If your feline is over seven years old, then you should switch their diet to one of the best cat foods for senior cats. As they get older, they'll need enough protein to maintain their muscle mass, as well as ingredients that support their joint health.
Expert vet Dr. Rebecca MacMillan says senior cats need a diet that's appropriate for their life stage. She explains that senior cat food should be highly digestible, high in good-quality protein, and contain omega-3 fatty acids to help with inflammation. That's why it's important that you don't just give them the best kitten food or the best cat food – even if it’s great food, it won’t give your senior everything they need.
With so many options on the market (and so many confusing ingredient names), it's easy to feel a little bit overwhelmed. That's why we've rounded up the top products on the market to help you choose. Here's the best cat food for senior cats 2024:
The quick list
The best cat food for senior cats in gravy
If your cat loves gravy, then they're going to love this delicious wet food. Not only is it high in protein (with chicken, fish and pork as the first three ingredients), but it also contains essential minerals, such as taurine.
The best dry cat food for senior cats
This dry food is high in protein, and has lamb and chicken as the first two ingredients. It also contains green-lipped mussel and salmon oil which are high in omega-3s, promoting healthy joints.
The best mousse cat food for senior cats
This fish-flavored mousse is packed with protein, containing tuna, blue whiting and salmon. If your senior cat has problems with their teeth, the soft consistency will make it easier for them to eat.
The best chicken-flavored dry cat food for senior cats
This chicken-flavored dry food contains essential ingredients that will keep your senior cat healthy, like taurine, EPA and DHA. It's made with 65% animal ingredients, including free-run chicken and turkey.
The best paté cat food for senior cats
This smooth paté is easy for senior cats to eat, thanks to the soft, velvety consistency. The grain-free recipe is high in protein and doesn't contain any nasty additives. There are also lots of flavors to choose from.
The best joint support cat food for senior cats
This cat food helps to support healthy joints, containing high levels of omega-3, glucosamine and chondroitin. It also includes L-carnitine, an amino acid that helps to maintain their weight.
The best cat food for senior cats we recommend in 2024
Why you can trust PetsRadar Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
The best cat food for senior cats in gravy
This cat food is high in protein which will help to maintain your fur friend's muscle mass as they get older. If your cat has sensitivities to food, then you'll be pleased to hear that it's grain-free too.
You won't find any nasty fillers or additives in this recipe either. What you will find is taurine, an essential amino acid that helps to support heart, vision, digestion and immune health. Cats can't produce this themselves, so it's important that they consume it in their diet.
We love the fact that these come in tins, making them eco-friendlier than standard plastic pouches that are non-recyclable. However, this does make them a little trickier to store if your cat doesn't finish the whole thing.
Chilli (our feline tester) loves this food and finishes his bowl clean. When it comes to gravy-style food, he usually leaves most of the meat, but he doesn't with this food, and the chunks are small and easy to eat.
The best dry cat food for senior cats
Calibra Verve is highly digestible and suitable for cats with sensitive stomachs. With lamb and chicken as the first ingredients, plus green-lipped mussel, we were impressed with this formula. Especially when we discovered almost 80% of the recipe is from animal-sourced protein! It's free from grains, gluten, maize, artificial colors, added preservatives, and GMOs.
When it comes to dinner time, my cats usually favor wet food opposed to dry, but this is the only exception. They get excited whenever they see the packaging and they never fail to polish all the biscuits off. I prefer feeding them a wet diet primarily, but these also work well as a snack or a treat to hide in their snuffle mat.
The food doesn't smell very nice, but this isn't too much of a problem as the packaging is really easy to reseal. It isn't that expensive either and is something I would definitely buy again.
The best mousse cat food for senior cats
Tilly & Ted's Tuna and Salmon Mousse is ideal for senior cats, thanks to the silky-soft consistency. As cats get older, teeth problems become more common and it might be trickier for them to eat hard food.
The recipe contains high-quality protein from tuna, blue whiting and salmon, plus omega-6 from the sunflower oil. It's also suitable for cats with grain intolerances, which is good to know.
It's great that the packaging is made from cardboard, as opposed to plastic that ends up in landfill. It's only recyclable at certain points, but I was happy to see that I had the option. The portion size is perfect for my cats and they really enjoy the taste (they finish the whole bowl).
The smell isn't pleasant, but since it comes in single-use packaging, so you don't need to worry about storing it in your fridge.
The best chicken-flavored dry cat food for senior cats
If your cat prefers dry food, then Acana's Senior Entrée is worth a try. It's packed with great ingredients that will support their health, like fiber and a probiotic blend for digestive care. With chicken as the number one ingredient, it's high in protein — something that's super important as your cat gets older.
This food will also keep your feline's joints healthy, containing fish oil that's packed with essential omega-3s. The DHA and EPA which help to maintain your cat's eye and heart health.
The packaging is re-sealable, so you won't have to worry about any spills or smells. You can also recycle it at various points, which is always great to hear.
This product is currently with our tester, we'll be adding our testing notes soon.
The best paté cat food for senior cats
If your senior cat struggles to chew, then Lily's Kitchen Smooth Paté should be a strong contender. The silky consistency is gentle on your feline's teeth and makes it easier for them to lap it up.
We were very impressed with this recipe as it has animal-based protein as the first four ingredients (chicken, pork, trout and lamb). It also contains omega-3 from salmon oil, which is great for supporting joints and heart health.
In comparison to other tinned cat foods, this one has a generous serving size and comes out of the tin easily (you won't get any on your hands!) My cat Chilli is obsessed with the taste and doesn't leave a single trace behind in the bowl.
The packaging is recyclable, meaning it's better for the environment than single-use plastic pouches.
The best joint support cat food for senior cats
This cat food contains all the key ingredients that help to support joint health. Glucosamine and chondroitin are naturally found in the body and help to keep the cartilage healthy. These are often used in joint supplements (as well as this food), and are a great way to maintain flexibility.
Senior cats need a high-protein diet, so we were pleased to see that pork and fish are the first two ingredients in this recipe. It also contains omega-3s to help with inflammation, and L-carnitine, a natural amino acid that helps to breaks down fat.
This product is currently with our tester, our testing notes will be added soon.
How we tested the best senior cat food for senior cats
Cat wellness and nutrition is our number one priority, so we researched every single ingredient to ensure they're healthy and safe for your cat to consume. We also consulted Dr. MacMillan to find out what makes a good product and the things to look out for.
We ensured they had a high-quality protein source as the first ingredient (this means it has the highest quantity). We also tried to find products with additional benefits, such as green-lipped mussel, which helps to supports joints. We then sent them off to our team of trusty testers.
We took the following factors into consideration...
Taste: Your cats eat the same thing every day, so it's important that they like it. Of course, we can't read our cats' minds, but we can get a good picture from whether they finish their bowl or not. We asked our testers whether their cats ate it and how they reacted around the food.
Packaging: We know what it's like to have a sneaky cat around the house — they'll do anything for extra food (including knocking over the packaging). We made sure that the packaging was easy to reseal to avoid any unwanted spills and smells.
Affordability: No one wants to break the bank over cat food (including us!) You'll find a variety of price points to suit your budget and ensure you’re getting good value for money.
Preference: No two cats are the same. Whether they prefer chunks in gravy or dried biscuits, every feline has their own particular taste. That's why we tested a variety of options for you to choose from.
How to choose the best cat food for senior cats
Are you struggling to choose the best food for your senior cat? We're here to help! Here's a checklist of everything to look out for, recommended by our vet Dr. MacMillan:
- Highly digestible
- Good quality protein (like chicken and fish)
- Omega-3 fatty acids or green-lipped mussel extract (to help with inflammation and healthy cartilage)
So, what about the things you should avoid? Dr. MacMillan said there's nothing you should avoid in particular, but you should never buy from brands who don't work alongside a vet nutritionist.
She also says their food shouldn't be too high in calories either, as "most elderly cats are sedentary and do not require the same amount of energy as a young, growing animal". Since senior cats get their energy from fats and proteins, she recommends a low carb diet.
Do senior cats need senior food?
Dr. MacMillan advises a diet that's appropriate for your cat's life stage.
She explains: "Complete pet foods for seniors will have been specially formulated to contain the right balance of protein and fats for your elderly cat. Their needs will be very different to a young, growing kitten or a more physically active adult cat and this is reflected in a senior diet.
Wondering, 'Is my cat overweight?' If they are (or are prone to obesity), you may need to put them on a light or reduced calorie version of the same food, says Dr. MacMillan.
Is wet or dry food better for older cats?
Is wet or dry food better for senior cats? This is a common question that lots of pet parents wonder, so we asked Dr. MacMillan for the answer.
She explains that both options have pros and cons, but since wet food provides more water, it can help them to stay hydrated. If your cat has been diagnosed with a health condition such as kidney disease, this is an important thing to keep in mind.
"However, dry food is more energy-dense, which can be useful in senior cats who need help to maintain their weight. This is due to the water content in wet foods, with a larger amount needed compared to dry food to achieve the same calorie intake.
"However, what it usually comes down to is your cat’s preference for wet vs dry, as well as which you prefer to offer your pet. If whichever food you feed is senior-specific then your cat will be receiving all of the essential nutrients that they need."
For more information, head to our other features on: Is dry cat food best? and Is wet cat food best?
How many times a day should I feed my senior cat?
If your cat struggles eating large portions at once (like many senior cats do), Dr. MacMillan advises splitting their daily allowance into several smaller meals to help with their digestion.
She says: "Just make sure that you follow the guidelines on the packet instructions so that you are still giving your cat the right amount of nutrition over a 24-hour period. If your cat is struggling with their appetite, then you should always speak to your vet, but gently warming their food can help in some cases. And don’t forget to make sure that your cat always has an easily accessible supply of fresh water."
Cats enjoy drinking from running water, so it might be worth getting one of the best pet water fountains to encourage them.
Megan joined the PetsRadar family in 2023 and has grown up with cats all of her life. She's passionate about pet wellness and with two senior cats herself, she knows exactly what you're looking for. In 2022, graduated from the University of Westminster with a BA in Journalism.
Dr. MacMillan is an experienced vet surgeon who has worked across a small animal practice, day-to-day routine work, on-call emergency duties and managerial roles. She covers a range of feline subjects, including nutrition and health. She graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in London in 2009.
