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r/AskVet•
nextboldmove

Best kibble for a toothless cat?

Species: Cat

Age: Around 16

Sex/Neuter status: Spayed

Breed: Domestic shorthair/some Siamese

Body weight: 15 lbs 11oz

History: Near full extraction of teeth. Hyperthyroidism treated by radioactive iodine 3+ years ago. Pododermatitis treated successfully with Prednisalone at age 10. Arthritis treated with Adequan, Dasequin, and twice daily Burprenex. Every other day Prenisalone now for suspected IBS.

Clinical signs: Unsure

Duration: N/A

Your general location: Oregon

We adopted a senior lady from a local humane society, and she had just had pretty much all her teeth pulled due to dental disease before being released for adoption. She has turned out to be a very picky eater and a dry food addict. Because she's probably 16+, we want to get as much wet food in her as possible, but she has stopped eating her ProPlan altogether which is her evening meal. We're worried about her food intake overall, as she has a tendency to turn her nose up at the wet foods or to stop eating them completely.

I guess I have two questions:

  1. What's a good small kibble for a toothless cat who is definitely going to be swallowing it whole?
  2. Should we be favoring morsels in gravy or pates for her wet food? She has to eat this consistently, as some of her medicine has to be concealed in food each morning.

Posted Aug 15, 2022, 3:22 AM UTC

13
ShantorVet Student•

There really isn't a good kibble for cats with no teeth. I would just explore other wet food options. Many older cats tend to love fancy feast.

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1
danatmidnight•

Kitten biscuits tend to be quite small, and some cats don't even chew their biscuits when eating. The best food is the food she will eat - some people like to add a little water/chicken or meat broth (with no salt or seasonings!) to their kibble to add some hydration; it might make them a little softer. Whilst they're not the best for her age range, Hill's Science Diet dry cat food oral care is a softer dry food but it may be a little on the pricier side but there really is no dry food for a cat with no teeth.

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