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Looking For The Best Dry Cat Food For Older Cats?
Here’s a look at our favorites, including our top pick – Merrick Purrfect Bistro Grain Free Healthy Senior Recipe.
#1 Best Dry Cat Food For Older Cats
If you’re like me, your cat isn’t just a pet—they’re a member of the family. I want my cat to live a long, happy life with our family, and I’ve come to learn that good health starts with a healthy diet. Feeding your cat a complete, balanced diet is important, but it’s even better when you’re able to provide targeted nutrition that’s tailored to their age, lifestyle, and unique needs.
It’s imperative that you avoid causing any urinary crystals for your older cat by choosing the wrong cat food. Urinary crystals are extremely common in cats, simply because folks will choose a cheap cat food brand, rather than choosing what’s best for their cat. Another common issue is vomiting when it comes to cheap cat food, just another reason to avoid these low tier brands.
What to look for in dry cat food for older cats
Cats naturally thrive on a grain-free diet that’s high in lean protein, low in carbohydrates, with moderate fat levels. As they get older, senior cats develop more specific nutritional needs to combat weakening muscles and sore joints, improve worsening vision, and regulate their slowing digestive system. Older cats are also more susceptible to illness, so it’s important to provide the right mix of vitamins and minerals to keep their immune system in tip-top shape.
If you have a senior cat that’s 7 or older, here are a few things you’ll need to look for in a good dry food:
- Real protein as the first ingredient – look for food choices that list real protein as the first ingredient. Pet food that uses meat by-products and synthetic proteins deprive your cat of the high-quality protein that they need to support lean muscles and strong joints.
- Omega fatty acids – good for healthy skin and fur
- Fiber – older cats need extra fiber to for easier digestion and hairball prevention
- Vitamins C & E – support a healthy immune system
- Taurine – strengthens the heart and eyes
- Vitamin A – promotes good eyesight
- No fillers – never choose food that uses fillers such as meat by-product, corn, wheat, and soy
- No artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives – artificial content can lead to an upset stomach and digestive tract issues, and it can get in the way of nutrient absorption
Merrick Purrfect Bistro Grain Free Healthy Senior Recipe
The Merrick Purrfect Bistro Grain Free line of all-natural dry cat food is a fantastic choice for cats of any age, but this Healthy Senior Recipe is especially good for cats that are seven and older. It provides balanced nutrition with real, wholesome foods, along with focused ingredients for older cats to provide better overall health.
- First ingredient is real deboned chicken
- Rich in Omega fatty acids that contribute to healthy fur and skin
- Extra fiber to prevent hairballs
- Fortified with antioxidants, probiotics, vitamins, and minerals
- All-natural grain-free recipe with no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives
- Gluten free
- Made in the USA
Hill’s Science Diet Indoor Age Defying Dry Cat Food
Hill’s Science Diet actually offers two lines of dry cat food that are targeted to older, indoor cats—there’s an Indoor mix for cats that are 7 to 11-years-old, and an Indoor Age Defying mix for cats that are 11 and older. Both provide balanced nutrition with targeted ingredients that are especially helpful for older cats who spend all of their time inside the house. Keep in mind that Hill’s Science Diet is the #1 choice that veterinarians feed to their own pets, so it’s definitely a brand that you can trust.
- Provides optimal levels of key nutrients to support healthy joints, kidney, heart, and eyes
- Real chicken is the first ingredient
- Clinically proven antioxidant blend with vitamins C and E that contribute to a strong immune system
- All-natural with no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives
- Crunchy kibble to promote dental health
- Extra fiber for easy digestion and fewer hairballs
- Extra protein for lean muscle growth and ideal weight
- Made in the USA
IAMS Proactive Health Senior Adult Dry Cat Food
IAMS Proactive Health dry cat food always offers complete and balanced nutrition for cats, and their Healthy Senior mix includes targeted nutrition for older cats. The company’s nutritional philosophy is based on years of research, and IAMS knows how to make pet food that promotes optimal health and tastes delicious.
- Made with real chicken and no fillers
- High-quality protein for lean, healthy muscles
- Amino acids that are essential for carnivorous animals
- Tailored fiber blend with prebiotics and beet pulp for optimal digestive health
- A healthy mix of carbs and protein to provide ample natural energy levels
- Enhanced with vitamin E for a healthy immune system
- L-carnitine levels that are ideal for a senior cat’s body condition
NUTRO NATURAL CHOICE Senior Indoor Cat Dry Food
If you’re looking for wholesome, farm-fresh cat food, this is a great pick. The Nutro Indoor Senior mix is made with farm-raised chicken and whole brown rice, and it was developed specifically for indoor cats that are 7 or older. It’s rich in nutrients, bursting with flavor, and only uses clean, non-GMO ingredients that are sourced directly from farmers in the USA.
- #1 ingredient is chicken for optimal mobility and muscle mass
- Targeted fiber content to minimize hairball formation, including whole brown rice that’s great for better digestion with older cats
- Taurine and Omega fatty acids to promote a healthier heart
- Natural oils that contribute to a soft, shiny coat
- No fillers like chicken by-product meal, corn, wheat, or soy
- No artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives
- Made in the USA
Purina Pro Plan Dry Cat Food, Focus, Adult 11 Plus Chicken & Rice Formula
The Purina Pro Plan Focus Adult 11+ formula delivers the complete and balanced nutrition that senior cats need to thrive. Real chicken is the first ingredient, and you’ll never see any fillers or artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives in any Purina Pro Plan food product.
- Packed with protein to meet a mature cat’s unique nutritional needs (the mix is comprised of 42% protein)
- Rich in antioxidants to support a healthy immune system
- Taurine and vitamin A for healthy eyes and clear vision
- Manufactured in the USA in Purina-owned facilities to ensure top quality
Takeaways
Each and every dry cat food mix that we’ve talked about today offers a complete, balanced diet with targeted nutrition for older cats, so you can’t go wrong with any of them. I personally use the Purina Pro Plan mix with my cat, and I feed my dog Hill’s Science Diet food, so I can personally endorse both of those.
But don’t let that keep you away from trying food from Merrick, IAMS, and Nutro—they’re all reputable brands that come highly rated and widely recommended. Cats are notoriously finicky eaters, so you may need to try a couple of these options before you find the right one for your cat.
