Food for Thought for All Cat Life Stages

When it comes to the care of cats, their care must cater to the changes in growth and behavior they experience at each of the six life stages: kitten, junior, prime, mature, senior and geriatric. For instance, kittens develop faster than human babies so they need products that quickly address their internal and external development. But older cats in the senior and geriatric phase are already developed and instead require products that address their aging minds and bodies. 

One key aspect that spans across all cat life stages is good nutrition. According to Lorie Hutson, DVM, for PetMD.com, one of the reasons for cat obesity, which is one of the most common nutritional diseases seen in cats, is improper life stage feeding. So it’s important for cats to have food products that specifically target their nutritional needs at each stage for a healthy lifestyle.

“There is an overall focus on simplification and getting back to the ancestral diet of a cat,” said Gina Zaro, marketing director of Dr. Elsey’s Cat Products. “Consumers want to feed high-quality ingredients that help their cats live longer, healthier lives.”

Dr. Elsey’s Cat Products are developed by Dr. Bruce Elsey, who has been a feline only veterinarian for over 35 years and his practice cares for over 8,000 cats. His line of food products, cleanprotein, goes back to cats’ natural roots and features a protein-based diet for all life stages.

“Cats are obligate carnivores, [they] metabolize their food differently than their dog friends and human companions. It’s important to have protein levels inspired by natural prey,” Zaro explained.

Dr. Elsey’s cleanprotein is over 59 percent high biological protein and 90%+ animal-based protein. All ingredients are grain free, non-GMO and have no meals or fillers. It’s available in kibble and now in new canned creations.

“Our feline friends require over 36 percent protein to prevent muscle wasting and over 50 percent protein to promote an ideal body mass,” Zaro emphasized. “Retailers and consumers should be looking for foods that are based on the true needs of a cat with delivering transparency at the shelf.”

Dr. Elsey’s Cat Products is bringing forth awareness and additional information for retailers and consumers alike. The company believes retailers should have specific talking points and direct customers to websites for additional information, as well as create supplemental thought-leadership and educational materials through social media and digital presence. This way, from kitten to geriatric cat, they can help customers address their cat’s developmental changes in order to provide the best nutrition for them to enjoy their lifespan to the fullest.