Expert: Dear Tabbi - 7/20/2008

Question
i have a male, outdoor cat, `14, primarily dry food diet, though he does like canned; changed the dry brand about a month ago and he seemed okay with it, but the last couple of weeks he appears to he balking at it, though seems hungry..any suggestions?

Answer
Joe,

If by '14 in your question you mean your cat is 14 years old, then he is approximately 72 years old in human years.

He may not be able to eat dry food comfortably any more. Like people, they start losing their teeth and it becomes hard for them to eat. I would get a good quality dry (Iams, etc.) and maybe soften it with water first to make it easier to eat. But you have to stir it frequently because it gets stiff an sticks together as it dries up. You may also want to feed him more canned food because it is easier for him to eat.

Cats are attracted to food because of the smell, and at his age his  sense of smell can get dull. Try giving him foods with a stronger  odor so he can smell it. If he's not eating good, I would try 2 cans of canned food with 1 can of people tuna. Mix it together in a plastic bag and give him some. Also try tinned sardines (in oil) for a treat.

An elderly cat also needs a different diet. As they age they have different dietary needs and requirements. Your vet is the person to talk to about that. The vet may also have some type of appetite booster that he can prescribe for him.

Because of his age, his behavior could be related to a medical issue. My suggestion is to find a vet that is familiar with geriatric cats and their problems (not all vets are) and take your cat to get an 'older cat checkup'. All elderly cats need one periodically to check the functions of their liver, kidneys, thyroid, etc. Early detection of any 'old age' medical issues and medication can help make his senior years more comfortable.

Being prepared and knowledgable about elderly cats will help you and your cat as she ages. I am including some very good links about elderly cats:
(Copy and paste, or type, the whole links into your address bar)

http://www.sniksnak.com/resources/geriatric.html

http://www.messybeast.com/towards-end.htm

http://www.2ndchance.info/oldcat.htm

I hope this information is helpful. He's a lucky kitty. For him to have lived to 14 (so far) means he has been loved and taken very good care of. I hope you have many more years with him.

Tabbi