http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21435625

Top Companion Anim Med. 2011 Feb;26(1):37-42. doi: 10.1053/j.tcam.2011.01.006.

Feeding old cats--an update on new nutritional therapies.
Sparkes AH1.
Author information

Abstract

Aging is associated with a wide variety of physiological changes that
compromise the ability of the body to respond to stress or change, and
ultimately contribute to morbidity and mortality. Much research has been done
on the aging process in humans and experimental animals, and the impact of
diet, but there is relatively little data from companion animal studies.
However, although many of the aging changes are likely to be similar between
different mammals, it is known that there are some differences with cats. In 
contrast to dogs and humans, elderly cats experience an increase in their 
maintenance energy requirements rather than a continued decline, which may be
mediated partly through a better-maintained basal metabolic rate but also
through progressive compromise in fat and protein digestion. Old age is also
associated with a progressive loss of lean body mass that may be mitigated in
part by feeding higher protein levels. Diets designed for healthy elderly 
cats should therefore concentrate on being energy dense, highly digestible 
and with an increase in the proportion of protein calories, and being fed 
with the aim of supporting optimal body weight. There is also strong evidence
emerging that dietary manipulation in cats may be able to modify aspects of
the aging process, with a long-term longitudinal study of cats demonstrating
both survival and health benefits from feeding a diet supplemented with 
antioxidants, fatty acids, and a prebiotic source.

Copyright c  2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

PMID: 21435625 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]