Senior Abyssinian food for busy owners

An 11-year-old indoor Abyssinian with an owner who's out for long stretches — that's a really practical situation to think through carefully. Senior cats generally do best with higher protein than people expect, reduced phosphorus to protect kidney function, and plenty of wet food for hydration. But wet food left out all day goes off quickly, which is a real problem when you're not home to refresh the bowl. Before I point you in a direction, it'd help to know: does your cat have any diagnosed health conditions — kidney disease, dental issues, hyperthyroidism? And what are you currently feeding them?

Good to hear she's healthy — that gives you more flexibility. The Felix is fine as a treat-style food but it's not really formulated for senior nutritional needs, it's quite low in protein quality and not specifically balanced for ageing cats. The approach you have — wet in the morning, dry through the day — is actually sensible for your lifestyle. The key is upgrading both parts. For the dry food that sits out, I'd switch to Royal Canin Ageing 12+. It's specifically formulated for cats over 12 (your 11-year-old is right on the cusp), with a higher protein profile, reduced phosphorus, and added antioxidants for immune support. Dry kibble is safe to leave out all day without spoiling, and Abyssinians tend to be good self-regulators so free feeding usually works well with them.

You're right to flag that — hydration is genuinely one of the bigger risks for senior cats, especially indoor ones who tend to drink less. The dry food alone won't cover it, which is why keeping the wet meal in your routine matters. For the morning wet feed, I'd swap the Felix for Royal Canin Ageing 12+ wet pouches so both meals are doing real nutritional work. That combination — the wet pouch before you leave, the dry available during the day — gives her both hydration and something safe to graze on while you're out. You could also try a cat water fountain if you haven't already; many cats drink significantly more from moving water.

Yes, both the dry and wet versions are readily available on Amazon UK — you can get the dry in 2kg bags which is a reasonable size to try first, and the wet pouches usually come in packs of 12 or 85g sachets. Subscribe and Save works well for this kind of staple if you want to set it and forget it, which suits a busy schedule. One last thing: given she's 11, it's worth asking your vet to run a kidney panel at her next check-up even if she seems fine. Kidney issues often show up on bloodwork before any symptoms appear, and catching it early changes the dietary conversation quite a bit.

That sounds like a solid plan. She's at a good age to make a proactive switch — the difference in ingredients between a proper senior food and something like Felix really does show up over time. Hope she takes to it easily; Abyssinians can be opinionated about food but the Royal Canin palatability is generally very good. Good luck with the vet check too.