Senior Cat Comfort & Care

While some animals may only need to eat once or twice a day, cats require more frequent access to food. Why? Their stomachs are about the size of a ping pong ball, holding just two tablespoons of food. That’s not enough to keep them going for long.

Consider how they eat in the wild. A bird here, a lizard tail there, perhaps a couple of bugs after a nap. That’s why they start to get hungry after about 4 hours. All cats need access to food at least every 8 hours.

Small, frequent meals are better for seniors anyway because it’s easier on their digestive system, weaker jaws, and smaller appetites.

It’s also great for weight loss, weight management, and helping cats who live together get along better — smaller meals more often mean reduced food anxiety and fear of competition for resources.

Frequent meals and less grazing ensure your cat has food in their belly if they need to be medicated. And you can more easily identify changes in eating habits that can signal medical issues. It also helps to feed your cat around the same times each day.