Nutrient content and caloric density assessment of different types of senior commercial cat food

Abstract

Ageing should be considered as an inevitable physiological state and results in a progressive decline in the body's ability to cope with physiological, metabolic and environmental stress. Nutritional requirements change once the senior cat reaches the senior cat stage, so attention and care is needed, depending on the needs of the individual, even more if a pathological condition is present. Calorie control in mature and senior cats usually means reducing calorie intake by about 20-30%. In the case of geriatric cats, it may be more important to increase calorie intake to maintain their normal physique, as their body condition and weight naturally decline with advancing age. Most diets for senior cats are formulated with appropriate nutrient limits and are lower in calories than rations for adult and young cats; however, there are currently no specific nutritional requirements set. This shows the amounts of nutrients found in different foods can vary greatly. Our main objective was to evaluate the caloric density as well as the concentrations of protein, fiber, fat and carbohydrates in different commercially available canned and dry feeds for senior cats.