Adopted cat

[Ann & Liz]

Hi, We have not been here for sometime now after losing Lila in 2017. We have a permanent foster cat, Tansy. Tansy is Abbysinnian cross and is 12y. Tansy doesn't have any known health issues at present and we wonder if anyone has any suggestions for foods in UK that will support her as she ages etc. Any suggestions gratefully received. Tansy doesn't have a huge appetite and is quite slender, being the runt of the litter.

 

[Bron and Sheba (GA)]

Hi Ann and Liz,
I think the best diet for a cat is a raw diet, home made.
There are lots of supplements now to add to the muscle meats that make it a complete nutritional diet.
I feed my cats a raw diet, and feed bones for calcium and they love it.
Here is a link to a site. Lots of info there, just look further into the site
Abysinian cats are gorgeous.
https://feline-nutrition.org/nutrition/making-raw-cat-food-for-do-it-yourselfers

 

[Ann & Liz]

Hi Ann and Liz,
I think the best diet for a cat is a raw diet, home made.
There are lots of supplements now to add to the muscle meats that make it a complete nutritional diet.
I feed my cats a raw diet, and feed bones for calcium and they love it.
Here is a link to a site. Lots of info there, just look further into the site
Abysinian cats are gorgeous.
https://feline-nutrition.org/nutrition/making-raw-cat-food-for-do-it-yourselfers

Hi Bron, Thank you for your reply will take a look at the link. As Tansy is a permanent foster we may need to look at canned food etc as Tansy will be going back to the rescue for holidays etc. Yes Abbysinnians are certainly beautiful and very unique. We have previously had Burmese but are finding Tansy is equally as full of character and demanding! Tansy is also sorting out her own raw diet at times with the odd mouse! Ann & Liz

 

[Elizabeth and Bertie]

Hi Ann and Liz (and Tansy)!

Waving from Surrey!

My lot get a mix of decent quality canned/pouch foods, and ready-made raw from Purrform. (I used to make raw food, and may well do again at some point soon... )

Generally, when looking for canned/pouch foods I aim to use those that are low carb (to help prevent diabetes!), and also where possible, with regard to the oldies, not crazy high in phosphorous. I use Nature's Menu pouches, which are fairly widely available now. And from Zooplus; Granatapet Symphonie and Feringa. My new diabetic girl will 'only' eat Thrive chicken & liver at the moment, but that's OK too...

A few of the foods in the UK list in my signature give the phos content, but not many, as it's not often given in the nutritional analysis (sometimes the manufacturer will provide the info though). The blue column in the list gives the phos dry matter% where the info is available.

With my oldies I've also tried to feed foods that are relatively high in calories, so as to try to keep body weight on them. With my 'very old oldies' this has seemed to be of quite some benefit.
I keep a stock of freeze-dried treats (various flavours) and Fortiflora to use as 'toppers' on some foods to tempt those with less than enthusiastic appetites.

These are just my personal thoughts, and may or may not be helpful.
Really hoping you find something suitable for Tansy.

Hugs to you,

Eliz

 

[Diana&Tom]

Hi Ann and Liz, also waving hi from Surrey!

Great comments here from Elizabeth and I can personally vouch for her approach to feeding as I've seen her kitties many times and they are always in beautiful condition!

I too feed Nature's Menu (and Country Hunter, which is part of the NM range). There's a "senior" variety of the standard NM which I think includes fish, so depending on your views on that, it could be worth considering as part of a mixed diet as it does vary things a bit.

It's worth looking at the protein content of some foods as even the better-quality pouches aren't always too high in that respect, and I think it's important to keep protein levels up as our kitties age. What I sometimes do is add to a serving of NM a little shredded chicken in broth (Encore, Applaws, Almo Nature) which are not "complete" foods but increase the protein content of the meal and have the added benefit of keeping my kitty more hydrated than she would otherwise be (she doesn't drink water).

I shop at Fetch which is very reliable and super-quick.

Good luck, let us know how you get on

 

[Ann & Liz]

Hi Ann and Liz, also waving hi from Surrey!

Great comments here from Elizabeth and I can personally vouch for her approach to feeding as I've seen her kitties many times and they are always in beautiful condition!

I too feed Nature's Menu (and Country Hunter, which is part of the NM range). There's a "senior" variety of the standard NM which I think includes fish, so depending on your views on that, it could be worth considering as part of a mixed diet as it does vary things a bit.

It's worth looking at the protein content of some foods as even the better-quality pouches aren't always too high in that respect, and I think it's important to keep protein levels up as our kitties age. What I sometimes do is add to a serving of NM a little shredded chicken in broth (Encore, Applaws, Almo Nature) which are not "complete" foods but increase the protein content of the meal and have the added benefit of keeping my kitty more hydrated than she would otherwise be (she doesn't drink water).

I shop at Fetch which is very reliable and super-quick.

Good luck, let us know how you get on

Thank you to you all for the info. Hoping everyone is well, so good to know you are there. It's been a long time without any pets after losing Lila and moving house too. Lovely to have Tansy now, who has lost her elderly owner, she was very much loved in her previous home. We will start to look at moving her from her Felix pouches and pro plan kibble. Tansy had been with us for a few weeks now and we didn't want to change things too soon. We don't think she is drinking any water at all or if so very little. We may get a fountain for her to encourage some fluid intake. The Nature's Menu sounds good. We don't generally like feeding the kibble after realising how harmful it can be. But she is used to grazing, is there any kibble that can be fed in very small quantities reasonably safely or best avoided completely?

 

[Diana&Tom]

Dry food isn't great for any cat really, especially as they get older and need to stay as hydrated as possible. And you don't want her to get addicted! But if you want to feed very small quantities, I think the lowest-carb dry is made by Thrive... @Elizabeth and Bertie probably knows more than I do, perhaps she can add some info.

 

[Noah & me (GA)]

No health suggestions but lucky you getting an Abyssinian. Only because a friend had a female did I know what an Abby was. I worked across the street from the city's only shelter with a high kill rate and there he was, my very own jungle cat for just $20.