From Birth to Old Age: what are the life stages of our cats, and how does nutrition impact each stage?
Our feline friends go through different life stages, just like we do. As cats become more and more part of our lives, it is important to learn what their life stages are and what requirements come with each stage. According to the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), cats go through six different life stages, each requiring special health and nutritional attention (1).
Kittens
The first stage of life for cats are their months as kittens, from birth to six months. During the first weeks of this stage, the kitten’s health and nutritional needs are met with nursing. As early as week 4 after birth, it is possible to start weaning from milk. The dietary requirements for this stage include high protein levels, as well as high vitamin and mineral levels, most importantly calcium for bone health and development (2). Moreover, essential fatty acids, such as DHA, and taurine are indispensable for the development of the animal’s immune and digestive systems, as well as other important bodily functions such as vision (3).
Junior cats
Junior cats include animals from 7 months of age and up to 2 years old. This stage of life is relatively similar to kittens after weaning. Studies show that junior cats are highly active and perform similar amount of daily physical activity compared to kittens (4). This is why cats in this stage continue to have high caloric needs, and benefit from high protein and fatty acid concentration.
Adult cats
Adult cats, also known as cats in the prime life stage, are of 3 to 6 years of age. At this point in life, some cats become slightly less active than before, but some maintain a steadily active life. Due to these changes, the nutritional requirements during this stage vary from cat to cat. On one hand, the less active cats will need diets that do not have a high caloric input to avoid obesity, but on the other hand, cats at this stage need to receive all the vitamins necessary, such as vitamin A and niacin, as lack of these might lead to significant weight loss (5).
Older cats
Older cats are divided into mature cats, from 7 to 10 years of age, senior cats, from 11 to 14 years of age, and geriatric cats, which are 15 years old or older. Cats in these stages are more vulnerable to health problems and their nutrition needs to be closely monitored in order to try and decrease the risk for health complications.
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Like humans, our feline friends in these stages experience changes in their metabolism. At first, they need a decreased caloric intake similar to adult cats. However, when reaching their senior years the energy requirements increase due to difficulty in digestion. Proteins and fats are important components of their diet at this stage, but the most important nutrient for cats at this age is water, as older cats are easily dehydrated. Due to the risk for kidney disease, diets should not have high levels of phosphorus and sodium (6).
In order to maintain a healthy lifestyle and increase the chance of longevity, we need to closely monitor our cats’ nutrition and provide them with the foods that are most appropriate for the life stage they are in.
Biopet ltd is an international player and the market leader in Israel for the development, production, marketing and distribution of a complete selection of branded pet foods, including different products especially developed for the various life stages of cats. Cat food offered by Biopet provides a balanced diet and includes different nutrients according to the cat needs. All products have been developed by veterinarians according to FEDIAF standard demands.
Contact us for more information on Biopet’s products for cats of different ages, in order to provide your developing cat with an optimal diet and maintain their health as balanced as possible.
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