This is a specific conversation about Senior cat care — what changes and what helps — ask about yours and get one honest answer for your exact situation.
inparticular.ai
An 8-year-old Norwegian Forest Cat making the switch from outdoor to indoor life is a big change — and weight gain is one of the first things to get on top of, because NFC's are a large, active breed that can pile on condition fast once the roaming stops. Cats age more gracefully than dogs in some ways, but from around 7–8 they become prone to kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, dental disease, and joint stiffness — and carrying extra weight makes all of those harder to manage. So, great that you're thinking about this now. How old is your cat exactly, are there any health concerns your vet has flagged already, and what's prompted the move indoors?
He's just turned 8. No vet concerns flagged yet — last check was about six months ago and everything looked fine. We've moved house so he can't go out safely anymore, been indoors about three months and I'd say he's put on maybe half a kilo.
inparticular.ai
Half a kilo in three months is meaningful on a cat — that's roughly the equivalent of a stone on a person, proportionally. The good news is you've caught it early and he has a clean bill of health to build from. A few quick questions: what are you feeding him at the moment, and how much? And is he showing any signs of slowing down — less interest in jumping up, stiffness after resting, that sort of thing?
He's on a mid-range adult dry food, I just leave a bowl out and top it up. He does seem a bit less bouncy than he used to be but I assumed that was just the adjustment.
inparticular.ai
Free-feeding dry food is almost certainly the main driver here — cats are quite good at self-regulating outdoors because they're burning energy constantly, but indoors that instinct falls apart and most will just graze whenever they're bored. The slight drop in energy could easily be the same cause: less stimulation, less movement, a bit more weight to carry. At 8, he's also right at the threshold where a food formulated for older indoor cats starts to make a real difference — lower calorie density, kidney support, and joint nutrients built in. I'd move away from ad-lib feeding and switch him to Royal Canin Indoor 7+. It's designed precisely for this situation: cats over 7 who live indoors, need controlled calories, and benefit from early kidney and mobility support. Feed it in measured meals — the packet gives good guidance by weight — and you should see him level off within 6–8 weeks.
That makes sense. Should I be worried about the kidney thing at his age even though his bloods were fine six months ago?
inparticular.ai
Not worried, but aware — there's a difference. Kidney disease in cats often doesn't show up in bloodwork until 70% of function is already lost, so 'normal' at six months doesn't mean you can ignore it going forward. The practical response isn't panic, it's two things: feed a food that supports kidney health from now (which Royal Canin Indoor 7+ does), and get an annual senior blood panel from about now — some vets will include a SDMA test which catches decline much earlier than standard creatinine. You're in a good position because you're thinking about this at 8, not at 12.
Really helpful, thank you. I'll get the Royal Canin and book a senior check.
inparticular.ai
That's exactly the right move. Measured meals of Royal Canin Indoor 7+, a senior blood panel including SDMA, and watch for any stiffness that might warrant a joint supplement down the line — NFC's can be prone to hip issues as they age. You're well ahead of most people who only start asking questions when something's already wrong.
