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
Travelling frequently with a senior cat at home is a real logistical challenge — you need food that's easy for a cat sitter to serve, doesn't require refrigeration before opening, and still gives a 10-year-old cat what they actually need. Senior cats generally do best with higher protein (not lower), reduced phosphorus to support kidney health, and wet food for hydration. The right choice still depends on your cat's specific health picture, though. How is your Exotic Shorthair doing health-wise — any kidney issues, digestive sensitivity, or weight concerns? And what are you currently feeding them?
She's generally healthy, had a check-up six months ago and the vet was happy. No kidney issues flagged yet. She's a healthy weight, maybe slightly on the chunky side. I'm currently giving her a mix of dry food and whatever wet food is on offer, but I want something more consistent and easy for my cat sitter to manage.
inparticular.ai
That's a great position to be in — no active health conditions means you have flexibility to focus on getting the nutrition right before any issues develop. For a slightly chunky Exotic Shorthair, you want a wet food that's high in animal protein, moderate in calories, and low in carbohydrates. Exotics are also a brachycephalic breed, which can make eating dry food less comfortable over time, so shifting more toward wet food is a sensible move. The shelf-stable pouch format is ideal for your situation — single servings, no fridge needed before opening, dead simple for a cat sitter. Can I ask: does your sitter visit once or twice a day, and roughly how many days at a time are you away?
Usually once a day, sometimes twice if I'm away more than four or five days. Trips are typically three to seven days.
inparticular.ai
Perfect — that tells me portion size matters, and you want something that doesn't leave half a pouch sitting out. My recommendation is Sheba Perfect Portions Senior wet food pouches. Each pack is two pre-portioned trays sealed together — your sitter opens one half per meal, and the other half stays sealed and fresh until the next visit without needing a fridge. The senior range is high in meat protein, grain-free, and formulated with reduced phosphorus, which is exactly what you want to be building in now for a 10-year-old cat even before kidney markers appear. The portions are also on the lighter side calorically, which suits a cat who's already carrying a little extra weight. They're widely available on Amazon UK in bulk packs, which means you can stock up before each trip and leave clear instructions with your sitter — open one tray in the morning, done.
That sounds really practical. Should I be phasing out dry food entirely, or is it fine to keep some alongside?
inparticular.ai
You don't have to cut dry food out completely, but I'd shift the balance significantly toward wet — something like 80% wet, 20% dry is a reasonable target. The main reason is hydration: cats are notoriously poor drinkers and get a lot of their moisture needs met through food. Exotics in particular aren't always great at self-regulating water intake. Keeping a small amount of a good quality senior dry food as a topper or daytime snack is fine, but I'd stop using it as a primary meal. If your sitter is only visiting once a day, leading with the wet food pouch is the right call.
Really helpful, thank you. I'll order a bulk pack of the Sheba Perfect Portions before my next trip.
inparticular.ai
Great choice — and ordering in bulk means your sitter always has a clear, consistent supply without needing to improvise. One small tip: write out a simple feeding note and leave it with the pouches. Even experienced cat sitters appreciate knowing the exact routine. Your Exotic sounds well looked after, and getting consistent senior nutrition in place now is genuinely the best thing you can do before any age-related issues have a chance to show up.
