Taurine-enriched food for senior cats with heart support

Your vet's advice is spot on — taurine is an amino acid that cats can't produce on their own, and it plays a direct role in keeping the heart muscle working properly, so enriching the diet at 11 years old makes real sense. For senior cats generally, the priorities are higher protein to maintain muscle, reduced phosphorus to protect the kidneys, and wet food to keep hydration up. But since your Cornish Rex has a specific cardiac concern flagged by your vet, that shapes the recommendation quite a bit. Can I ask — has your vet mentioned any kidney involvement alongside the heart, and what is your cat currently eating? Also, is he eating well, or has his appetite changed at all?

That's a reassuring picture — caught early at a routine check, no kidney complications, and a good appetite. Moving him from a supermarket dry senior to a taurine-enriched wet food is exactly the right step. Wet food will help with hydration, which is gentler on the heart and kidneys over time, and it's generally more palatable for older cats. Given your vet's steer and his age, I'd go with Royal Canin Cardiac wet food in pouches. It's specifically formulated for cats with heart conditions, with controlled sodium to reduce strain on the heart, and it's properly taurine-enriched. It's not a general senior food — it's built for this exact situation. You can find it on Amazon UK, usually in 12-pouch boxes. One thing to flag: since it's a therapeutic diet, it's worth a quick word with your vet to confirm she's happy for you to use it, though it sounds very much in line with what she's describing.

For a cat with an aging heart, yes — once you're feeding a cardiac-support diet, it's generally a long-term commitment rather than a short course. The taurine enrichment and controlled sodium aren't a fix, they're ongoing support. The good news is that cats usually take to Royal Canin Cardiac well, partly because the palatability is designed to be high. I'd transition him gradually over about a week — mixing increasing amounts of the new food with what he's currently eating — to avoid any digestive upset. And keep your vet in the loop at his next checkup so she can see how he's doing on it.

Yes, Royal Canin do make a Cardiac dry kibble as well, so if he digs his heels in about wet food, you're not stuck. That said, I'd really encourage you to stick with the wet version if he'll accept it — the hydration benefit is genuinely meaningful for a cat with heart concerns, and Cornish Rexes can be prone to not drinking enough on their own. If you need to compromise, some owners do a mix: wet food as the main meal and a small amount of the cardiac dry as a top-up or treat. That way you get most of the hydration benefit while keeping the texture variety he might prefer.