Member

Posts: 84
From:Ontario Canada
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 01-19-2004 09:08 AM         

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Do cats naturally eat less as they age? My 12 y.o. girl has been eating about 25% less dry food in the past week or so. I call her a Pavlovian cat as she comes running whenever I go to the food dish even though there is still some there, and often if I just shake the dish she will start eating. She seems fine otherwise. She still likes her moist food as she gets her glucosamine tablets crumbled in there (I give her 1/4 can daily). Any thoughts? Her teeth are ok and she doesn't seem to be having trouble when she's eating, nor is she drooling or pawing at her mouth.

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Member

Posts: 701
From:CA
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 01-19-2004 06:13 PM         

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Hi Dolly. Did you know that your 12 year old kitty is equivalent in age as a 61 year old person? Anyway, yes it it quite common for older cats to eat less (especially dry food). The reason for this is due to two main reasons: The first we'll rule out, as you say her gums and teeth are okay (although, this still may be a factor). The second is that the older cats get their sense of smell gets worse over time. That may not sound like a big deal to most people, but you have to understand how important smell is to a cat. If they can't smell their food, they just are not that interested in it. That's why she may prefer her soft food, as it tends to be much more fragrant than hard food.

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Member

Posts: 84
From:Ontario Canada
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 01-21-2004 07:49 AM         

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Thanks for the input, Chessmind. It's hard to think of my girl as a 'senior'! I think her sense of smell may be off as I have noticed in the past couple of years she will put her nose right up to me if I come close, as if she has to do that to smell me. I'll mix some dry in with her moist food and see if she goes for that.

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