7 Homemade Cat Food Recipes for Senior Cats (With Pictures) - Catster (2024)

Providing adequate nutrition for your senior cat will certainly help them live a long and healthy life. But with so many types of senior cat food on the market, how can you be sure that you’re choosing one that fits your elderly feline’s dietary restrictions? Well, in short, extensive research! This is only one option though – you might also opt for a few vet-approved recipes that you can create in your own kitchen.

Now, before making any sort of drastic switch in the food you serve to your cat, you should clear it with your veterinarian. Unfortunately, there isn’t one size fits all when it comes to transitioning your cat to senior food. So, your vet will have a better understanding of the health of your feline and what they require as they enter their golden years!

A few additional things to consider before committing to learning how to make cat food for senior cats of your very own is that you must ensure you are properly storing the food you create and are dedicated to ongoing cooking so your little buddy has a steady and fresh supply of nutritious food.

As for the food itself, here are seven delightful recipes that your senior cat is sure to be excited about.

7 Homemade Cat Food Recipes for Senior Cats (With Pictures) - Catster (1)

The 7 Homemade Cat Food Recipes for Senior Cats:

1. The Easiest Senior Cat Food Recipe

7 Homemade Cat Food Recipes for Senior Cats (With Pictures) - Catster (2)

Chicken & Tuna Senior Cat Food

If you're looking for a great cat food recipe for senior cats, you've found it. This is the world's easiest recipe - just blend three simple ingredients - and it provides great nutrition to your elderly kitty. Serve your cat a healthy treat!

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Equipment

  • Blender or food processor

  • Storage container

Ingredients

  • 1 cup chicken breast cooked
  • 1 can tuna with oil
  • 1.5 tbsp cooked vegetables

Instructions

  • Combine all three ingredients in your blender or food processor.

  • Blend until the mixture is smooth.

  • Serve to your happy cat! Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to three days or the freezer for up to three weeks.

Notes

Image credit: Tagwaran, Shutterstock

Keyword cat food recipes, cat food recipes for senior cats, senior cat food recipes

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

2. Simply Raw: Rabbit, Turkey or Chicken

7 Homemade Cat Food Recipes for Senior Cats (With Pictures) - Catster (3)

This blog recommends that you use rabbit, turkey or chicken as the base of your cat food, using a grinder to break down the cuts of meat you have selected. As surface bacteria can develop on ground meats much quicker than a solid cut, it is also advised that the ground meat is then partially baked to kill these potentially harmful bacterias. We should note this is strictly a meat meal – and will likely be a favorite of any felines! A quick scroll down this blog, will also give you a recipe if you prefer to cook your felines food!

3. Tuna Patties

This easy to assemble recipe includes 4 ingredients that will keep your senior cat both intrigued and satisfied. Ready in a whopping 15 minutes means you will able to whip this meal up for your feline in a jiffy. The recipe yields 6 patties and depending on your cat’s feeding schedule will last two or three days in the fridge. The best part about this recipe is that the ingredients are simple enough to stockpile in your pantry. Make sure that when you are choosing canned products, that you select the ones that are free of any additives.

4. Supplemented Chicken Cat Food

7 Homemade Cat Food Recipes for Senior Cats (With Pictures) - Catster (4)

This recipe will require a bit more of a commitment from you as it takes about an hour to prepare and includes a few supplements that senior cats may benefit from. Now before supplementing your feline with any of the vitamins in this recipe it is important that you receive approval from your vet! Once you have the A-OK, you can proceed with this hearty senior cat food recipe!

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5. Mackerel Recipe for Senior Cats

Fish is an excellent source of fatty yet nutritional oils for cats. When we think of their love for fish, tuna might be the first swimmer to pop into our heads, but mackerel is a much healthier option. This recipe would be a great treat for a senior cat once or twice a week to ensure they get their fill of the healthy fats mackerel provides! Sardines are another great alternative if you are looking to swap mackerel occasionally.

6. Homemade Chicken Cat Food

7 Homemade Cat Food Recipes for Senior Cats (With Pictures) - Catster (5)

This recipe is a great option if your senior cat also has a sensitive tummy. This recipe is cooked, simple, and sure to be a favorite of your mature feline! There are only 4 ingredients, each natural and free of additives, making it easily digestible.

7. Homemade Beef Cat Food

Here is another great option for senior cats with sensitivities. Limited and all-natural ingredients and simple preparation make this recipe one for the books!

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7 Homemade Cat Food Recipes for Senior Cats (With Pictures) - Catster (7)Of course, old age is inevitable, but that doesn’t mean we need to start preparing for the worst. It means we should prepare for the long haul! Maintaining the health of your feline as they age should be a priority and starting with their food is an excellent idea.

We hope that you have found these unique yet simple recipes useful when learning how to make cat food for senior cats!

Looking for more great recipes for your feline? Check these out!

  • Birthday Cat Cake Recipes

Feature Image Credit: Kristi Blokhin, Shutterstock

Contents

  • The 7 Homemade Cat Food Recipes for Senior Cats:
    • 1. The Easiest Senior Cat Food Recipe
    • 2. Simply Raw: Rabbit, Turkey or Chicken
    • 3. Tuna Patties
    • 4. Supplemented Chicken Cat Food
    • 5. Mackerel Recipe for Senior Cats
    • 6. Homemade Chicken Cat Food
    • 7. Homemade Beef Cat Food
7 Homemade Cat Food Recipes for Senior Cats (With Pictures) - Catster (2024)

FAQs

What can I cook for my old cat? ›

Vet-Approved Homemade Cat Food Recipes
  • 1 boneless chicken breast.
  • 1/4 cup cooked rice (white or brown)
  • 1/4 cup chicken broth (low sodium)
  • 1/4 cup carrots (cooked and mashed)
  • 1/4 cup peas (cooked and mashed)
Jul 5, 2023

What do you feed old cats to build up food? ›

It's a good idea to offer snacks to your elderly cat between meals, but they need to be the right snacks. Healthy snacks can help to put weight on your cat. For example, try giving your cat bite-sized pieces of turkey or chicken between regular meals, as they are high in protein and healthy at the same time.

What makes cat food for seniors? ›

A good senior cat diet provides concentrated high quality protein, controlled levels of fat, and easy-to-digest carbohydrates for energy.

Are scrambled eggs good for older cats? ›

Yes, cats can eat eggs. Fully cooked eggs are a great nutritional treat for cats. Eggs are packed with nutrients, like amino acids, which are the building blocks to protein, and they're also highly digestible. Scrambled, boiled, however you choose to prepare them is fine.

Is cooked chicken good for elderly cats? ›

Cooked, lean meats such as beef, chicken, turkey, liver and lamb are all ok for you cat to eat. However, it's important that you take great care when serving to make sure the meat's cooked through – never give cats raw meat – and remove all skin and bones before feeding your cat.

What should senior cats avoid in food? ›

Excessive phosphorus should be avoided in senior cats. Excessive sodium in the diet can contribute to kidney disease and hypertension, both of which can be present for long periods of time before clinical signs emerge.

What is the number 1 healthiest cat food? ›

Which are the best cat foods in 2024? At a glance
  • Best overall – Royal Canin.
  • Best value cat food - Whiskas.
  • Best wet cat food – Purina Gourmet.
  • Best kitten food – Hills Science Plan Kitten Food.
  • Best senior cat food – Republic of Cats.

How many times a day do senior cats eat? ›

Age makes a difference

Once the cat becomes an adult, at about one year of age, feeding once or twice a day is appropriate in most cases. Senior cats (10 years of age and older) should maintain the same feeding regimen unless owners are otherwise instructed by a veterinarian.

What is the healthiest cat food for indoor cats? ›

Our top picks include Purina One +Plus Indoor Advantage, a wet food for adult cats that includes extra fiber for healthy digestion, and Royal Canin Indoor Adult dry food, which contains fish oil to support skin and coat health.

How much wet food should a senior cat eat per day? ›

If your aging cat prefers wet food like IAMS™ Perfect Portions™ Healthy Senior Cuts in Gravy, it's recommended to feed 5 servings per 8 pounds of body weight daily (adjusting as needed to maintain a healthy weight).

How much should a senior cat eat a day? ›

Adult cats and senior cats have less caloric intake requirements, averaging about 20 calories per pound of body weight (45 calories/kg of body weight) a day.

Do senior cats really need senior food? ›

The only difference that was found between the senior diets and the adult diets was higher fiber in the senior diets. There were no differences in protein, fat, or minerals between the senior diets and the adult diets. Calories were higher in the diets labeled for 11+ years than those for 7+ years.

What should I feed my senior cat who is getting picky? ›

In some cases, the best cat food for picky older cats (or any cat with dental disease!) is a soft, wet cat food. In particular, a cat paté may be easiest for some cats to eat.

Do older cats really need senior food? ›

That's probably because veterinary nutritionists say senior cats, assuming they are healthy, have the same nutritional needs as other adult cats. Veterinarians often say, "Age is not a disease," so there's no reason healthy senior cats need special food just because they're old.

What do you feed an older cat that is losing weight? ›

The vet may suggest special foods and, if appetite is poor, it may help to feed little and often, warm the food or add a small quantity of pilchards or sardines. Adding vegetable oil or margarine (in small quantities at first) may help weight gain, provided that the extra fat does not cause diarrhoea.

What do older cats enjoy? ›

"Older cats enjoy spending time with their human family members, Dr. Levine concludes. "It is important to give them the extra tender loving care that they'll need for many years to come."

How do you spoil a senior cat? ›

Simple Ways To Spoil A Senior Cat
  1. Basics. No matter how old your pet is, she'll need a clean litterbox. ...
  2. Soft Beds. Older cats are master nappers. ...
  3. Beauty Sessions. You may notice that Fluffy isn't as diligent about grooming herself as she once was. ...
  4. Daily Playtime. ...
  5. Senior-Friendly Facilities.
Oct 15, 2023

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