senior cat metabolism drop

ok so i am not a senior cat person but i am curious. my luna is only 3 but very vocal and i wonder if the metabolism drop thing is real or just an excuse to buy more expensive food. how does the slowdown actually affect weight maintenance? do we just feed less?

Hi Kathy! I am so glad you asked! My Cleo is a 9 year old calico and she has dental issues too so I am very careful. The metabolism really does slow down! I read a thread about switching to senior kibble and it says that cats need less calories as they age. I am not a doctor but I think it is true! You have to watch out for the extra pounds!

Hello Kathy. I appreciate your question. My Milo is 12 and has arthritis in his hips, so movement is limited. I have been tracking his intake closely. I believe the issue is not just the metabolic rate but also the activity level. I found a thread on activity levels and metabolism that suggests that as cats move less, their calorie needs drop significantly. I am currently consulting with my vet to adjust his portions.

thanks but that is a lot to read. i am busy. is it just about moving less or is the body actually burning slower? i want a quick answer for my luna even though she is young.

I think it's both! My Rocco is 5 and very cuddly, so he sleeps a lot. I read a thread about calorie math for chubby cats and it showed that even a small drop in movement can lead to weight gain if you keep the same portion size. It's really scary how fast they can gain!

Yes exactly! And I think feeding frequency matters too. I saw a post about small meals vs two meals that said smaller meals keep the metabolism going. I do this for Zeus my 3 year old tabby and he stays healthy! I hope this helps you Kathy!

I respectfully disagree with the idea that small meals keep metabolism going in the way you are describing. I believe that total daily calories are the primary factor, not the frequency. I would like to hear more opinions on this before I change my routine for Milo. Does anyone have a source that clarifies the metabolic rate change specifically?