Best treats for senior cats with low appetite

A 15-year-old Birman with a reduced appetite — that's something worth taking seriously, and finding something genuinely tempting can make a real difference to how much she eats day to day. Cats are notoriously fussy about treats, and older cats even more so — they tend to respond best to strongly-scented, meat-based options and will often reject anything sweet or grain-heavy. The best choices are high-protein and low in additives. Before I point you in a direction: is this mainly about getting her to eat more at mealtimes, between meals, or both — and does she have any health conditions like kidney disease or a sensitive stomach that I should factor in?

That's really helpful. Gradual appetite decline in a senior cat is common and often comes down to a dulled sense of smell — older cats simply can't detect food as intensely as they used to, so the trick is maximising aroma and palatability. Given the hydration note from your vet, wet or semi-moist formats are much better than dry treats here, as they contribute to her fluid intake at the same time. Can I ask — does she have any preference between fish and meat flavours, or is she indifferent at this point?

You're thinking about it exactly right. For a cat in this situation — senior, fish-preferring, needing maximum scent impact and good hydration — I'd go with Lick e Lix by Beaphar. They're a semi-liquid, lickable treat in a squeezable tube, with a very strong fish aroma, and they're specifically designed to be irresistible even to reluctant eaters. The texture means she doesn't have to chew much, which matters more as cats age. They're also low in additives and high in moisture, which ticks the hydration box your vet flagged. You squeeze a small amount onto a spoon or your finger, and most cats who've gone off everything else still respond to these. They come in salmon and tuna variants — I'd start with salmon given her history. Available on Amazon UK in multipacks so you can try both without committing to a large quantity of one flavour.

You can use them daily without issue — the tubes are portioned so it's easy to control how much she gets. A good approach is to offer one before a meal to stimulate her appetite, almost like an amuse-bouche, rather than as a replacement for food. That way you're using the treat to kickstart her interest in eating rather than satisfying her with it. If her appetite doesn't improve over a couple of weeks despite this, it's worth going back to the vet — sometimes reduced appetite in older cats has an underlying cause like dental pain or early organ changes that's worth investigating. But as a starting point, these are genuinely one of the most effective options for what you're describing.

Perfect — I hope she takes to them. Fingers crossed for a good response, and if she starts eating better generally that's a really positive sign. Good luck with her.