Get

In Your Inbox

Catster is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more.

6 Homemade Cat Food Recipes for Senior Cats (With Pictures)

Homemade Cat Food Recipes for Senior Cats

We all know that a nutritionally balanced diet made up of high quality ingredients is vital to a long and healthy life. But with so many types of senior cat food on the market, how can you be sure that you’re choosing one that fits your elderly feline’s dietary restrictions? Well, in short, extensive research! This is only one option though – you might also opt for a few vet-approved recipes that you can create in your own kitchen.

Now, before making any sort of drastic switch in the food you serve to your cat, you should clear it with your veterinarian.  Unfortunately, there isn’t one size fits all when it comes to transitioning your cat to senior food. So, your vet will have a better understanding of the health of your feline and what they require as they enter their golden years!

Although cats are obligate carnivores, there is a lot more involved than just giving them some meat. It’s important to make sure they are getting the right amount of protein, fats, vitamins, and minerals, and this is particularly important for our older felines. This can be really tricky to do at home, which is why AAFCO-approved and formulated cat foods are the safest way to go. There are lots more options these days when it comes to commercial cat food, with companies like Smalls that make freshly prepared meals that are just like homemade but have been tested to ensure they meet AAFCO standards.

The following recipes will provide you with some great inspiration for creating some healthy homemade recipes for your geriatric feline, but we recommend that these are only given once or twice a week as a special treat.

divider 3 paws

The 6 Homemade Cat Food Recipes for Senior Cats:

1. The Easiest Senior Cat Food Recipe

cutting-boiled-chicken

Chicken & Tuna Senior Cat Food

If you're looking for a great cat food recipe for senior cats, you've found it. This is the world's easiest recipe - just blend three simple ingredients - and it provides great nutrition to your elderly kitty, which is low in fat for more sedentary lifestyles, with fiber to help keep them regular. Serve your cat a healthy treat!
Prep Time 2 minutes
Cook Time 4 minutes
Total Time 6 minutes

Equipment

  • Blender or food processor
  • Storage container

Ingredients
 

  • 1/2 cup chicken breast (plain) cooked
  • 1/2 can tuna within springwater with oil
  • 1 tbsp cooked sweet potato or pumpkin

Instructions
 

  • Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces
  • Combine with the tuna & veg and serve!
  • If your elderly cat struggles with eating chunks, you can combine all three ingredients in your blender or food processor to create a paté consistency.
  • Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to three days or the freezer for up to three weeks.

Notes

Image credit: Tagwaran, Shutterstock
Keyword cat food recipes, cat food recipes for senior cats, senior cat food recipes

2. Tuna Patties

This easy to assemble recipe includes 4 ingredients that will keep your senior cat both intrigued and satisfied. Ready in a whopping 15 minutes means you will able to whip this meal up for your feline in a jiffy. The recipe yields 6 patties and depending on your cat’s feeding schedule will last two or three days in the fridge. The best part about this recipe is that the ingredients are simple enough to stockpile in your pantry. Make sure that when you are choosing canned products, that you select the ones that are free of any additives.


3. Supplemented Chicken Cat Food

old black and white cat eating
Image Credit by: Elizabett, Shutterstock

This recipe will require a bit more of a commitment from you as it takes about an hour to prepare and includes a few supplements that senior cats may benefit from. Now before supplementing your feline with any of the vitamins in this recipe it is important that you receive approval from your vet! Once you have the A-OK, you can proceed with this hearty senior cat food recipe!

While sharing human food with your cat is not always safe, we have a solution that will keep you both smiling.

We've currently got a 40% discount to share on the HUMAN-GRADE premium cat food that ranked number #1 in our reviews! CLICK HERE & use code Catster24 to SAVE 40% on Smalls cat food!


4. Mackerel Recipe for Senior Cats

Fish is an excellent source of fatty yet nutritional oils for cats. When we think of their love for fish, tuna might be the first swimmer to pop into our heads, but mackerel is a much healthier option. This recipe would be a great treat for a senior cat once or twice a week to ensure they get their fill of the healthy fats mackerel provides! Sardines are another great alternative if you are looking to swap mackerel occasionally.

Our Favorite Product Right Now

Since you invest a lot of time curating the perfect homemade recipes for your cat, it would only make sense to present it in a high-quality, modern bowl to match. Serve your cat in style with the Hepper NomNom Cat Bowl! Dual, stainless steel bowls are wide and shallow for optimum comfort and an elegant wide tray collects crumbs or splashes. Learn more about the NomNom Bowl here.

Hepper NomNom - Spill Proof Elevated Cat Bowl
  • NO MESS - The 360° tray on this cat food and water bowl set has a raised design to catch and...
  • WHISKER FRIENDLY - Shallow and wide metal containers with flat bottoms ensure your kitty can enjoy...
  • CHEW-SAFE MATERIALS - Kittens and cats love chewing on silicone and soft rubber - but it's a choking...

At Catster, we’ve admired Hepper for many years and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!


5. Homemade Chicken Cat Food

cat eating chicken dinner
Image Credit: Chendongshan, Shutterstock

This recipe is a great option if your senior cat also has a sensitive tummy. This recipe is cooked, simple, and sure to be a favorite of your mature feline! There are only 4 ingredients, each natural and free of additives, making it easily digestible.


6. Homemade Beef Cat Food

Here is another great option for senior cats with sensitivities. Limited and all-natural ingredients and simple preparation make this recipe one for the books!

Get Free Cat Food Recall Alerts!

Your cat’s health matters. Get instant notifications about cat food recalls here

divider 1 paws

Wrapping Up

Of course, old age is inevitable, but that doesn’t mean we need to start preparing for the worst. It means we should prepare for the long haul! Maintaining the health of your feline as they age should be a priority and starting with their food is an excellent idea.

We hope that you have found these unique yet simple recipes useful when learning how to make cat food for senior cats!

Looking for more great recipes for your feline? Check these out!


Feature Image Credit: Kristi Blokhin, Shutterstock

Want content like this delivered to you?

Sign Up For Our Newsletter

News, insights, expert advice, and everything cat

* By submitting, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy & Cookies Policy.

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate (you can leave written feedback after clicking submit)

Help us improve Catster for pet parents!

Your feedback really matters.

What did you like about this post? Also how can we improve it?

Join the conversation

Leave a Reply

You’re very welcome to leave a comment or question. Please know that all comments must meet our community guidelines, and your email address will NOT be published. Let’s have a positive and constructive conversation.

Recipe Rating




Talk With A Vet Online

Peace of mind,
anywhere, anytime

Affordable vet advice

Is Your Cat Losing Teeth? What’s Normal & When to Worry (Vet-Verified)

Dental problems are a pretty big issue among cats. In fact, it is estimated that over two-thirds of cats over 3 have some...

How to Safely Break up a Cat Fight: 6 Vet-Approved Tips

While many cats live in perfect harmony with feline companions, some have trouble getting along. Fighting between cats is relatively common and can...

Meet the Cats of Bohemian Rhapsody (With Pictures)

I went to see Bohemian Rhapsody on opening day in November, and have seen it a few more times since then. I loved...

8 Best Shampoos for Maine Coon Cats in 2025 – Reviews & Top Picks

It is no wonder the Maine Coon is among the most popular cat breeds in the world. They are known for their sociability...

More related

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in Cats: 3 Vet Reviewed Signs & What to Do

Carbon monoxide poisoning can occur when any fossil fuel is burned in an enclosed area. Even just leaving your car running with the...

How to Make a Cat Sneeze to Clear its Nose: 4 Vet-Approved Tips & Tricks

If you’ve ever had a sneezing fit, you know exactly how uncomfortable it can be. Your cat can suffer from a stuffy nose...

Do Feral Cats Play? Vet-Reviewed Cat Behavior

Feral cats are outdoor cats that have had minimal or no contact with humans and can survive independently or with minimal human intervention....

FixNation’s Ongoing Crusade for Feline Wellness Reaches a Milestone: 250,000th Fixed Feline!

On a sunny Wednesday in late November 2023, FixNation, a groundbreaking non-profit based in Los Angeles, celebrated the sterilization of its 250,000th cat....

Keep reading

Can Cats Eat Hot Sauce? Vet-Verified Safety Guide

Knowing what your pet can and can’t safely eat is part of your responsibility as a pet owner. Unfortunately, no matter how careful you are, cats have their own mind. Sometimes they eat things that they shouldn’t, and smelly human...

Can Cats Eat Hot Sauce

7 Best Cat Calming Supplements for Anxiety & Stress in 2025 – Reviews & Top Picks

There are plenty of reasons our pets can suffer from anxiety or stress. If you have a very skittish or stressed cat, you can buy supplements to help them alleviate their problem. These supplements don’t require a prescription, so you...

Scottish Cat with gold eyes takes a pill or medicine close up

Savannah Cat Health Problems: 8 Vet-Reviewed Issues

The Savannah Cat is a large cat breed that’s known for its intelligence, playfulness, and athleticism. The Savannah Cat hybrid is the result of breeding a domestic cat with a Serval wild cat. These first offspring are then bred again...

Savannah Cat Health Problems

How Many Hours a Day Do Cats Groom? Vet-Reviewed Behavior Explained

Imagine spending half of your waking hours in the shower every single day. While that might seem exceedingly boring and tedious to us, cats spend approximately 2–5 hours grooming themselves every day, which is between 30% and 50% of their...

bengal cat grooming itself

How Do Cats Hunt Mice at Night? Vet-Approved Cat Behavior Guide

We all know the relationship between cats and mice. If a mouse is in your house, whether your cat is the world’s laziest hunter or the best, they will probably notice. Knowing of the relationship between cats and mice may...

black and white young cat looking at a mouse outdoor

Why Do Cats Like Cardboard? 5 Interesting Reasons

It’s not a secret that cats have a special affinity for cardboard. Most cat owners have found themselves baffled by the fact that they can spend hundreds of dollars on various cat toys and other products to keep their precious...

cat in a cardboard box

Why Is My Female Cat Spraying All of a Sudden? 5 Vet Reviewed Reasons 

Spraying is an unwanted behavior that is quite common among male cats, but it’s not limited to males. Female cats are known to spray too, so if your female cat has begun spraying all of a sudden, there are a...

tabby cat spraying outdoors to mark territory

Is It True That All Cats Meow? Vet-Reviewed Facts

If your cat constantly wakes you up at the crack of dawn meowing for food, you might have threatened to trade them in for a quieter model out of frustration! Okay, not really, but it is fair to wonder if...

close up cat meowing