Senior cat switching to wet food at 14

Switching a 14-year-old Norwegian Forest Cat from dry to wet food is one of the best moves you can make at this stage — dehydration in senior cats is really common and dry food just doesn't help. Senior cats generally need higher protein than younger adults (not lower, despite the old advice), reduced phosphorus to protect the kidneys, and plenty of moisture, which wet food delivers far better than any amount of water bowl topping up. The right choice does depend on what else is going on with your cat though. How old exactly is she, are there any diagnosed health conditions — kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, joint issues — and what dry food have you been feeding so far?

Borderline kidney values plus increased drinking and a dull coat — that's your body telling you to act now, before things progress. The increased thirst is often the kidneys working harder to flush waste, so getting more moisture through food is exactly the right instinct. With borderline values, I'd move her onto a renal-supportive wet food rather than a standard senior wet, so you're getting ahead of it. What's her current weight and appetite like — is she eating well or has that dropped off too?

Good — appetite still there and a healthy weight for a big girl. That makes the transition easier. My recommendation is Royal Canin Renal wet food in pouches. It's specifically formulated for cats with early to moderate kidney concerns: low phosphorus to reduce the load on the kidneys, high-quality protein at controlled levels so the kidneys aren't overworked, and the wet format gives her that hydration boost she clearly needs. It's also very palatable — Norwegian Forest Cats can be fussy, and Royal Canin Renal tends to go down well. For transition, mix a small amount in with her current dry food for the first week, gradually increasing the wet ratio over 10–14 days. At 5.5kg she'll need roughly 3–4 pouches a day depending on whether you keep any dry alongside it. I'd lean toward dropping the dry entirely given the kidney picture, but talk that through with your vet at the next visit.

A slow transition over 10–14 days usually keeps stomachs happy — the main thing to watch for is loose stools in the first week, which often settles on its own. Once she's fully on the wet food, keep an eye on her drinking: if she's still drinking a lot even with the wet diet, flag that to your vet as it could mean the kidney values have moved. Coat condition should improve within 4–6 weeks if the issue was partly hydration-related. And weigh her monthly — senior cats can lose muscle mass quietly, and catching that early matters. Your vet will likely want to recheck those kidney values in 3–6 months, which is good timing to see whether the dietary change has helped.

Good plan — Freya's lucky to have someone paying this much attention at 14. The earlier you catch and support borderline kidney function, the more runway you give her. Royal Canin Renal pouches are widely available on Amazon UK if you want to buy in bulk, which usually works out cheaper. Hope she takes to it straightaway — most cats do.