Proof The Bible Is True

According to a study published in January in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior, aging cats (defined as over 7 years) prefer warm food.¹ This may or may not come as a surprise to those of you with feline family members, but it makes all kinds of sense. Cats in the wild and even housecats allowed to free-roam outdoors in search of a snack (not recommended), hunt small prey like mice, and often eat them on the spot before their bodies have a chance to cool.

In my experience, many cats of all ages, not just the senior set, given the choice, often prefer warm food over cold, because after all, hunting and eating prey is a natural activity for felines no matter their age.

Every Cat in the Study Preferred Warmed Foods

The study was conducted by researchers employed by pet food manufacturers Royal Canin and Waltham Petcare/Mars Petcare (which owns Royal Canin). In three, two-day, two-bowl difference tests, 32 older cats living in a research center were offered wet food served either cold (6 degrees C/48 degrees F), at room temperature (21 degrees C/70 degrees F), or warm (37 degrees C/98.6 degrees F).

The cats all preferred warmed foods to those at room temperature, which they preferred over refrigerated food. The cats were all over 7 years old, with an average age of over 11. The food used in the study was Royal Canin Aging 12+ cat food.

The researchers theorize that the study cats preferred warm food due to the release of volatile compounds that enhance the smell and taste of the food. One compound, hexanoic acid, which is related to palatability, increased as the food was heated above room temperature. In addition, the warmed foods released more compounds associated with meat flavors, but fewer terpenes related to plant flavors.

Bottom line: Warm cat food may release more chemicals that tempt aging cats to eat. The researchers suggest that pet food companies may want to consider instructing pet parents to warm products rather than serve them room temperature or cold to finicky older cats.

I prefer to warm foods by sitting the dish of pet food in larger dish of shallow hot water, always checking the temperature of the food prior to feeding it.

Tips for Encouraging Your Cat to Eat

If your feline family member is eating ultraprocessed pet food (such as the Royal Canin formula used in the study), my first recommendation is to try to slowly and safely transition her to a balanced, fresh, organic, non-GMO, species-specific diet made with human grade ingredients. Whether her diet is fresh or processed, however, the goal should always be to make sure your cat eats something.

Unlike dogs and humans, it’s dangerous for kitties to go any length of time without nourishment, as it can lead to a potentially fatal liver disease called hepatic lipidosis. Keeping your older cat well-nourished can require creativity along with some gentle prodding, and lots of patience. Things you can do to tempt her include:

It’s also important to make mealtime a very low-stress, pleasant experience. Make sure you feed your cat in a calm, quiet environment that is optimally comfortable for her.

Diet and Supplement Recommendations for Older Cats

Some foods are metabolically stressful; for example, grains and potatoes prompt a big insulin release. The nutrition that generates the least amount of metabolic stress for most cats, regardless of age, is whole, unprocessed, organic, non-GMO meat based, nutritionally complete diets (raw or poached). This of course includes human quality animal meat, which should be the foundation of your kitty’s diet throughout his life.

Foods that have not been highly processed are the most assimilable for a cat’s body. All the moisture in the food remains in the food, whereas foods that have been extruded (most dry diets) can have drastically depleted moisture content — as low as 12%.

If you can’t feed fresh food (raw or gently cooked), second-best is a dehydrated or freeze-dried balanced diet reconstituted with plenty of water or broth. Your cat’s kidneys and liver can be further stressed as a result of chronic low-grade dehydration, so all foods served dry can pose a problem, long term.

Moisture is an aging cat’s best friend, so encourage yours to drink by offering a variety of glass, metal or food grade ceramic water bowls around the house or a drinking fountain, in addition to minimizing (or preferably eliminating) dry food.

However, if your cat is addicted to terrible food and you can’t (or won’t) work to improve the type of food you’re feeding, adding a whole body supplement, such as Feline Whole Body Support or CATalyst, is a bare bones minimum suggestion all cats will benefit from.

Additional beneficial supplements include SAMe (S-adenosylmethionine) as a safe and effective way to stall mental decline, improve mobility and assist in liver detoxification. Consult your integrative veterinarian for the right dose size.

Periodic detoxification with milk thistle, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and dandelion can also be very beneficial, as can providing super green foods in the form of fresh cat grass to nibble on. Chlorophyll, chlorella or spirulina can also be offered in supplement form to enhance your cat’s detoxification processes.

Medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) have been shown to be safe for cats and can improve brain energy metabolism and decrease the amyloid protein buildup that results in brain lesions in older pets. Coconut oil is a source of MCTs and may also reduce hairball issues. I recommend 1/4 teaspoon for every 10 pounds of body weight twice daily for basic MCT support, if your cat will voluntarily eat it.

For aging kitties with a cognitive shift that makes them prowl the house at night and vocalize, consider low dose melatonin, which is not only a sedative with a calming effect, but also an antioxidant. I also use rhodiola, chamomile and l-theanine with good results.