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Vital Vittles: The Benefits of Life Stage Diets for Cats

Lisa Selvaggio
by Lisa Selvaggio
Published:  February 18th, 2016
Bon appetite! From kitten to senior, and all stages in between, the right type of food ensures your cat gets all the nutrition he needs, when he needs it.


To help keep your kitty healthy throughout his life, feed him the high-quality cat food that includes adequate amounts of animal protein, the right proportions of amino acids like taurine and arginine, enough fatty acids, and preformed vitamin A. But on top of these basics, there are also life stage diets that help meet your cat’s nutritional needs as he grows.


Below is a short guide to the main life stage diets available for cats, as well as the benefits that each provides.


Kitten Formulas


Kittens need higher levels of protein and calories than adult cats in order to meet growth requirements. Failing to provide adequate nutrition at this life stage may result in the kitten getting sick or his growth might be stunted.


Providing a high quality diet to your kitten will help create a foundation for good health later on as well. Kitten formulas are designed to provide your pet with all of his energy requirements in the form of plenty of protein, fats, and minerals, including calcium and phosphorus for healthy bone and tooth development.


Related: How To Read A Cat Food Label


Adult Formulas


To maintain your adult cat’s health, as well as his weight, there are plenty of balanced adult formulas to choose from. They’ll contain lower calories than kitten formulas so that your less active adult cat will be able to more easily maintain a healthy weight.


These formulas also contain high amounts of animal protein, preferably from real meat as opposed to meat by-products. And they’ll contain antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals in the right proportions in order to promote the strength of the immune system and healthy organ function throughout the body.


Senior Formulas


Senior kitties also have special nutritional needs, so there are formulas geared towards the maintenance of their health, weight, and energy. Typically, they’ll need the same amount of calories that they required when they were younger, so you don’t need to restrict their calorie consumption unless they really need to lose weight (do so with the guidance of a vet).


Related: How Much Should I Feed My Cat?


You can find formulas that contain plenty of fatty acids like EPA and DHA to help with mobility in older cats. Senior formulas also have highly digestible ingredients to help your kitty absorb nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, and fats, more easily as he ages.


For felines that have chronic conditions like heart disease or kidney disease, there are many foods that are formulated to bring as much balance and health back into the body as possible in order to manage the diseases and bring the pet relief.


Pregnant Cats


A cat that is pregnant or nursing will have higher nutritional needs than other adult kitties. After all, she’s eating for herself plus her litter of kittens. On top of potentially becoming ill, if a mother cat isn’t able to meet her body’s new nutritional demands, her babies may suffer and she might not be able to produce enough milk for them either.


To ensure a pregnant cat gets all of the nutrition she needs, you can feed her a highly digestible kitten formula until all of her kittens are weaned. You can begin feeding her the kitten formula once you find out she’s pregnant, and you can continue feeding it to her even while she’s nursing her babies, as she’ll continue having increased energy and nutrient requirements during that time.


Always Discuss Your Cat’s Specific Needs with Your Vet


Always remember that every cat is an individual, so while there are broad nutritional guidelines, one size doesn’t always fit all, especially when there are things like chronic conditions or allergies involved. If you ever have any questions about what you should be feeding your cat, the best person to ask would be your veterinarian, who knows your cat’s specific needs best.

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Lisa Selvaggio
Lisa Selvaggio

Lisa Selvaggio is a freelance writer and editor, and our resident cats-pert, with certifications in pet nutrition and pet first aid. She enjoys producing content that helps people understand animals better so they can give their pets a safe and happy home.

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Osteoarthritis, also referred to as OA, is a condition that’s common in cats – experts have found that 90% of kitties over the age of 12 have it. And because cats may hide the signs, it can be overlooked, so it’s a good idea to learn about the symptoms and keep an eye out for them, especially as your pet gets older. The good news is, if your feline friend is diagnosed with this condition, there are things you can do to help her experience less pain.

Dog Rescued After Surviving a 60-foot Fall from Michigan Cliff

A family’s trip to one of Michigan’s most beautiful landmarks almost ended tragically, when their dog took a tumble from a cliff. The adventurous dog, named Dancer, was rescued after surviving a 60-foot fall from a cliff and spending a freezing night alone in the wilderness. The three-year-old pooch had escaped her leash and plunged off a steep cliff near Miners Castle, in the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore area in Munising, Michigan. The lakeshore runs alongside Lake Superior and is located in Michigan’s Upper Penninsula. The National Park Service (NPS) shared in a news release that Dancer fell 60 feet off a cliff to a ledge below. The dog’s owners spent hours searching the area but were unable to find the dog and were convinced that she didn’t survive the fall. Rangers at the nearby Pictured Rocks Park received a message about the lost pooch and decided to enlist the help of Superior High Angle Rescue Professionals (SHARP), a local rope rescue team, to search for the dog. The following morning SHARP members Erik Olsen, Westley Shaffer, and Tyler Davis went to the area and were able to find Dancer, who was cold, but alive. “Though she has spent the night trying to keep warm, she was excited to see the rescuers,” the service wrote. Dancer, who was described as a “professional troublemaker” didn’t have any reported injuries. The lucky pooch has since been reunited with her family and is recovering well after spending the night alone in the wilderness. The park service noted that Dancer was extremely lucky and although her story has a happy ending, her fall should serve as a reminder to everyone that areas of Pictured Rocks can get very cold and extremely slippery.“With this year’s mild start to winter, many areas of Pictured Rocks are more accessible than they are most years,” Chief Ranger Joe Hughes explained. “It is still important to remember to be prepared for slippery, cold conditions that can change quickly.”Whether you’re planning to hit a local trail with your pooch or are planning a trip to a state park, keep your pooch on a leash. Make sure that your pup’s harness is fitted properly so that your pooch can’t wiggle out of it, even if it tries. Join the PetGuide community. Get the latest pet news and product recommendations by subscribing to our newsletter here.

A Six-legged Abandoned Dog Has Surgery to Remove Extra Limbs

A six-legged cocker spaniel found abandoned in a supermarket parking lot in Wales has had surgery to remove her extra limbs. The pooch was named Ariel, after the Little Mermaid, because her extra limbs were fused together, resembling a mermaid’s tail. Greenacres Rescue, a non-profit group from Haverfordwest in Pembrokeshire, Wales, took Ariel in, arranged her surgery, and found her a foster family.  Ariel, who was born with multiple birth defects, was operated on at Langford Vets Small Animal Referral Hospital. Surgeon Aaron Lutchman performed the surgery and managed to save all four limbs amid fears that one hind leg might have to be amputated. “She’s doing really well, she’s bounced back and she’s a happy little dog and we’re hoping she’s going to go on to lead a fabulous little life,” said Lutchman. “She’s got her own little character and even though she’s had a tough start in life she really has done well to come through this as she has… if we can do what we can to help then that’s just absolutely brilliant.” According to Mikey Lawlor, founder and manager of Greenacres Rescue, Ariel was skinny and distressed when she was rescued. “The vet who initially assessed Ariel noted that, in addition to her two surplus back legs, she also had an additional vulva,” said Lawlor. A CT scan later revealed that Ariel was born with only one kidney, which increased the complexity of the medical treatment she required. Unfortunately, the pup’s pelvis never formed properly because she had two hip joints on one side of the body. As a result, Ariel’s normal hind leg had no muscle tone, so there was a chance that that leg had to be amputated as well. “Thankfully, that wasn’t the case though as it’s shown signs of having strengthened a lot in recent months,” Lawlor added.Ariel is recovering nicely after her surgery, having lots of love and fuss from the nursing team. Now that the surgery is behind her, everyone is hoping that she’ll have an easy and quick recovery.“There were two procedures which lasted about two hours, but both went fine. The next day she was up, walking around and eating and drinking.”“Now we just need to keep our fingers crossed she doesn’t get any infections, but she really is in the best of hands,” added Lawlor according to BBC. The brave pooch was discharged over the weekend and has already returned home to her foster family in Wales. According to her vet, Ariel has to rest for the next two weeks to recover completely. The founder of Greenacres Rescue hopes that the organization will be able to find a forever home for Ariel after she completes physiotherapy and recovery. “The response we had to Ariel’s story so far, including calls and emails from as far away as New York and Australia, has been incredible - so I’ve no doubt she’ll be snapped up,” said Lawlor.“I just can’t say enough of a thank you to everyone who’s contributed to helping her.” The organization raised around $19,000 for Ariel’s life-changing surgery thanks to donations from people all over the world.“Ariel was a complicated little dog whose care required close collaboration across a number of our specialist teams, including orthopedics, soft tissue surgery, anesthesia, and radiology,” said Vicki Black, the director of Langford Vets’ Hospital. “As part of the University of Bristol, we are a center committed to career-long learning and are proud to innovate and treat pets like Ariel. We are delighted such a lovely animal has recovered well from her surgery.”Join the PetGuide community. Get the latest pet news and product recommendations by subscribing to our newsletter here.

How to Exercise Your Dog Indoors

Your dog needs daily exercise, but when it’s too cold, snowing, or raining, you shouldn’t let them spend too much time outside; instead, it’s best to bring the fun indoors. Whether you live in an apartment or a large house, there are simple and creative ways to help your canine companion get the physical exercise and mental stimulation they want and need.If you’re stumped when it comes to how to exercise your dog indoors, here are a few ideas to help you get started, along with some product recommendations that are worth considering.Indoor FetchWho says you can’t play fetch with your dog indoors? As long as you have a decent amount of space, you can toss a ball or toy for your pet to chase, grab, and bring back to you. Some people will use a hallway to give their dog enough room to run and grab their toy, but it really depends on your home and its layout. If you don’t have a large room with enough open space, you might need to move some furniture around temporarily, but it will be worth it.A good toy to consider for this is the Chuckit! Indoor Ball. It’s designed specifically for indoor use, and features textured chenille that’s soft and lightweight so you can toss it and let it bounce softly to entice your dog to grab it. Puppies and adult dogs of all sizes are sure to love it, and the multi-layered construction helps it withstand your pet’s teeth so this toy can last.

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