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May 26, 2014 · The cats get a mixture of homemade raw, frozen raw, and/or dehydrated raw, with appropriate supplements, and a sprinkling of various high-quality canned food. He’s doing great, maintaining weight, and acting absolutely normal.
Oct 17, 2024 · If your cat has kidney disease, you can help improve their kidney health by feeding them a diet low in phosphorus.
- Kathryn Copeland
Answer: Cats with kidney disease may benefit from avoiding foods high in phosphorus, as excessive phosphorus can put strain on the kidneys. It is also important to avoid feeding your cat foods high in salt, as this can lead to dehydration.
- Overview
- Selecting Food for Your Cat
- Adjusting and Maintaining Your Cat’s Diet
- Consulting with Your Vet
Kidney issues tend to show up in older cats or cats who have other health issues like high blood pressure, a hereditary disease, or cancer. Cats with kidney problems like chronic kidney disease need to maintain a special diet to stay healthy and manage their symptoms.
You may struggle with feeding a cat who has kidney problems, as you do not want its condition to get worse. Start by selecting food that will help your cat’s kidneys improve and adjusting your cat’s diet. You can also consult with your vet for guidance and advice.
Give your cat wet food instead of dry food.
Cats with kidney issues can become easily dehydrated, as their kidneys cannot retain water efficiently. They need to consume a lot of water on a regular basis to stay healthy. Giving your cat wet food will ensure it gets enough water when it eats. Dry food is too dehydrating and should be avoided.
Go for canned wet food that is high quality and all natural. Look for wet food that contains tuna juice, clam juice, chicken broth, and beef broth. Just make sure that these are low in sodium. Avoid tuna in brine and opt for tuna in water instead.
You can also add water or warm broth to your cat’s wet food for added water consumption.
Make sure the food contains reduced amounts of protein.
A reduced protein diet is important for cats with kidney issues, as it can be hard on your cat’s kidneys to process a lot of protein at once. Give your cat wet food that contains less protein and protein that is high quality. High quality protein like rabbit and chicken are usually easier to digest for cats with kidney issues.
Change your cat’s diet gradually.
Cats can find it difficult to switch their diet, especially to a diet that may not taste like their usual food. Start by changing your cat’s diet gradually over a few weeks. Mix in a small amount of the new food with your cat’s old food. Increase the amount of new food in the old food slowly over a period of weeks, adding more each day. Only give your cat more new food in its old food when it eats all of the mixture.
Be patient and do not try to rush your cat into eating the new food right away. Doing this can make your cat not want to eat at all, which is very bad for its health.
Bringing the cat food to a warm temperature, around 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit), can make it more enticing to your cat. Present the wet food warm in your cat’s bowl so it is encouraged to eat it.
Maintain a regular feeding schedule.
Feed your cat at the same time every day, twice a day. Doing this will help your cat regulate its appetite and make it easier for it to adjust to a new diet. Try not to deviate from the feeding schedule for your cat once it is established.
Ask your vet for prescription cat food.
If your cat has serious kidney problems, such as chronic kidney disease, your vet may prescribe special cat food that you can give your pet. This prescription cat food will be specially formulated to help manage your cat’s symptoms and condition.
Your vet should also instruct you on how often you should feed your cat the prescription cat food. Follow your vet’s instructions when feeding your cat so your cat’s condition improves.
Discuss other supplements for your cat.
Depending your cat’s needs, your vet may recommend supplements for your cat to help manage its condition. Only give your cat supplements on your vet’s recommendations. Look for supplements that are pet safe and approved by your vet.
If your cat has high phosphate levels in its blood due to kidney issues, for example, your vet may recommend a phosphate binder that you can add to its diet.
- 60.4K
Canned food can help increase your cat's intake of moisture. To encourage more water intake, change your pet’s water several times a day, clean your pet’s water bowl daily, and consider the use of a running water fountain to increase water interest.
Avoid feeding your cat high-sodium foods, such as canned fish or processed meats, and avoid adding salt to their food. In the next section, we’ll explore the best foods for cats with kidney disease, including both commercial cat food and homemade cat food options.
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Dec 14, 2015 · 1. Feline nutrition is a fine balancing act when a cat requires a special diet for a serious health condition like kidney disease. While a kidney disease diet is not a cure, it is a way to help manage the disease in order to minimize symptoms, improve quality of life and hopefully prolong the cat’s lifespan.
