Senior cat nutrition: how calorie needs change after 11
By Josh · Reviewed and updated: 2026-09-17
A senior cat needs only about 8% fewer calories than it did as an adult at the same activity level. That is much less than the 15 to 25% usually quoted — and that figure is about dogs. Cat owners who apply the dog rule of thumb to a senior cat will feed it roughly 18% less than it needs, and the thing they will lose first is muscle. But there is a second half to this that matters more: past about ten, the direction can reverse. For an older cat that is losing weight or muscle, the answer is more food, not less. This page gives the numbers, and then the part that matters more than any of them.
When a cat becomes a senior
Later than a dog, and the threshold is less contested. Guidelines put feline senior status at greater than ten years, with the senior band usually given as eleven to fourteen and geriatric from fifteen. This site uses eleven.
For contrast: a large dog is often considered senior from about seven (see senior dog nutrition). So a nine-year-old dog and a nine-year-old cat are at completely different points in their lives — which is why the feeding advice does not transfer between them either.
How much less: about 8%, and here is the table
Engine-calculated at 380 kcal per 100 g and 120 g per cup, the same basis as the cat portion page. Each row compares adult and senior at the same activity level, which is the only comparison that means anything:
| Body weight | Adult, neutered, typical | Senior | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 kg | 50 g | 46 g | 8.3% |
| 4 kg | 63 g | 57 g | 8.3% |
| 5 kg | 74 g | 68 g | 8.3% |
| 6 kg | 85 g | 78 g | 8.3% |
| 7 kg | 95 g | 87 g | 8.3% |
The percentage is the same at every weight, because the multiplier is the only thing that moved: 1.2× resting energy for an adult neutered cat at typical activity, 1.1× for a senior.
The AAFP / AAHA feline life stage guidelines put the requirement at about 1.0× resting energy for a middle-aged cat (7 to 10) and 1.10 to 1.25× for a cat over ten — because older cats digest less efficiently, lose muscle, and often need more energy to hold their condition, not less.
Our 1.1× sits at the bottom of that band, which is why the table above reads as a small reduction: compared with a young adult at 1.2×, a middle-aged cat is lower and a senior comes back up. But for a cat in its mid-teens that is losing weight or muscle, the correction is upward, toward 1.2–1.25× — not further down. Do not read the table above as “older cats eat less”. Use the body condition and muscle checks, and if both are falling, feed more and book a check-up.
What actually changes after eleven
The calorie target moves less than cat owners expect. Everything else moves more:
| What changes | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Muscle is lost before fat | Lean body mass falls with age, and it can fall while the weight on the scale stays the same. That is why the hands matter more than the number: run them along the spine and over the hips. Prominent bony points on a stable weight is a different cat from the same weight with good muscle over it. The body condition page covers the checks. |
| Kidney function declines | Chronic kidney disease is common in older cats and usually develops quietly. Increased drinking and urination, weight loss and a duller coat are the early signs, and a blood test is what confirms it. If your vet has diagnosed it, their diet plan overrides everything on this page. |
| Hyperthyroidism becomes likely | An overactive thyroid raises metabolism, so the classic picture is an older cat that is hungry all the time and still losing weight. That combination is not a feeding problem and it is not solved by feeding more — it needs a blood test and treatment. |
| Arthritis is under-recognised | Cats hide it. Reluctance to jump onto a favourite surface, missing the litter tray, or no longer grooming the back are often joint pain rather than attitude. Where the food bowl and litter tray are matters more as a cat ages; ramps and low-sided trays help. |
| Protein requirement does not fall | The old idea of putting an older cat on a low-protein diet is outdated. Muscle loss is the main reason a senior's energy requirement drops, so the usual guidance is to keep protein the same or higher while calories come down. Kidney disease is the common exception, and that is a decision for your vet. |
The most important line on this page
And keep the earlier warning in force at every age. Never withhold food from a cat to persuade it to accept something else: significant caloric restriction lasting 48–72 hours can cause hepatic lipidosis, which is frequently fatal. Contact your vet if a cat has eaten nothing for 24 hours; treat it as urgent at 48 hours, or at 24 hours with vomiting, lethargy or jaundice.
Frequently asked questions
How much less should I feed my senior cat?
About 8% less than it ate as an adult at the same activity level — for example 46 g instead of 50 g for a 3 kg cat. That is far less than the 15 to 25% often quoted, which is a figure for dogs. Applying 25% to a cat underfeeds it by roughly 18%.
At what age is a cat a senior?
Guidelines put feline senior status at over ten years, with the senior band usually given as eleven to fourteen and geriatric from fifteen. This site uses eleven. Cats reach senior status later than dogs, so a nine-year-old cat is not in the same place as a nine-year-old large dog.
My older cat is eating well but losing weight. Should I feed more?
No — see your vet. An older cat that is hungry and still losing weight is a classic presentation of hyperthyroidism, and weight loss in a senior cat is also a common sign of kidney disease, diabetes and dental pain. Feeding more does not address any of them.
Do senior cats need less protein?
Generally no. Muscle loss is the main reason a senior cat's calorie requirement falls, so most guidance is to keep protein the same or higher while calories come down. Where a condition limits protein, such as kidney disease, follow your veterinarian's plan instead.
Calculate your cat's daily amount →
How much does a kitten need? →
What changes for a senior dog →
Check body condition, not just weight →