Senior Pate Cat Food?

[ty3535]

I’m having a really hard time finding a senior wet food for Enzo (he’s 18). I’ve tried Hills, Purina, Royal Canin, Weruva, Tiki Cat. He can’t eat fish (allergies) and I don’t want a food that has carrageenan. Can anyone give me suggestions? Thanks so much!

 

[FeebysOwner]

I fed Feeby Fancy Feast Classics, Arcana, Orijen, Merrick Purr-fect Bistro and Limited Ingredient pates, and even some Purina ones (no carrageenan in any of them). She did not like fish, but I can't say for sure, anymore, that there wasn't some fish flavoring/oil in them. She was a chicken and/or beef kind of cat.

 

[ty3535]

I fed Feeby Fancy Feast Classics, Arcana, Orijen, Merrick Purr-fect Bistro and Limited Ingredient pates, and even some Purina ones (no carrageenan in any of them). She did not like fish, but I can't say for sure, anymore, that there wasn't some fish flavoring/oil in them. She was a chicken and/or beef kind of cat.

Thanks so much! Are any of them specifically senior diets?

 

[lisahe]

Another suggestion might be Tiny Tiger's turkey (and giblets, I think it is?) pate, which has no fish, though isn't low in phosphorus. We also feed Nulo pouches with duck. Neither of our cats should eat fish and we avoid all gums, carrageenan, potato, and tapioca, among other superfluous stuff! Our main goal is to maximize protein while minimizing fillers and other unnecessary additives, Our cats are young seniors (about 11.5) who have needed that combination for years but I'm glad they're already eating that way to help avoid muscle wasting, which can hit senior cats fairly hard.

Personally, I might suggest starting by focusing less on a "senior" label for cats and more on finding foods that are high in protein but also, as our former vet said, kidney friendly (with a low to moderate phosphorus level). I suggest this largely because there aren't many foods thus labeled and the label isn't very well defined anyway, plus I usually find it easier to seek out or avoid specific ingredients... which can lead to surprising discoveries!

Good luck! Feeding cats well is not easy!

 

[ty3535]

Another suggestion might be Tiny Tiger's turkey (and giblets, I think it is?) pate, which has no fish, though isn't low in phosphorus. We also feed Nulo pouches with duck. Neither of our cats should eat fish and we avoid all gums, carrageenan, potato, and tapioca, among other superfluous stuff! Our main goal is to maximize protein while minimizing fillers and other unnecessary additives, Our cats are young seniors (about 11.5) who have needed that combination for years but I'm glad they're already eating that way to help avoid muscle wasting, which can hit senior cats fairly hard.

Personally, I might suggest starting by focusing less on a "senior" label for cats and more on finding foods that are high in protein but also, as our former vet said, kidney friendly (with a low to moderate phosphorus level). I suggest this largely because there aren't many foods thus labeled and the label isn't very well defined anyway, plus I usually find it easier to seek out or avoid specific ingredients... which can lead to surprising discoveries!

Good luck! Feeding cats well is not easy!

This is an excellent idea! Thank you so much!

 

[FeebysOwner]

Thanks so much! Are any of them specifically senior diets?

Tbh, the Purina ones were about the only ones that specifically said 'senior'. I agree with the above though, not sure senior is all that necessary, and some are intended to lower the protein, while oddly enough others have higher protein. So, what exactly makes all of them more appropriate for seniors?

While protein shouldn't be terribly high in a CKD cat's food, the significance plays a larger role at the end stages of CKD when one is trying to reduce stress on the kidneys to help preserve what is left of their function. Otherwise, older cats, and in particular CKD ones, are losing muscle mass and low protein doesn't do anything to help counteract that.

Tiny Tiger is supposed to be Chewy's version of Fancy Feast, although I beg to differ based on the ingredients. It also contains ocean whitefish (at least the turkey and giblets does). Maybe they have recently changed their ingredients?

 

[lisahe]

Tiny Tiger is supposed to be Chewy's version of Fancy Feast, although I beg to differ based on the ingredients. It also contains ocean whitefish (at least the turkey and giblets does). Maybe they have recently changed their ingredients?

Tiny Tiger turkey and giblets pate doesn't contain fish. I just bought another case so I sure hope they haven't added fish since this listing was posted! (We already had "issues" with Fancy Feast's addition of fish to turkey and giblets. I hope Chewy doesn't add fish to their food, too.)
https://www.chewy.com/tiny-tiger-pate-turkey-giblets-recipe/dp/1112838

 

[FeebysOwner]

Tiny Tiger turkey and giblets pate doesn't contain fish. I just bought another case so I sure hope they haven't added fish since this listing was posted! (We already had "issues" with Fancy Feast's addition of fish to turkey and giblets. I hope Chewy doesn't add fish to their food, too.) https://www.chewy.com/tiny-tiger-pate-turkey-giblets-recipe/dp/1112838

Well, isn't that weird - check out this link which I happened across the variety pack and then clicked on the turkey and giblets, it shows ocean whitefish.
TINY TIGER Pate Turkey & Giblets Dinner Canned Wet Cat Food, 5.5-oz can, case of 24 - Chewy.com

It is the 5.5 oz version, but still...

 

[lisahe]

Well, isn't that weird - check out this link which I happened across the variety pack and then clicked on the turkey and giblets, it shows ocean whitefish.
TINY TIGER Pate Turkey & Giblets Dinner Canned Wet Cat Food, 5.5-oz can, case of 24 - Chewy.com

It is the 5.5 oz version, but still...

It does, indeed, show ocean whitefish. This is very strange! Particularly so since the one I linked to is labeled "turkey & giblets recipe" and the one you linked to is labeled "turkey & giblets dinner"! The "dinner" food has several things I can't or won't feed: rice, fish, and carrageenan. There's a huge difference between a "recipe" and a "dinner" in this case!

Thank you so much for the link, FeebysOwner , so I don't make a dumb mistake when ordering. The labels are different colors but even so...

 

[FeebysOwner]

...the one I linked to is labeled "turkey & giblets recipe" and the one you linked to is labeled "turkey & giblets dinner"

I wonder how many brands have these kind of nuances in their labels for what ends up being very different ingredients? And, tbh, what the hell is the purpose??? Unbelievable.

 

[lisahe]

I wonder how many brands have these kind of nuances in their labels for what ends up being very different ingredients? And, tbh, what the hell is the purpose??? Unbelievable.

I know, it's very, very strange! And not exactly transparent for consumers. I can understand having different recipes but the two foods should be much more strongly differentiated.

I just wrote to Chewy to make sure the food we've been feeding will be staying around. Our cats -- even the picky one! -- love it so much that I can even feed pills in it.

 

[lisahe]

So Chewy said both recipes are in use, nothing's been discontinued. The purple label is "with grain" and the orange label is "grain-free." I don't recall ever noticing the purple ones!

 

[FeebysOwner]

So Chewy said both recipes are in use, nothing's been discontinued. The purple label is "with grain" and the orange label is "grain-free." I don't recall ever noticing the purple ones!

I still think it is weird and strange - and misleading.

 

[DeesCats]

I would double check with the mfg. regarding ingredients per a specific flavor as Chewy doesn't always have an up to date ingredient description on their website.

 

[lisahe]

I still think it is weird and strange - and misleading.

Yes, I agree!

I would double check with the mfg. regarding ingredients per a specific flavor as Chewy doesn't always have an up to date ingredient description on their website.

Chewy confirmed what I needed to know: Tiny Tiger is one of their brands.

 

[lisahe]

And here's another twist on Tiny Tiger labels... I ordered a case of Tiny Tiger turkey/giblets pate (recipe, not dinner, orange label!) but instead received a case of Tiny Tiger "chunks in gravy". The packaging had a pate bar code sticker. The label for the chunks looks pretty much just like the pate label, of course. I sent them the SKU and the bar code number with the hope that then they'll be sure they're not sending me a replacement case of the same chunks, which contain potato, which Edwina can't eat! To Chewy's credit, they took care of this quickly.

I used to make similar mistakes in stores: so many foods have nearly identical packaging that it's easy to make a mistake if you're in a hurry.

 

[Furballsmom]

ty3535 There are a lot of varieties under the umbrella of Weruva, you might look into that more if you haven't already.

Also, the brand Mouser is a good pate'.

 

[ty3535]

ty3535 There are a lot of varieties under the umbrella of Weruva, you might look into that more if you haven't already.

Also, the brand Mouser is a good pate'.

I’ll definitely check out Mouser! I haven’t had any luck with any of the Weruva food unfortunately. Thank you!

 

[lisahe]

I’ll definitely check out Mouser! I haven’t had any luck with any of the Weruva food unfortunately. Thank you!

Mouser is very good food! I wish our cats loved it rather than just liking the occasional can. They seem to especially like the Mouser food with duck.