Senior British Shorthair wet food advice

A vet recommendation to switch to hydration-boosting wet food immediately is a clear signal — your British Shorthair's kidneys are likely under some strain, which is very common in cats this age. Cats are notoriously poor drinkers, and wet food is one of the most reliable ways to increase daily fluid intake without a battle. British Shorthairs in particular are prone to kidney disease and can mask symptoms well into the later stages, so acting now is absolutely the right call. How old is your cat exactly, has the vet mentioned any specific numbers like creatinine or SDMA levels from bloodwork, and is your cat currently eating any wet food at all?

Good news on two fronts — you're catching this at stage one or early stage two, which gives you real room to make a difference, and British Shorthairs, while stubborn, do usually come around to wet food if you transition carefully. The key is finding something with strong palatability so the first few experiences are positive ones. Can you tell me if your vet mentioned any dietary phosphorus restriction, and does your cat have any other health issues I should factor in?

Perfect — that actually gives you a bit more flexibility. My recommendation is Royal Canin Renal Wet Cat Food in the individual pouches. It's specifically formulated to support kidney function with controlled phosphorus and high-quality protein, but crucially it's also highly palatable — Royal Canin spend a lot of effort on flavour profile, which matters enormously when you're converting a lifelong dry-food cat. The mousse texture tends to work well for cats who've never eaten wet food because it's less confronting than chunks in jelly. It's widely available on Amazon UK, often in multipacks of 12 or 85g pouches. Start by offering it alongside his dry food rather than replacing it immediately — even getting half his calories from wet food makes a meaningful difference to daily fluid intake.

Refusal is always possible but rarely permanent — give it two weeks of patient, low-pressure offering before concluding he won't eat it. Warm the food slightly to just below body temperature, which intensifies the smell and often tips reluctant cats over the edge. Alongside the diet change, a pet water fountain makes a genuine difference for cats who ignore still water bowls — the movement triggers their drinking instinct. Ask your vet about scheduling a follow-up kidney panel in three to six months so you can see whether the diet change is having an effect on those values. You're doing exactly the right things at exactly the right time.

Great plan. Stick with it consistently and most cats do adapt within a fortnight. The fact that his kidney values are only mildly elevated means this dietary change could genuinely slow progression significantly — early intervention with wet food and controlled phosphorus is one of the most evidence-backed things you can do for feline kidney health. Good luck with the transition.