Best food for elderly cats

[BertrandRussell]

My cats are remarkably fit and well for their age-they are 16, nearly 17. at Christmas. But they are both looking thin and scraggy-despite earring well and being wormed regularly. Is there any food that would fatten them up a bit? The vet recommended Iams, but I reckon she's on commission and they don't like it anyway. They aren't particularly keen on human food unless they've stolen it......

Hopeful bump.

Kitten food is usually recommended for helping cats put on weight. Dreamies?

Ours is 20 plus years of age and on thyroid meds twice a day. Her weight has really improved since being on thyroid meds and she is more content and relaxed as well. We take her to a vet's that only treat cats, and they're fab.

That aside she is currently on Meowing Heads, which she eats pretty well, having been increasingly fussy as she's got older. Possibly due to the thyroid issues.

She was on Iams for years but would barely touch it now, although vet says there is nothing wrong with her teeth. I suspect that whenever (underactive?) thyroid affects her appetite she needs something with a strong and appetizing smell. For a while I used to warm her food in the microwave for 10-20 seconds. It makes the smell stronger and seemed to encourage her to eat.

Has the vet done blood tests on them recently? My two had CKD and hyperthyroidism in old age, both of which cause weight loss. As said kitten food has more calories and you could even try cat milk in addition to their normal food. If they're not so interested in food now, they might enjoy some cooked chicken or fish.

Caviar, smoked salmon and venison, only the best will do for kitties in their dotage.

Mine's just over 16, bad arthritis in his knees and muscle loss in his back legs, he's on pain meds and quite bouncy still, but I also worry about his weight loss. He's got incredibly fussy so is on a mix of an array of mostly grain free foods (some senior some not), tiny portion of dry (again have to rotate through a few), and raw (I buy a pack of stewing beef, turkey thigh mince or chicken wings each week and spread them out). His weight has stabilised now and the vet he saw last week said she couldn't give any advice as he's clearly doing so well on what he's on. The chicken wings are brilliant for teeth.

I have to say, you’re lucky they don’t know your address, Holey. They would take you out for that dotage reference!

Our cat is 15 and her idea of heaven are the tins of tuna with spring water with water left in. The vet did say she needs half dry food as well, the cat disagrees and think the vet is evil but eats it grumpily though will bang her tuna tin to complain. She's just started eating a bit of other human food but very little tends to be meat in gravy.

Kitten food. Mine loves natures menu or the cosma kitten stuff off zooplus
Currently he's eating scrambled egg with butter

My oldest is 16 today. Happy birthday CoCo☺.
She has one tooth left, but has gums like steel. She has biscuits for kittens. I buy pouches of sliced beef in gravy from morrisons. A pound each, a good 4 portions from each bag. She has always had a dicky tummy but for the other cat I buy bob martens pouches and if she has those, she is OK. She has always been tiny and skinny, but has never been really ill.