cat article tips feeding your senior cat

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Tips for Feeding Your Senior Cat

Aging pets may need special senior cat food, such as IAMS™ ProActive Health™ Senior Plus.

Mature cats need the same kinds of nutrients as younger adult cats, but as their metabolism slows, the quantities of those nutrients and the ways in which they are provided may need to change. Each cat is different, so ask your veterinarian for dietary recommendations based on your cat's physical condition.

Here are some special dietary concerns of mature cats:

Obesity. Cats tend to gain weight as they age and become less active. Those between the ages of 7 and 9 are at the highest risk of becoming obese, making a lower-calorie diet appropriate in some cases. If your cat is overweight, ask your veterinarian to help you modify the diet you're providing.
Weight loss. Some cats may become thinner as they get older. This can be part of the normal aging process, but progressive weight loss can also be caused by serious medical problems. Tell your veterinarian about any significant changes in your cat's weight and then discuss whether diet modifications are necessary. If a physical examination rules out disease, you might consider a calorie-dense 'senior' food that has higher amounts of readily digestible fat, which cats find especially tasty. It may help improve your cat's appetite.
Dental problems. As your cat ages, periodic dental checkups will help prevent the oral diseases that are common in older cats and can affect their ability to eat. If your cat has irreversible dental problems, a change from dry food to canned or semi-moist food might be necessary.

Follow these guidelines for feeding an older cat:

Choose the right senior cat food. To ensure proper nutrition and to safeguard the health of your cat, select a nutritionally balanced and complete diet specifically formulated for mature cats.
Take your senior cat for regular (at least once a year) medical checkups. Your veterinarian can talk with you about any special health problems your pet has and the dietary changes that might be necessary. In many 'old age' diseases, special foods can be prescribed along with medication to help manage the conditions. Give your cat supplements only if your veterinarian specifically recommends them.
Watch your cat's weight. If you notice that your older pet is gaining or losing weight, tell your veterinarian. The doctor can check for medical problems that might be contributing to the weight change and recommend modifications in diet to correct the problem.
Watch the treats. Older cats—and their digestive systems—are even more sensitive than the youngsters to the unbalancing effects of frequent snacks, treats, and table scraps.
Keep fresh water in a clean bowl available at all times. If your pet is not drinking, consider buying a pet water fountain, as running water is sometimes more appealing to cats.
Make food more appetizing. As cats age, their senses of smell and taste become less acute, so pet food manufacturers have developed senior cat food with intensified aromas and flavors. You can try to make your older cat's food more appealing by warming it to increase its smell (just be sure to stir it to eliminate any hot spots), or by adding bouillon or gravy. If your cat has dental problems, you can change the food's texture by blending or mashing it with water.

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Complete Guide On Taking Proper Care Of Your Kitten

Kittens are super adorable, and it is wonderful to have one as a pet. While it’s fun to have a kitten at home, it’s important to understand your kitten’s various needs during the different stages of its life and take care of it in the right way. ‘How to take care of kittens’ is a question that most first-time kitten owners ask. But taking care of newborn kittens can be quite a hassle-free process if you follow a routine and understand a few do’s and don’ts about kitten care. We, at IAMS, are here to help you with this process in every way we can.

Why Is Kitten Care Important?

Kitten care is extremely important to make sure your kitten grows up to be a healthy cat. While in the kitten stage, it is still trying to get used to the new surroundings. Therefore, we recommend that you be by its side and help the little kitten acclimatize to its new house.

What Does It Mean To Raise A Kitten?

A kitten becomes a part of your family right from day one. But raising a kitten might sound like a strenuous job if you’re a new pet parent, but it isn’t. The whole process can be quite fun and will help you bond with your kitten.

What Are The Important Aspects Of A Kitten That One Has To Look After?

Some of the most important aspects of looking after a kitten are:

Hygiene: Maintaining good hygiene is always important. You must clean your kitten’s den regularly.
Feeding nutrition-rich food: Your kitten needs a nutritious, balanced diet for healthy growth and development. It is advisable that you buy IAMS Healthy Kitten food. IAMS is Developed with Veterinarians and Chicken is the 1st ingredient of this recipe. This premium kitten food promotes brain development and helps build a healthy immune system.
Regular health check-ups: Take your kitten to the vet regularly to understand its progress in terms of behaviour and health.
Grooming: It is advisable to start grooming your cat at an early age, especially if it has a furry coat or long hair.

Understanding Kitten Development Stages

As a first-time kitten owner, you might not be well aware of the growth stages your little feline friend will go through, but it’s very important to understand them. So, here’s a table that can help you with the same:

Growth stage	0-2 weeks (Neonatal)	2-7 weeks (Socialisation)	7-14 weeks (Most Active Period)	3-6 months (Ranking Period)	6-18 months (Adolescence)
Character traits	Learns to incline towards sounds	Learns to socialize	This is the most active play period of your kitten	In this stage, the kitten gets most influenced by other kittens in their litter or even other animals.	Asserts maximum dominance in this stage.
	Eyes start to open by this time	Senses of smell and hearing are fully developed by the 4^th week	Starts expressing affection through hugging and licking	Starts understanding and asserting ranks on people it lives with.	Exhibits sexual behaviour if not spayed.
	If the kitten is separated from its mother or siblings, it may tend to get aggressive towards people and other cats.	Sight is fully developed by the 5^th week, and they can run and pounce without colliding with obstacles	Can paw, mouth, and hold objects as well
		Starts grooming itself	Also starts chasing its tail and starts pouncing and leaping around
		Starts developing sleep patterns, motor abilities and interactions

Preparing For A Kitten

How Kitten Care Differs With Growing Age?

The major difference that occurs in taking care of kittens when they grow up is switching their food. Cats need more nutrition and vital elements that keep its body strong and healthy. It is advisable to switch to premium cat food while transitioning your kitten to adult cat food.

Impact On The Kitten If Care Is Not Taken:

If your cat is neglected and does not receive proper care, attention, and nutrition, it may become depressed and weak. Your cat may also contract diseases if it is not kept clean.

What Are Some Of The Preventive Care Measures That Could Be Taken Up For Kittens?

While in the kitten stage, it is advisable to schedule frequent visits to the vet to check on the overall health of your kitten. It is advisable to keep a tab on their allergies while it is in the kitten stage.

Tips For 1st-Time Cat Owners

Here are a few tips for first-time cat owners:

It is advisable to familiarize your kitten with its litter box right from the moment it is brought home.
You may also show your kitten around its crate so that it understands that this is its own space.
If, at times, your kitten bites you, sternly say ‘no’ to it. By doing this, your kitten will learn that these actions are not acceptable.
You may also reward your kitten every time it obeys your instructions. This will condition them to inculcate good habits as well.

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adp_description_block352 Tips for Feeding Your Senior Cat