Cat food for senior cats
A senior cat's needs shift gradually rather than overnight, which is why senior recipes exist as a separate category rather than a marketing label. Most are built to be easy to chew, gentle on digestion and calorie-adjusted for a less active cat — useful starting points, but not a replacement for watching your own cat's weight and appetite as they age.
What tends to change as a cat gets older
Appetite and activity both tend to shift with age, though not always in the same direction. Some older cats become fussier or eat less, particularly if their teeth or sense of smell have declined; others put on weight because they are simply moving around less than they used to.
Digestion can become less efficient too, so a cat who managed a rich recipe comfortably at three may do better on something gentler at thirteen. None of this happens on a fixed birthday — it is a gradual drift worth watching for rather than an instant switch to make on a set date.
What a senior recipe usually offers
Senior dry and wet foods are generally softer or smaller in kibble size, easier to chew for a cat whose teeth are not what they were, and pitched at a lower calorie density to suit a less active lifestyle. Purina One Senior 7+ is a widely available example of that everyday, easy-to-source end of the shelf.
Many senior wet foods also lean towards smoother pâtés or finer flakes in gravy, which can be easier to manage for a cat who has always preferred wet food to dry. None of this is about one ingredient doing something magical — it is about texture and calories matching an older cat more closely than an adult recipe would.
What to watch for rather than assume
Weight loss in an older cat is worth taking seriously rather than putting down to age alone, because it can point to a dental problem, reduced appetite, or something that needs a vet's attention rather than a food change. The same goes for a sudden increase in thirst or a cat who has always eaten well suddenly turning food away.
If your cat has been told by a vet to follow a specific therapeutic diet for a health condition, that recommendation takes priority over anything marketed simply as a senior food, and it is not something to substitute from a supermarket shelf without checking first.
Choosing between wet and dry
Older cats often drink less than they should, so wet food's higher moisture content can be genuinely useful alongside a water bowl your cat actually uses. It also tends to suit a cat whose teeth have become sensitive, since there is nothing hard to crunch through.
Dry food still has its place for cats who prefer it or need it left out through the day, and there is no rule that says a senior cat has to switch entirely. Many owners find a mix of both, chosen from the senior end of each range, works better than an all-or-nothing swap.
What we stock
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Whiskas 1+ Salmon Adult Dry Cat Food
Complete salmon dry food for adult cats in a practical 1.9KG bag
£12.39
Whiskas 1+ Lamb Adult Dry Cat Food
Complete lamb dry food for adult cats in a practical 1.9KG bag
£12.39
Whiskas 1 Tuna Adult Dry Cat Food
Complete tuna dry food for adult cats, offered in several bag sizes
From£3.19
Whiskas Kitten Chicken Dry Cat Food
Complete chicken dry food for kittens, available in several bag sizes
From£3.19
Whiskas 1 Chicken Adult Dry Cat Food
A complete dry food for cats 1+, with chicken present only in the brown kibbles
From£3.19
Whiskas 7+ Senior Cat Complete Dry with Chicken
Complete chicken dry food for senior cats aged 7+ in a 1.9KG bag
£12.39
Whiskas 7+ Chicken Adult Dry Cat Food
Complete chicken dry food for senior cats aged 7+ in an 800G bag
£6.09
Whiskas 2-12 Months Kitten Complete Dry Food Chicken
Complete chicken dry food for kittens aged 2-12 months in a 7KG bag
£30.15
Whiskas 1+ Adult Cat Complete Dry Food Tuna
Complete tuna dry cat food for adults in a 7KG bag with 30% protein
£30.15
Whiskas 1+ Adult Cat Complete Dry with Chicken
Complete chicken dry cat food for adults in a 7KG bag with 30% protein
£30.15
Burns Adult/Senior Cat Sensitive Grain Free Duck & Potato
Grain-free duck and potato food for cats with digestive or food sensitivities
£16.49
James Wellbeloved Light Adult Dry Cat Food Fish
A lower-calorie fish dry food for adult cats managing their weight, with joint-support ingredients
£24.65
Common questions
- At what age is a cat considered senior?
- Most senior ranges are aimed at cats from around seven years old, though this is a general marketing marker rather than a strict biological cut-off. Some cats show age-related changes earlier, others much later, so watch your own cat rather than the number on the packet.
- Does my senior cat need a special diet if they seem perfectly healthy?
- Not necessarily. A healthy older cat with a stable weight and good appetite can often continue on their usual food, though many owners choose to move gradually towards a senior recipe for the easier texture and calorie balance as a precaution.
- Why has my older cat started losing weight?
- It is worth getting checked by a vet rather than assumed to be simple ageing, since weight loss in an older cat can point to dental pain, reduced appetite, or an underlying condition that needs proper diagnosis rather than a change of food alone.
- Should I feed my senior cat wet or dry food?
- Either can work, and many owners use a mix of both. Wet food adds useful moisture for a cat who does not drink much and suits sensitive teeth, while dry food still has a place for cats who prefer it or need food available through the day.
- How do I switch my cat onto a senior food?
- Gradually, mixing increasing amounts of the new food in with the old over a week or so rather than swapping overnight. This gives a cat's digestion time to adjust and makes it easier to spot if the new recipe does not agree with them.
Related
Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.