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
Formula changes are genuinely frustrating — cats notice even subtle shifts in taste or texture, and a 14-year-old Cymric who suddenly won't eat is a real concern, not just fussiness. Before I point you toward a replacement, it helps to know a bit more. Does your cat have any health conditions — kidney issues, joint problems, or anything else your vet has flagged? And what was the original food you were using before the formula changed? That'll help me find something that's a close match nutritionally, while actually being palatable to a senior cat who's already suspicious of change.
She's 14, a Cymric called Dottie. She was on Purina Pro Plan Senior but they changed the recipe and she flat-out refuses it now. No major health conditions, though the vet mentioned her kidney values are creeping up slightly — nothing diagnosable yet, just worth watching. She's always preferred wet food.
inparticular.ai
Slightly elevated kidney values at 14 is really common, and it's worth taking seriously even before it becomes a formal diagnosis — lower phosphorus and good hydration both help slow any progression. Wet food is exactly right for her. The issue with Pro Plan Senior is that the reformulation changed both the protein source balance and the texture, which is often enough for a senior cat to walk away entirely. What I'd suggest is Applaws Senior Wet Cat Food — it comes in small tins with simple, single-protein recipes like tuna or chicken in broth. The phosphorus levels are naturally low because they're not packed with fillers, the protein is high-quality and digestible, and the broth adds meaningful hydration. It's also very lightly processed compared to most pâtés, which tends to suit cats who've gone off heavily emulsified food. What were the flavours Dottie used to like in her Pro Plan?
She always went for the chicken and salmon varieties. Would Applaws be a big texture change from what she was used to?
inparticular.ai
It will be a slight change — Applaws is more of a flaked or shredded texture in broth rather than a smooth pâté, which Pro Plan Senior tends toward. For some cats that's actually a plus after a reformulation upset them, because it feels less processed. They have chicken breast in broth and tuna with salmon in broth, so both her preferred proteins are covered. If you're worried about the transition, start by offering the Applaws alongside a tiny amount of her old food just to get her nose in the bowl — though honestly, many cats who've refused their old brand are more open to something genuinely different than to a small tweak. I'd try the tuna with salmon tin first given her history, and see how she responds within a couple of days.
That makes sense. Is there anything I should watch for with her kidneys given the food switch?
inparticular.ai
Yes — the main things to watch are that she's drinking reasonably well (the broth in Applaws helps here), eating consistently, and not losing weight. With early kidney changes, the goal is mostly keeping her well-hydrated and avoiding high phosphorus loads, both of which Applaws handles well compared to many mainstream brands. If her values continue to creep up at her next blood panel, your vet may eventually suggest a prescription renal diet, but there's no need to jump there now — a good quality wet food with low phosphorus is exactly the right move at this stage. Keep a loose eye on her litter habits too, since increased urination or thirst can be an early signal worth flagging.
Really helpful, thank you. I'll order the tuna with salmon tins and give it a go.
inparticular.ai
Good luck with Dottie — at 14 she knows her own mind, but the Applaws broth-based tins tend to win over even the most opinionated senior cats. Start with a small multipack if you can find one before committing to a bulk order, just in case. Hope she takes to it straight away.
