This is a specific conversation about Senior cat food — what they need as they age — ask about yours and get one honest answer for your exact situation.
inparticular.ai
A 15-year-old ginger tabby — that's a wonderful age, and it's clear you want to keep him thriving rather than just ticking along. At that stage senior cats typically need more protein than younger cats (not less, despite what some labels imply), reduced phosphorus to protect the kidneys, and plenty of wet food to keep them hydrated — but the right choice really depends on what's going on health-wise. How is he doing generally — any diagnosed conditions like kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, or dental issues? And what are you feeding him at the moment?
He's doing pretty well actually, no diagnosed kidney disease yet but the vet said to keep an eye on it. He's on a mix of dry kibble and some supermarket wet food pouches right now. I'd love to upgrade his diet but I really can't spend more than about £10 a week.
inparticular.ai
That's a really sensible position — proactively watching the kidneys before there's a problem gives you the best chance of keeping things stable. The main thing I'd change is moving away from the supermarket pouches, which tend to be high in cereals and low in actual meat. Dry food is also worth reducing at his age; older cats struggle to stay hydrated on kibble alone and that puts extra strain on the kidneys. What's his appetite like — is he eating well, or has he become pickier as he's got older?
He's definitely got pickier. He used to eat anything but now he'll sometimes just sniff the bowl and walk off. He seems to prefer stronger-smelling food.
inparticular.ai
That's very typical at 15 — their sense of smell dulls a bit and their appetite can get unpredictable. Strong-smelling, high-moisture food in small portions usually works best. With a £10 weekly budget and a picky senior who needs proper protein and kidney-friendly nutrition, I'd point you straight to Encore 100% Natural Wet Cat Food pouches — the fish varieties in particular. They're genuinely high in meat or fish (often 75–100%), grain-free, low in phosphorus compared to most supermarket options, and the strong fish smell tends to win over fussy older cats. A box of 32 pouches runs around £18–20, which works out to roughly £4–5 a week if you feed two pouches a day alongside a small amount of a quality grain-free dry food as a topper. That keeps you comfortably within your budget while giving him a serious upgrade.
That sounds really promising. Should I cut out the dry food completely or keep a little?
inparticular.ai
At 15 with kidneys to watch, I'd make wet food the main event — around 80–90% of what he eats. A small amount of dry can stay in the mix if he enjoys it and it helps with the budget, but choose a grain-free senior variety and don't rely on it for hydration. The key shift is just reversing the ratio you have now. If his kidney markers stay clean at his next vet check, you'll know the higher-moisture diet is doing its job.
Perfect, I think I can work with that. I'll look up the Encore pouches now.
inparticular.ai
Great — the tuna or salmon varieties tend to be the biggest hit with fussy cats in my experience. Keep an eye on his weight too; seniors can lose muscle mass quietly, and if he starts dropping weight even while eating, that's worth flagging to the vet sooner rather than later. But from what you've described, he sounds like a cat who's got plenty of good years left with the right support.
