Senior cat food: worth the cost at 12?

Senior cats actually tend to need more protein than younger adults, not less — plus reduced phosphorus to protect their kidneys and usually more wet food to keep them hydrated, since older cats often drink less on their own. That said, the right food really depends on your cat's health, not just their age. How old is your cat, do they have any health conditions like kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, or dental issues, and what are you feeding them at the moment?

Honestly, for a healthy 12-year-old with a clean bill of health, it's a fair question — and the answer is: it depends on the brand. A lot of 'senior' labels are mostly marketing, same recipe with different packaging. But there are a few where the formulation genuinely makes sense for an older cat. What's your rough monthly budget for food, and is Monty eating wet food only or do you mix in dry?

That budget is very workable. My recommendation for Monty would be Applaws Senior Cat Food in the 70g tins — the chicken or tuna varieties. It's a step up from Whiskas in a way that actually matters: much higher real meat content (around 75%), naturally lower phosphorus because it's not padded with fillers, and high protein which is exactly what a 12-year-old cat needs to hold on to muscle mass. At around 50–55p per tin, a tin a day keeps you well inside £20 a month, leaving headroom for variety. It's not marketed heavily as 'senior' but the nutritional profile is genuinely better suited to an older cat than standard adult pouches — and better than most things actually labelled senior at twice the price.

Not for Monty right now. The 'senior' label in pet food isn't regulated the way human nutrition claims are — manufacturers can put it on almost anything. What you actually want to look for is high protein (at least 8–10% in wet food as fed), low phosphorus, and minimal fillers like cereals and gravy thickeners. Applaws ticks all of those without charging a senior premium. If Monty develops kidney issues down the line, that's when you'd move to a vet-prescribed renal diet — but that's a different conversation. For a healthy cat his age, Applaws is the practical, budget-smart choice.

Great — Monty sounds like he's in good shape for 12, so the goal is just keeping him that way. Applaws is available in multipacks on Amazon UK which brings the per-tin cost down further. One thing worth doing: book a senior wellness check with your vet once a year from here on if you're not already — kidney and thyroid issues are common in older cats and catch well before symptoms show. Hope Monty enjoys the upgrade!