dedicated cat-food styles (senior, etc) - any actual data available ?

[derelict]

I've really been wondering, whether there is actually any difference in formulations and results for the different types of cat foods (kitten, senior, etc)?

I read the recent 'senior formula' thread here... while several posters sound quite confident in their statements, it's not at all clear where that confidence came from!! Note that I am *not* criticizing anyone here, but I'd like to have more than observational data to use for evaluation, because observations (and the observed animals) can provide much input that does not necessarily mean what it appears to mean. A classic example, from the above thread, is the OP's statement that they changed to senior food and their elderly cat gained weight and seemed happier... as so many others pointed out, that can have causes far outside the food that is provided. Also, a link was provided by one person, to an article on another site, but that article is clearly marked "(Sponsored by Purina Veterinary Diets)", which does not assuage my concerns at all!!

In other products, it is *very* common for companies to produce the same product with numerous different labels; they do this to fill shelf space at the store, and crowd out competing products. This is seen in kitty litter, toothpaste, laundry detergent, and many other products - so it certainly wouldn't be surprising if the same applied to cat foods as well ! So that's why I'm just wondering if there is any known actual research into the different products, to see if there really are any differences among them ???

 

[Azazel]

Most of the research is funded by pet food companies and, in my opinion, questionable because of this. It’s very unlikely that such funded research programs would release results of studies that do not support their products.

It may very well be that senior cats can benefit from increased/decreased amounts of certain minerals. The problem is that whether senior, kitten, adult, weight loss, or whatever, pet food brands are always in it for the profit. This means that they will try to maximize their profit while minimizing costs. So, yes, maybe a senior cat food will have more of X mineral in it to support joint health, but it’s still loaded with crappy ingredients and carbs which make it poor quality.

I think the mentality of the pet food industry is often to make things as cheap as possible and only optimize certain nutrients if it’s absolutely necessary for the demographic that the food is being targeted at. This way they can also charge more for so-called “prescription” specialty foods. A better philosophy would be to just make good quality food for all cats of all stages that doesn’t need tweaking once a cat becomes a senior but such a food does not exist (Rad Cat was close). For example, kitten foods will be higher in protein than adult or all life stages foods, but why not just have a good quality food that’s high in protein for all life stages? Because this method wouldn’t minimize costs while maximizing profit. Hence, Rad Cat having to shut down.

This is why I quit buying pet food and make my own food now. The pet food industry is, in my opinion, abysmal. Lack of transparency, lack of quality, and just overall lack of care. I now control everything that goes into my cats’ diet. I can choose to alter the amounts of nutrients if necessary and I know that they are eating farm fresh raw meat. Best change I ever made for my cats.

 

[Kieka]

The AAFCO has guidelines to label a food for kitten and adult. Specifically they can them "growth and reproductive" versus "adult maintenance". Commercial companies label as "kitten" or "adult" based on these with "all stages" being foods that meet the criteria to be categorized as both. You can look at the AAFCO for specifics but there are slightly different nutritional needs with protein and fat being the two nutritional differences.

The important thing to note with the standards is the AAFCO isnt for the consumer benefit. It's for the commercial food industry benefit. It is the lowest level of nutrition to allow your pet to survive, not necessarily thrive. Once a kitten is weaned they will naturally eat the same diet as an adult and as they age they still eat the same diet so cats as a species dont have changing nutrition needs, just different calorie needs. But commercial food is designed to just be enough that they dont die so they pretend kittens need more when kittens and adults really need the same but adults can survive on less since they arent growing... which hopefully makes sense. Based on the lower standards, yes seniors do need a different food because cats as they age need more protein and fat, reference: StackPath, then the adult maintenance allows for. When someone switches to a senior food they might just be seeing a difference because it's a better food not necessarily because it is a senior food. It's part of why I feed all stages foods since they will have the "kitten" profile of higher fat and protein that is more biologically appropriate for all cats.

There really are some differences between the products but the claims the pet food industry makes isnt supported beyond it being a complete food that wont kill your cat. And any labeling like weight loss, indoor, senior, or hairball control (basically beyond kitten, adult or all stages) is a claim that may not be supported. Which is why it's important to read ingredients and look for nutrition profiles yourself.

 

[mizzely]

This is the link I posted in question

http://veterinarycalendar.dvm360.co...hat-s-going-sponsored-purina-veterinary-diets

But was posted as information of why senior cats get skinny and need additional nutrients, not that they need a senior diet. I think for the most part, senior foods are bogus and do more harm than good.



The way I understand it, the POST on that website was sponsored by Purina, not the study itself. These are the articles referenced in the post if you want to do additional reading.

References
1. Pittari J, Rodan I, Beekman G, et al. American Association of Feline Practitioners. Senior care guidelines. J Feline Med Surg 2009;11(9):763-778.
2. Caney S. Weight loss in the elderly cat. Appetite is fine, and everything looks normal…. J Feline Med Surg 2009;11(9):738-746.
3. Patil AR, Cupp CJ. Addressing age-related changes in feline digestion. Proc Nestle-Purina Compan Anim Nutr Summit, Focus Gastroenterol 2010:55-61.
4. Taylor EJ, Adams C, Neville R. Some nutritional aspects of aging cats and dogs. Proc Nutr Soc 1995;54:645-656.
5. Fahey GC, Barry KA, Swanson KS. Age-related changes in nutrient utilization by companion animals. Annu Rev Nutr 2008;28:425-445.
6. Cupp CJ, Kerr WW Effect of diet and body composition on life span in aging cats. Proc Nestle-Purina Compan Anim Nutr Summit Focus Gastroenterol 2010;36-42.
7. Steiner JM, Peterson MA, Ruaux CG, et al. Serum cobalamin and folate concentrations in cats with hyperthyroidism. J Vet Intern Med 2005;19:474-475.
8. Cook AK, Suchodolski JS, Steiner JM, et al. The prevalence of hypocobalaminaemia in cats with spontaneous hyperthyroidism. J Small Anim Pract 2011;52(2):101-106.
9. Burke KF, Broussard JD, Craig G, et al. Evaluation of fecal alpha1-proteinase inhibitor concentrations in cats with idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease and cats with gastrointestinal neoplasia. Vet J 2013;196(2)189-196.
10. Williams DA, Czarnecki-Maulden G. Protein-losing enteropathy commonly co-exists with high fecal fat output in geriatric cats with idiopathic malabsorption and persists following correction of subnormal serum cobalamin concentration. In Proc 23rd Congress Europ Coll Vet Inter Med - Comp Anim, Liverpool, England, Sept. 2013.
11. Webb CB. Feline inflammatory bowel disease. NAVC Clinician’s Brief 2012;10:11-14.


Another article with similar sources: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...FjACegQIDxAI&usg=AOvVaw3M57-kVuvAwnjKYCOnhbni

 

[derelict]

Thank you all for your insights!! This gives me some ideas to do more reading on...

 

[white shadow]

The way I understand it, the POST on that website was sponsored by Purina, not the study itself.

A few clarifications/corrections on this.........

• the "post" that you mention really isn't a post at all.......it's a copy of an address/presentation/lecture given by its author at a Veterinary conference/"symposium" in 2014
• none of any of this is a "study"......again, it's a copy of an address presented at a Vet conference
• Purina was "only" involved because Purina sponsors the symposium/conference itself - and does so yearly. Purina had nothing to do with the content of the address/speech
• The author of this piece is this preeminent veterinary specialist and educator from The Univ of Illinois School of Vet Med: The College of Veterinary Medicine at Illinois

Hope that helps with context. (and confidence in the content!)
.

 

[derelict]

A few clarifications/corrections on this.........

• the "post" that you mention really isn't a post at all.......it's a copy of an address/presentation/lecture given by its author at a Veterinary conference/"symposium" in 2014
• none of any of this is a "study"......again, it's a copy of an address presented at a Vet conference
• Purina was "only" involved because Purina sponsors the symposium/conference itself - and does so yearly. Purina had nothing to do with the content of the address/speech
• The author of this piece is this preeminent veterinary specialist and educator from The Univ of Illinois School of Vet Med: The College of Veterinary Medicine at Illinois

Hope that helps with context. (and confidence in the content!)
.

Thank you!! This is very useful indeed...

 

[CatLover49]

Most of the research is funded by pet food companies and, in my opinion, questionable because of this. It’s very unlikely that such funded research programs would release results of studies that do not support their products.

It may very well be that senior cats can benefit from increased/decreased amounts of certain minerals. The problem is that whether senior, kitten, adult, weight loss, or whatever, pet food brands are always in it for the profit. This means that they will try to maximize their profit while minimizing costs. So, yes, maybe a senior cat food will have more of X mineral in it to support joint health, but it’s still loaded with crappy ingredients and carbs which make it poor quality.

I think the mentality of the pet food industry is often to make things as cheap as possible and only optimize certain nutrients if it’s absolutely necessary for the demographic that the food is being targeted at. This way they can also charge more for so-called “prescription” specialty foods. A better philosophy would be to just make good quality food for all cats of all stages that doesn’t need tweaking once a cat becomes a senior but such a food does not exist (Rad Cat was close). For example, kitten foods will be higher in protein than adult or all life stages foods, but why not just have a good quality food that’s high in protein for all life stages? Because this method wouldn’t minimize costs while maximizing profit. Hence, Rad Cat having to shut down.

This is why I quit buying pet food and make my own food now. The pet food industry is, in my opinion, abysmal. Lack of transparency, lack of quality, and just overall lack of care. I now control everything that goes into my cats’ diet. I can choose to alter the amounts of nutrients if necessary and I know that they are eating farm fresh raw meat. Best change I ever made for my cats.

Wish I knew how to make cat food for my 12yr old boy...Ive seen on here members telling how..but it sounds like it would be hard to do..IDK