A cat food conspiracy?

[exlibris]

My two cats are both 13 years old. For the first 11 years I’ve been feeding them normal cat food. After a few visits to the vet he suggested switching to senior cat food. I was of the opinion that there isn’t any great difference in adult and senior cat food – you’re paying more for nothing. However, I thought that my vet knows best.....but since then he’s persuaded me into doing a number of expensive tests and I didn’t become suspicious until I said I didn’t think I could afford a £200 test and then suddenly he changed what he was saying and the test became a whole lot less important. The trouble with vets is that you have to trust them and sometimes they just want your money I've really lost confidence in my vet.

However, I digress, after the vet assured me that senior cat food was the way to go I have been only buying senior stuff. But there seems to be no great change to my cats health (better or worse) and I’m now questioning his advice. I think there will be some benefits to senior food, but I question whether there is anything to be concerned with if my cat’s diets include a variety of cat food, some of which is senior, some of which is adult, and some of which is cooked ham/chicken or tuna.

I trust you guys a lot more than my current vet! Can anyone offer any information? Thanks.

[Kay]

I don't think it's reasonable to expect a change in their health after a switch to senior food, as it is more of a preventative measure than a cure

and I do think an annual senior citizen blood test isn't a bad idea after 10 or so, as it would pick up the first signs of kidney disease and overactive thyroid, which are the major health problems for older cats - and once those signs are there diet and medication can make a big difference to the cat's quality and quantitiy of their remaining years

having said that, I've never paid more than £80 for a blood panel, including thyroid function, and yes, I do think a few vets may come up with unnecessary tests and procedures, particularly if the cat is insured

[bobbys girl]

My lot have taken to the 'Purely' range from Pets at Home. It claims to be hypoallergenic with no dairy etc. I was comparing their chicken complete with their chicken complete senior - blowed if I can see a difference (must be in the very small print)

[sarie]

The senior food is often lower in certain nutrients such as sodium and higher in other nutrients to help maintain healthy organs in an ageing cat. The differences are subtle on paper but they do make a big difference to an older cat as their needs (as with humans) differ as they age and their organs start to become more susceptible to certain conditions such as kidney disease.

You're unlikely to notice much difference in the health of your cat by switching to senior but, as has been said, it's a preventative measure - by switching to senior you're trying to keep your cat healthy for as long as possible.

The vets don't always know best when it comes to the intricacies of diet but all vets understand the basics of nutrition (as you'd expect!) and the recommendation to switch an older cat to a senior diet is a good one

As has also been mentioned, in older cats it is good to get bloodwork done semi-regularly too as they become at risk of certain diseases and bloods will pick them up in the early stages. These are only advisable and that's why your vet didn't push the matter when you said you couldn't afford it; they're not vital as they're just to rule out any issues. £200 does sound a lot though, not sure what your vet was planning on testing for that price!

Anyway.. I wouldn't doubt your vet too much - it sounds like his biggest flaw is not explaining his logic to you properly. Vets often forget that owners need explanations as we're not all fully trained in veterinary medicine like they are. If you have questions you should ask your vet - he should be able to answer any and all questions easily and if he can't give you satisfactory answers only then should you be doubting him

[Crewella]

I completely agree with Sarie's post - great explanation. I feed my oldies senior food, including the elderly cat with kidney issues that won't eat any of the prescription diets for kidney function. Because of the lower levels of sodium, phosphorus etc. senior food is the next best thing.

Having said that, I do feed a variety of foods inlcuding cooked chicken and fish, but would steer clear of ham and processed meats as they have such a high salt content. My lot love ham, but only get a tiny bit occasionally, as a treat.

[MarkB]

I don't think there are huge differences between adult and senior food, but as Sarie pointed out the ratio of different things is different to be more suited to senior cats. For example, Felix pouches have 25% more vitamins to allow for the fact that most cats eat less. Most senior foods have a reduced phosphorus content, to make them gentler on aging kidneys. Protein/Fat/Carb % are different to take into account that most senior cats slow down and aren't burning off the calories.

Having said that, Senior diets are a relatively new thing. My Lazarus's favourite pouches are As Good As It Looks doubly delicious fish variety. They don't make a senior version, so buy him the adult version. I buy the senior version of other flavours

Not always the case the case though - for example, Hi-life pouches are as high in phosphorus as the adult version.

Bottom line is I feed senior food where possible in the hope that it will give mine the longest life with fewer health problems. They also get adult food. The most important thing being that it is good quality. I would never give my cats rubbish like Go-Cat, Whiskas dry or basic supermarket dry food - it is full of cereals, colourings etc.

Senior food It isn't any more expensive than adult food if you don't buy it from vets.

[exlibris]

Thanks everyone for your advice. It does sound like senior food is best but also depending on the brands – I‘m glad to see MarkB uses Felix ‘As Good as it Looks’ stuff as well as me, it’s reassuring.....actually, my vet also followed up his recommendation for senior cat food with “we sell an excellent range of senior cat food....”

It try and only get tuna in spring water rather than brine as otherwise the salt content is high and you can’t really wash that out. They only get the odd bit of ham when we’re incautious when making ham sandwiches (ever seen the velociraptors in Jurassic Park? Our two work in a similar way), but sometimes they’re allowed leftovers too.

Sarie, you’re right about trusting my vet if he thinks a test is necessary. The £200 test came after 3 other expensive tests – it really felt like he was milking me dry. I’m never quite sure where I stand with him. He does give a vague explanation of what a test does, but my plumber also gave a very plausible explanation of why he had to fix my pipes the way he did (I ended up fixing them myself – thank God for B&Q staff). I think I will take your advice and get regular bloodwork done, but I’ll try a different vet and see what happens.

I think it’s a bad sign that our local the Cats Protection League always used my vets but have now jumped ship to a different practice.....I think I’ll try that one when I do the bloodwork.

[MarkB]

I feed good quality dry food alongside pouches. Mine like James Wellbeloved senior and Royal Canin. Much cheaper online than from the vet.

As for tuna, 'in springwater' can be a bit misleading as it is still salty springwater! - in fact, when I compared 'in brine' to 'in springwater' in one supermarket, the springwater version had a slighyly higher salt content - I normally drain the liquid off and top the can up with water, then drain it again. I also tend to buy tuna steak as I assume a solid piece of fish will have a lower salt content. Sainsbury's basics tuna is tuna steak, although it doesn't say so on the can

[PeanutsFriend]

With my older cat I fed kitten dry. the kibbles are smaller. She had problems with her teeth and jaw. Since her passing we don't feed that. But I am thinking the cats did better on it.
We have wet food here once a day. Just what ever they like that isn't fish or too much by products in it. Sometimes Baby food.
Feeding senior food with nine cats isn't possible. For they all eat it.
Jill

[sarie]

Yeah if you really don't feel like you can trust your vet then you're better off changing practices. You need a good relationship with your vet, especially as your cat is getting older, so it sounds like it's time to switch over.
If you can't get a decent explanation out of your vet for why they're recommending certain things then you definitely need to find a better vet. As with anything, there are good and bad out there. I've been really lucky as my vet is aboslutely superb but I have friends who visit other vets who find the experience a total nightmare everytime they need to visit.

Good luck, I hope you find a better vet you can trust to do the best for you and your cat

[PeanutsFriend]

Yeah if you really don't feel like you can trust your vet then you're better off changing practices. You need a good relationship with your vet, especially as your cat is getting older, so it sounds like it's time to switch over.
If you can't get a decent explanation out of your vet for why they're recommending certain things then you definitely need to find a better vet. As with anything, there are good and bad out there. I've been really lucky as my vet is aboslutely superb but I have friends who visit other vets who find the experience a total nightmare everytime they need to visit.

Good luck, I hope you find a better vet you can trust to do the best for you and your cat

I haven't ran into a REAL vet in over twenty years. They don't have any instincts. So sad.
I have animal people with health problems. but I can't get help. So I go on the internet and get fish meds. Same antibotics without the high prices.
I understand your complexity.
Jill