Food for oldie

[Mark]

I am getting that way - doing an animal management degree now 

As I type, I should be working on my circulation assignment (due in tomorrow  ) but I am sick of vasa vasorums and tunica adventitias 

[Beccles]

Ah - you're right, Mark, I had mis-remembered.

The b*gger with all this is that if there was some wonder-food with only 0.1% phosphoros but it was extremely bioavailable (readily absorbed) then the cat might end up hanging onto much more than a higher phosphoros but low bioavailability food - like with protein, good quality animal protein is much much better for mogs than nasty cereal protein like in most cheapo dry foods, and can improve absorbtion of nutrients lots.

In conclusion I'm a biology geek and my head is full of useless stuff. 

[Mark]

I doubt it as it is high meat content?

[Beccles]

Applaws wet food is one of the lowest in phosphorous, isn't it? They do pouches now too, my 3 love them 

[Mark]

I don't have any underweight cats as mine eat regularly and if they refuse something, they are offered something else 

This is a good article. http://www.vin.com/proceedings/Proceedings.plx?CID=WALTHAMTNAVC2003&PID=3669

It's true fish is high phosphorus but they don't get a lot. I give Alice tinned red salmon with bones, so the calcium helps to balance out the phosphorus (the same way binders do). Also, because their dry food is lower phosphorus and they eat some senior food, their overall phosphorus intake is lowered.

I think a lot of my thinking is down to trying to do the best for a CRF cat that refuses every type of renal food and being warned that his phosphate levels are "significant"

And I have tried every type of renal - even going as far as ordering a tray of Eukanaba (Iams) renal to try to help Willow.

There is a huge cat nutrition article here - I will have a read when I have a chance http://maxshouse.com/feline_nutrition.htm

[Desley (booktigger)]

Mark, isn't fish high in phosphorus?

I wouldnt give an underweight senior cat senior food, as they have less calories, and I have had oldies lose weight on senior food. If I have a cat that needs to lose a bit of weight, I will feed them senior, but the majority of my 3's food is adult at the moment, as all are a bit thin, although Zi gets senior biscuits for her CRF

[Mark]

I don't buy food with really high phosphorus in - ie Hi-lfe pouches, Applaws or Orijen any more (they are around 2.5% which is about double the amount of most dry) My cats like Hill's active longevity (senior) dry so I give them that (around 1% phos). Surprisingly, they seem to prefer the light version but it has 50% meat which is more than the regular version so maybe explains why.  They also have whiskas or felix pouches. They used to be OK with the senior ones but they seem to prefer adult with the jelly versions but are happy to eat Whiskas senior in gravy. I have tried giving them premium foods but they aren't interested. They all like their fish as well 

Just a case of trying to moderate their phosphorus intake while still giving them food they enjoy. A lot of research has gone into tailored diets for older cats and I really don't think it is a gimmick. I'm sure a lot of cats do well on regular food but I would prefer to know that I am doing the best I can rather than later on, saying "I wish I had cut down their phosphorus"

[Janeyk]

I give a bit of both but mostly normal because there's more of those they like most and at their ages I pretty much let them have what they want.

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

i dont bothere with senior foods and feel its better to let them eat what they happyiest with

[Mark]

I am a fan of senior food but only if they will eat it. They are usually lower phosphorus so gentler on the kidneys. Who knows if they will give a longer life? but it is worth a try I think.

[Gillian Harvey]

My thoughts are if she's happy with she's already eating I'd keep her on that, I think I'm right that RC fit and senisble are both dry? I'd always go with mainly wet for an oldie especially, but don't see the need to feed 'senior' foods particularly. When I adopted Sasha (15 yrs) I was told she only ate Felix or Tescos wet, although I have introduced the occasional Hi LIfe fishy one just for a bit of variety, but I don't give her senior food.

[sixfurballs]

My new golden oldie is currently on Felix and Proplan. My other cats are all younger (4 to 9) and eat RC Fit or Sensible 33. I'd like to change Sasha onto the same diet as the others but wondered would it be suitable for her or would you recommend the senior foods?