentage of real poultry and has the proper amounts of phosphorus and calcium that cats need as they get older. This is an excellent food for any feline with dietary problems such as urinary tract disease because of its ph balance.

Pros:

  • This food contains many vitamins and minerals, which are good for older cats.
  • It has the proper nutritional amounts of phosphorus and calcium.
  • This food is formulated specifically for older cats with urinary tract disease.

Cons:

  • This food contains corn in its ingredients, which may be difficult to digest for cats with sensitive stomachs.
  • The ingredients are not 100% natural.
Sale
Purina Pro Plan Senior Cat Food With Probiotics for Cats, Chicken and Rice Formula - 12.5 lb. Bag
  • With a proprietary blend proven to improve and extend the life of cats age 7+
  • High protein formula, with real chicken as the first ingredient

5. Hill’s Science Diet Senior Adult 7+, Cat Dry Food

Hill's Science Diet Senior Adult 7+

Hill’s Science food for older kitties has a high percentage of protein and is easy to digest, making it suitable for cats who have trouble eating certain foods. It helps fight off inflammation in your older kitty and has a good amount of taurine, which can help with heart health. This is also an excellent cat food for any senior kitty with urinary tract disease.

Pros:

  • This food reduces inflammation in cats older than seven years old.
  • This food has a high percentage of protein in it.
  • This is excellent cat food for urinary tract disease in your kitty

Cons:

  • This food contains wheat, which can cause intestinal problems for some cats.
  • The ingredients aren’t all-natural.

6. Blue Buffalo Healthy Aging Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe

Blue Buffalo Healthy Aging Natural Mature Dry Cat Food for Senior Cats

Blue Buffalo comes out with another high-quality cat food called Healthy Aging Chicken & Brown Rice recipe. This food has a lot of vitamins and minerals in it, is good for older cats, and has good protein sources like chicken and brown rice, making it easy to digest. This line of Blue Buffalo’s Senior Diet contains omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids for cardiac health and antioxidants for a healthy immune system.

Pros:

  • This food is made specifically for older cats with urinary tract disease.
  • This food has lots of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
  • This food is good for your older cat’s immune system.

Cons:

  • Some cats don’t like the taste of this cat food very much.
  • It’s more expensive than other cat foods with similar ingredients in them.
Blue Buffalo Tastefuls Mature Dry Cat Food for Adult Cats 7+, Made in the USA with Natural Ingredients, Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe, 3-lb. Bag
  • REAL MEAT FIRST: This Blue Buffalo cat food is made in the USA with real, high-quality chicken as the #1 ingredient
  • IDEAL FOR ADULT CATS 7+: Dry cat food formulated with essential blend of protein and carbohydrates for sustained energy

7. Chicken Soup for the Soul Pet Food – Mature Dry Cat Food

Chicken Soup for the Soul Pet Food - Weight & Mature Care Dry Cat Food

Chicken Soup for the Soul Pet Food is another good cat food for older cats. Chicken Soup Pet Food makes it. This food has added omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which are great for heart health, and a high amount of taurine, which can help your kitty with heart problems. The makers of this food also use whole pieces of chicken in it.

Pros:

  • This food has a lot of whole pieces of chicken in it, making it easy to digest for older cats.
  • It helps your kitty with heart problems because it has a high amount of taurine in it.
  • This cat food is made with whole ingredients, making it 100% natural and therefore good for your kitty’s sensitive stomach.

Cons:

  • This cat food contains a lot of soy, which may be difficult for cats with sensitive stomachs to digest.
  • The ingredients are not 100% natural.
Chicken Soup for The Soul Classic Dry Weight & Mature Adult Cat Food, Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe, 12 Pound Bag | Soy, Corn & Wheat Free, No Artificial Flavors or Preservatives
  • GREAT TASTING: Our Weight & Mature cat food contains real chicken as the first ingredient for a healthy meal packed with high-quality protein
  • MADE WITH REAL INGREDIENTS: Each 12 pound bag of our dry Weight & Mature cat food is made with real chicken, brown rice, peas, and more to maintain your cat's health

8. Nutro Wholesome Essentials Adult & Senior Dry Cat Food

Nutro Wholesome Essentials Adult & Senior Dry Cat Food, Chicken

Nutro Wholesome Essentials has excellent cat food for your older cat. It contains a high percentage of protein and taurine, which can help prevent heart disease in cats when combined with other nutrients. This cat food also has unsaturated fats and antioxidants to help keep your kitty’s immune system strong.

Pros:

  • This food can help fight off inflammation in older cats.
  • This food has unsaturated fats and antioxidants that help heart health.
  • This cat food can help prevent heart disease and has a good amount of taurine.

Cons:

  • Some cats don’t like the taste of this cat food very much.
  • The ingredients are not all-natural.
Nutro Indoor Senior - Chicken & Whole Brown Rice Formula - 14lb
  • Real Chicken is the #1 Ingredient: Nutro Wholesome Essentials Senior Dry Cat Food, Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe is made with real chicken as the #1 ingredient
  • Quality Recipe: This dry cat food recipe is made with no chicken by-product meal, corn, wheat, soy protein and no artificial flavors or colors, although trace amount may be present due to potential cross-contact during manufacturing

9. Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Grain Free Dry Cat Food

Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Grain Free, Natural Adult Weight Control Dry Cat Food

Blue Buffalo Wilderness comes in at a lower price than other high-protein kitty foods. However, it has a high percentage of protein and contains added omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids for heart health. It has whole chicken pieces, which your older kitty will love, making it easy to digest.

Pros:

  • This cat food has whole chicken pieces in it, which your older kitty will love and will be easy to digest.
  • This cat food contains antioxidants to help keep your kitty’s immune system strong.
  • This cat food contains omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which are great for heart health.

Cons:

  • Some cats don’t like the taste of this cat food very much.
  • This cat food has a lot of soy, which may be difficult for sensitive cats to digest.
  • The ingredients are not all-natural.
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Weight Control High-Protein, Grain-Free Natural Chicken Dry Food for Adult Cats, 11 lbs.
  • Delicious, protein-rich, Deboned Chicken
  • Sweet potatoes that provide healthy complex carbohydrates

10. Meow Mix Tender Centers Dry Cat Food

Meow Mix Tender Centers Dry Cat Food

Meow Mix is another company with a cat food line specifically made for older cats. This line contains many different types of meat, including chicken and turkey, which can help your kitty’s sensitive stomach digest the food. It also has added omega-3 fatty acids, which are great for heart health, and antioxidants to help protect against heart disease. The makers of this recipe use whole pieces of chicken and turkey in it.

Pros:

  • This cat food contains many types of meat, which helps your kitty digest it easily.
  • This cat food has added omega-3 fatty acids, which are great for heart health.
  • This cat food has antioxidants and whole pieces of chicken and turkey in it.

Cons:

  • Cats don’t like the taste of this cat food very much.
Meow Mix Tender Centers Dry Cat Food, Tuna & Whitefish, 13.5 Pound Bag
  • Contains (1) 13.5 pound bag of Dry Cat Food
  • Dual-textured kibble combines a tender center with a crunchy outer layer

In conclusion, there are many different kinds of cat foods on the market today. Some cats will love one type of cat food, while other cats won’t like any of them. It all depends on your kitty and what type of food she likes to eat. Find a brand you have confidence in and agree with her specific concerns and needs. Most animal shelters or vets will be able to help you with choosing the right food for your kitty, depending on her age, weight, and coat health concerns.

However, we recommend trying out Iams Proactive Health Healthy Senior Dry Cat Food mixed with wet food, which has a health rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars on Amazon. It has a lot of chicken which is good for your cat’s sensitive stomach. This can be a great starting point if you are still searching to find the perfect kitty food!