From New-born Kitten to Elderly Cats: Cat Nutrition by every Life stage

Our cats are obligate carnivores, which means they must eat meat for their digestive and other systems to function properly. While selecting the best food for our cat, the age factor must be considered, whether we're looking for kitten food or senior cat food, and we must choose one that offers our beloved buddy the best nutrients at each stage of its life, guaranteeing that it lives a long and healthy life. When you question how to improve cat health, the cat's nutritional demands vary according to its life stage, so choose one that meets their energy level, metabolic rate, and other essential requirements. The American Animal Hospital Association suggests there are six distinct periods in a cat's life, each requiring its own smart pet food choices. As a result, a well-balanced diet is essential to keeping our cats content and healthy. Let’s look at each life stage.

Diets for various life stages

New-born kittens (birth to 4 months)

New-born kittens stay with their moms for the first 8 weeks or so because they rely on their mother's milk to help them grow and fend off infections that their immune system is well-equipped to handle. During this stage, they will primarily sleep and nurse until at least 8–9 weeks old, when our kitten will be ready to wean off her mother's milk and ready to come to our home. At this period, a kitten's routine is as follows: eat, sleep, run around like crazy, and repeat. Once weaned, you'll notice her boundless energy and need proper nourishment to maintain it. After weaning from her mother, her new kitten food should include fatty acids like DHA (fish oil is a typical source of this nutrient), folic acid, and taurine, an amino acid that aids in the important development of the immune and digestive systems, heart function, and vision quality. A variety of sources, including meat and cereals, provide essential protein like raw nutrition for cat's diet. She is rapidly growing (this stage is similar to the first ten years of a human's life!) and needs energy to keep up. These nutrients must always be present in sufficient quantities to provide her with the best chance of remaining healthy as she grows.

The junior cats (7 months to 2 years)

Don't be surprised when our pet's behavior changes as she approaches one year. She is entering adolescence and will eventually reach adulthood. Cats are technically considered adults at the age of one year and will continue to be so until the age of six, but age is not always a determining factor in how active our kitten is. An average kitten will require enough food for "maintenance" energy to carry out her daily activities, but if our cat is particularly energetic and spends hours dashing around the house, she will want a few extra calories to sustain herself.

Prime cats (3-6 years)

Adult cats require an appropriate quantity of fat and protein in their diets, as well as additional nutrients such as taurine. Many cats will remain active well into their double-digit years. As a result, activity level is one of our feeding criteria for a young adult cat. If our pet enjoys lounging in the sun all day, she may require precisely measured meals to keep her slim. Consulting the vet about our cat's activity level can help us establish whether our cat requires more or fewer calories. Best cat food nutrition is something which is mandatory at this stage

Mature cats (7–10 years)

These categories of cats are in the middle of their lives. While our cats will not necessarily have a mid-life crisis, they may become pickier about their food choices, so we must ensure they get the nutrition they require while remaining well-hydrated. Always provide them with clean, fresh water.

Senior cats (11–14 years)

This is also a phase in life when cats' nutritional requirements change, whether due to medical problems or simply aging. In some cases, having too much or too little of any one element can affect her health. During this time, we should monitor our cat's weight because her activity level may drop, leading to obesity. We should steer clear of calorie-dense kitten and young adult cat food, opting instead for foods tailored to the needs of an older cat. Watching her calorie intake not only keeps her weight within a reasonable range but also lowers her risk of ailments including kidney disease, some malignancies, and arthritis.

Elderly cats (15+ years)

In her golden years, our fur baby may begin to want more attention from you, become cuddlier, and decrease its activity level. Her behavior has altered her mealtime requirements.
Senior cat food, like that of adult cats, should be low in calories and fibre. Weight loss is another issue for elderly cats. Wet and dry food offer our cat the nutrients it requires, but each has advantages and disadvantages. She may prefer something softer because older cats frequently have worn or missing teeth. Some pet parents experiment with a combination of the two, or they add a small amount of wet food or even fresh water to dry kibble. Our cat will undoubtedly express her preferences, and we can collaborate to find the best match.

How do cat treats fit into a cat's meal plan?

Treats are typically not a nutritionally complete and balanced source of nutrition, so giving our cats an occasional treat is generally not harmful; it's best to feed them only on occasion. What our cats like depends on their preferences, as well as any dietary or medical constraints. We should also avoid feeding our cats’ raw meat, tinned fish, and milk (as many cats cannot digest dairy ingredients). Cats can nourish themselves with treats using puzzle feeders. To purchase some excellent puzzle feeders, visit Petzi.ae.
Proper pet nutrition is critical for our pets' long-term health. Finding a proper pet diet can be challenging, so it's our responsibility to visit the vet to ensure a balanced nutrition for our cat. However, the vet should discuss any medical or other limitations specific to each cat's life cycle. The veterinarian can also advise us on how much to feed our cat at each life stage. Regardless of their age, our cats' food requirements change as they mature into adults and seniors.