This is our review of Best Cat food for older cat with bad teeth in 2021

It is not uncommon problem for an ageing cat to develop dental issues. This is mainly because of the age factor and how bones becomes weaker when the cat gets older.

Also, there are other factor that would accelerate the dental deterioration further such as health issues like diabetes, osteoporosis etc.. or unhealthy nutrition such as high carbs diets.

As a nutritionist who is deeply interested in his favorite pet food, I digged deep to find what is the best diets that are available in the market which is specifically tailored to match the dietary needs of older cats with bad teeth.

I found (Hill’s Science Diet Dry Cat Food Oral Care: Best Overall Cat Food For Older Cats With Bad Teeth) is the most suitable cat food in such case as it have more features that would really help your cat to manage his dental problem besides its basic dietary benefits.

This diet is composed of the perfect formula of rich essential vitamins and minerals with its all benefits to dental health with the necessary nutritional ingredients in cat food represented in chicken meat as high quality protein accompanied with great source of energy such as chicken fat.

Nevertheless, this diet is not ideal for all old cats with the same problem since not all cats have the same individual characteristics to treat them similarly in regard to their nutrition.

So we added some excellent alternatives to our top pick that are also specifically manufactured to match the nutritional requirements of older cats that are suffering from dental decay.

Therefore you absolutely could find a good diets for you cat in our list that would be perfectly suitable for your budget as owner and for your cat dietary needs.

Also Beside our list of best cat food for old cat with bad teeth, we will provide in this article a really helpful buying guide that would make your choice of your older cat food more insightful and adjusted to your cat special dietary need.

So without any further delay, lets start with our list

Our List Of Best Cat Food For Older Cats With Bad Teeth 

• Hill’s Science Diet Dry Cat Food Oral Care: Best Overall Cat Food For Older Cats With Bad Teeth
• Sheba Perfect Portions Paté Wet Cat: Best Soft Cat Food For Older Cats With Bad Teeth
• Iams Proactive Health Healthy Senior Dry Cat Food, Chicken Flavor
• Purina ONE Sensitive Systems Adult Dry Cat Food: Best Affordable Dry Cat Food For Older Cats With Bad Teeth
• Purina ONE Tender Selects Blend with Real Chicken Dry Cat Food

Best Cat Food For Older Cats With Bad Teeth Reviewed: 

Hill’s Science Diet Dry Cat Food, Adult, Oral Care, Chicken Recipe

• First 5 ingredients: Chicken, Brown Rice, Corn Gluten Meal, Chicken Fat, Powdered Cellulose
• Key Feature: the only non-Rx diet who has a much similar effect as prescribed diet
• Guaranteed Analysis: 10% min
• Life Stage: Senior
• Best For: Overall 

Analysis of First 5 Ingredients: Chicken, Brown Rice, Corn Gluten Meal, Chicken Fat, Powdered Cellulose

Hill’s science diets feature chicken as a premium protein which is an essential element in cats’ food in all life stages, improving the heart condition and muscle masses in your cat body. 

Brown rice is a rich fiber source which requires healthy chewing which is very good to your cat’s oral health as chewing increases the mouth production of saliva which contains natural antibacterials that fight the bacteria that are responsible for tooth decay and gum diseases.

Corn gluten meal is a secondary source of protein and energy which can enhance your cat digestibility and aid in absorbing the unchewed nuggets as this will frequently happen if you cat teeth in a bad shape

Chicken fat provides energy and calories that your old companions need, which is by default the second component that each and every balanced healthy diet should contain along with protein.

Powdered cellulose provides insoluble fiber which helps digestive process by preventing constipation and diarrhea so the feces are nicely formed. 

This product is near perfect because it is the only non-Rx product that has similar effect of cleaning plagues and tartar as a Vet prescribed diet (In fact it is Cheaper alternative to Hills T/D Rx diet) while its cost is relatively inexpensive when compared to prescribed diet.

However, it is a good idea to be careful when you transitioning your cat food to this diets, because it has big size nugget which could block your cat digestive system leading to constipation and other digestive issues so take your time when you introduce this new food to your cat especially if your cat size is small and lets the transition period takes its time even if it takes longer than 7 days.

Sheba Perfect Portions Paté Wet Cat: Best Soft Cat Food For Older Cats With Bad Teeth

• First 5 ingredients: Chicken, Water, White Fish, Poultry Liver, Chicken Broth
• Key Feature: a wide variety of flavors to choose from, ideal for allergic and picky cats.
• Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein 7.0% min, Crude Fat 2.5% min, Crude Fiber 1.5% max, Moisture 84.0% max.
• Life Stage: Senior
• Best For: Ideal for allergic cat 

Analysis Of The First Ingredients:

This product features a great quality protein source from real chicken. We cannot emphasize enough on the importance of a quality protein source (such as chicken, beef etc..) that should be contained in every cat diet.

Animal based protein as you may already know is the cornerstone of every healthy cat diet. It is essential for your cat to Keep his general health and thus participating in the enhancement of your cat oral health and that exactly what this product would offer

I choose the canned version of this product because of the high moisture level which will make the chewing much easier and it will also keep your old cat properly hydrated.

White fish provide essential fatty acid which is vital for your cat coat and fur. It also promotes good bacteria in your cat’s gut which can reduces the inflammation and boosts your cat’s immune system.

Although, the benefits of fatty acids to cats are not well established in the scientific veterinary community, there are a lot of actual examples showing improved cat coats, fur and cognitive function as result from having fatty acid in their food.

Poultry liver is a secondary source of protein in this product providing your cat with a rich protein content. In fact animal organs such as the liver have much more protein than regular meat.

Chicken broth is also loaded with protein and essential fatty acid. Those nutrients help your cat body builds and repair muscle, skin, bones Including teeth and blood cells.

chicken broth is also a rich source of minerals such as iron, calcium, magnesium.

This mineral is crucial in keeping your cat’s teeth healthy, because it can give support to your cat teeth and jawbones which are largely made up of calcium and without enough of these minerals, your cat body takes calcium from the bones (including teeth) which can compromise their strength and this will result in a vulnerable teeth.

Moreover, The brand manufacturer chose to add a natural flavor which works as a concentrated flavor source.

Guar gum is included in this diet as a source of fiber. Guar gum is usually added in canned food as a binder and mixer of different ingredients to prevent separation and disorganization of the ingredients.

It is also a free grain product in case your cat is allergic to grain. It doesn’t have either plant protein, nor starches as it may not be suitable to some cats. It is also free from any artificial colors. 

This product also features a variety of flavors So you can have the ability to give your cat multiple different diets.

Actually, the idea of giving your cat one particular food the whole time is not good idea as it can trigger potential allergy if it is consumed on a steady, regular basis.

This product is ideal for cats that are allergic to some common protein because it features multiple alternative protein sources (duck, turkey ).

Iams Proactive Health Healthy Senior Dry Cat Food, Chicken Flavor

• First 5 ingredients: Chicken, Chicken By-Product Meal (source of Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate), Corn Grits, Ground Whole Grain Corn, Dried Plain Beet Pulp
• Key Feature: A lot of essential  minerals and vitamins to support your cat teeth.
• Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein 34.0% min, Crude Fat 17.0% min, Crude Fiber 3.0% max, Moisture 10.0% max.
• Life Stage: Senior
• Best For: Old cat with general health problems

Analysis Of The First Ingredients:

It is an ideal food for senior cats as it includes a lot of essential nutrients that their body needs.

This product features a chicken and Chicken By-Product Meal as the primary source of protein.

Protein as you may know by now is a very valuable nutrient in keeping your cat muscles at its tip-top shape and providing enough calories to keep your old pal energized.

The Brand also chooses to add essential minerals such as (calcium, phosphorus and zinc oxide) and vitamins (like Vitamin B including niacin and riboflavin, Vitamin D ) to support strong bones including teeth.

phosphorus in particular is an underestimated element to cat bone health. To know its importance in promoting dental health you should know that In order for calcium to be fully absorbed and promote a notable bone health, your cat body needs phosphorus in pair with calcium to show the desired result.

It is a crucial element that your cat needs to consume in order to reap the various benefits of calcium to bone health. The same applies to vitamin D, which is an essential element for your cat body in order to efficiently absorb Calcium.

niacin and riboflavin which are B Vitamins is also presented here as it can help prevent gum disease and oral sores.

Also potassium is included in this product, which works as a guard against some harmful substances in your cat body that could weaken and damage your cat bones including teeth. Not only that, potassium also aids in blood clotting which can heal gum sores and bleeding very quickly if your cat has swollen gum.

Furthermore , zinc oxide is also presented here which is an antibacterial agent that prevents plaque and tartar formation and helps with bad breath by reducing the volatile gases and volatile Sulphur compounds in your cat’s mouth.

Finally it is worth mentioning that this product features L-Creatinine which is very valuable to maintain a balanced healthy weight.

As we said earlier, this product is ideal for old cats because it features a lot of components that would help your cat’s body to manage, control and combat a lot of common disorders in old Cats.

Purina ONE Sensitive Systems Adult Dry Cat Food

• First 5 ingredients: Turkey, Chicken By-Product Meal, Rice Flour, Corn Gluten Meal, Soybean Meal
• Key Feature: high quality protein with a unique texture 
• Guaranteed Protein: 34.0% min
• Life Stage: Adult
• Best For: picky and allergic cats

Analysis of the first 5 ingredients: Turkey, Chicken By-Product Meal, Rice Flour, Corn Gluten Meal, Soybean Meal

This product contains a protein dense recipe with 34% Crude protein.

It Features Turkey as primary ingredients which is a great source of quality protein , As protein is essential elements in cat food ,it brings the benefits to your cat muscles, tissues and bones without triggering allergic reaction.

beside protein, chicken by product meal provides some essential nutrients including some vitamins ( vitamin A, vitamin D) and minerals ( zinc, copper). I’m guessing that you know By now that all this supplements is very valuable to your cat dental health as we explained their benefits earlier in this article.

Rice flower provides energy and adds an appealing texture for your cat .

Although Corn Gluten Meal , soybean gluten meal provides more protein in the products for your cat, they are rather a controversial additive as it has little nutritional value with being a potential allergen to the cat.

Moreover, Purina choose to add further supplemental minerals and vitamins including omega-6 fatty acid which works as antioxidants to strengthen your kitty’s immune system

However, this product is a good recipe for picky cats as it features a delicious taste with a mix of high protein combined with a well-balanced amino acid profile.

This diet is formulated specifically to manage sensitive stomach but it also features many ingredients that would promote your cat dental health.

Purina ONE Tender Selects Blend with Real Chicken Dry Cat Food

• First 5 ingredients: Chicken, Rice Flour, Corn Gluten Meal, Chicken By-Product Meal (Source Of Glucosamine), Beef Fat Naturally Preserved With Mixed-Tocopherols
• Key Feature: crunchy texture that aids in scrubbing tatar and bacteria with every bite
• Guaranteed Protein: 34.0% min
• Life Stage: Adult
• Best For: cat with teeth loss

Analysis Of The Dental Related Features Of This Product : 

This product is unique and relatively new. Purina has a sound reputation in presenting great diets that promote different aspects of cats health whether it is allergy and sensitive stomach or bad teeth or urinary problems.

Chicken as primary source of protein provides a quality protein whose benefits are well established and need no further explanation.

However, What is really unique about this diet is the texture which can helps your cat to scrub the bacteria formation in their teeth.

not only that, this product also features a tender, small piece of food to make your old pals feeding much easier.

This is ideal for cats that have lost some teeth as it offers highly digestible ingredients with highly digestible size and a special crunchy texture that would helps in getting rid of the bacteria in their remaining teeth.

Buying Guide of Best Cat Food For Older Cats With Bad Teeth

Browsing the marketplace to find a suitable food for your cat dental issue could be Challenging. Here I will gives some tips that will help you decide what to buy and I will also give you Some background information about dental diseases in Cats and how to manage them properly 

So without further dou, let’s start

• what to look for when you buy for your old cat with dental issues
  • Proper nutrition with balanced proportion of quality protein and fats. protein is necessary for your cat to sustain general health throughout their life while Fat is the main source of energy for cat because it has much more calories than the other macronutrients.
  • rich in fiber, high in moisture
  • Look for a highly digestible ingredients because Without them your cat will have difficulties in eating his food, and that would result in weight loss which can complicate his health problems even more.
  • Ideally Your cat food should not have artificial additives, preservatives or colors as these additives can be problematic especially in senior cat food because old cats have a less efficient digestive system and slow metabolism rate compared to the younger ones.
  • Food loaded with valuable supplements as Vitamins and Minerals. Some of these essential minerals and vitamins are crucial to your cat dental health such as Calcium, Potassium, Vitamin D and Zinc.
• how dental decay occurs and develop
  • It is helpful to know how dental problems arise and what causes them to take some precautionary steps to prevent it from happening in the first place. It begins with some food getting stuck in the cavity of your cat teeth or between the teeth and gums. This food remains would attract microorganisms such as bacteria and plagues to reside and accumulate on this specific area. if it is not removed by regular brushing of your cat teeth, it can lead to the inflammation of the gum, Also called gingivitis. This inflammation could develop if it is not properly managed, leading to more serious, permanent damage to the gum, the bones and also the nerves of your cat teeth. So precaution and regular dental hygiene is mandatory to keep your cat dental health at a decent shape, especially if your cat is getting old
• Measurement to prevent dental decay problems
  • Keep your cat well nourished with quality nutrition especially in his older age
  • You should brush your cat’s teeth regularly. this is the key to prevent and stop bacteria and plagues accumulating on your cat teeth which can lead to gingivitis or much worse effects
  • Try more soft dry food as it can help remove the plagues as your cat chewing the kibble. another reason to give your cat more dry food is that the alternative wet food may not be suitable for your cat because wet food is more easier to get stuck in your cat teeth cavity or between teeth and gums leading to bacterial accumulation.
  • Monitor your cat’s oral health, is he having bad breath Or red, bleeding, swollen gum? this could be a sign that your cat have a dental disease
  • More importantly, you are strongly recommended as a pet owner to regularly visit a Vet even if your cat is not showing any sign of problems. the advice that you could get from your vet whether it is a precautionary measures or diagnostic inspection or treatments prescription can be immense help to your cat general health
• F&A Q
  • Is wet cat food bad for your cat teeth?
    • Wet cat food poses some risks to your cat teeth as it can be easily stuck in your cat teeth leading to some dental issues, So keeping dental hygiene to your cat is even more important in such case compared to dry food
  • what and how to feed old cats with bad teeth
    • The consideration of how easily digestible a food can be is vital here when you pick a food for your old cat , Your ideal cat food in this case should comprise a valuable nutritional diets with highly digestible ingredients
    • You should consider feeding your cat a small chunk of food for easy digestion purposes as it can not give your cat trouble in eating while enabling it to eat as much as it pleases.

The Verdict

With the above list and buying guide, you could absolutely be assured that your cat is given a healthy diets that match his/her dietary needs while managing his dental issue.

It is not just this benefit which these special formulated diets could offer, besides its specific formulation for cats with bad teeth, these food could also offer support to your cat dental health and sustainability.

Our pick of best cat food for older cat with bad teeth (Hill’s Science Diet Dry Cat Food Oral Care: Best Overall Cat Food For Older Cats With Bad Teeth) have more features that entitled it to be our first choice.

Also, we included in our list other excellent diets that could be perfect choice to your individual cat needs.

However this article is a mere suggestion to what is the best cat food in such case, so if your cats teeth is severely harmed, you should seek professional care from your trusted vet.