Kidney Disease Cat Food - Preparing A Kidney Disease Feline Diet

Kidney disease is the most common condition affecting older cats, according to the Feline Advisory Bureau, a U.K. charity dedicated to promoting the health and welfare of cats. And about one in five cats older than age 15 will develop the condition. Also known as chronic renal failure, the disease is progressive, and affected cats require particular treatment and maintenance.

Kidney disease diminishes the organs’ ability to filter waste products from the cat’s blood. Causes of kidney disease are varied. For some, the disease may be genetic such as polycystic kidney disease. Kidney tumors and infections can also lead to renal failure.

Common signs of kidney disease are weight loss, depression, lethargy, dehydration and poor appetite, according to the charity. Cats may appear thirstier and urinate more. Other signs include vomiting, poor quality coat, foul breath and ulcerations in the mouth. The signs increase or worsen as the disease progresses. A veterinarian will run certain blood tests to confirm diagnosis.

Treatment is typically aimed at maintenance and can include antibiotics, intravenous fluid administration, checkups to assess additional complications and requisite treatment from the disease such as anemia, hypertension and urinary tract infections, among others.

Maintenance at home requires pet owners to feed cats with kidney disease a low-protein (yet a high-quality protein), low phosphate diet but not so low as to further jeopardize the health of the cat. Because of that fine line, some experts recommend against a homemade diet for cats with kidney disease and instead suggest feeding manufactured cat food that is specifically made for kidney disease support. If you chose to make homemade meals for your cat, talk to your veterinarian about how to ensure your cat’s meals meet his dietary restrictions for kidney disease.

However, some experts note that cats may not find a low-protein menu particularly appetizing, and, in such cases, the low-protein food can be mixed with their regular food to encourage eating. Also, warming food with warm water also makes the food more palatable to cats.

Because cats with kidney disease quickly dehydrate, experts recommend canned food, for its additional water content, over dry food. Some feline fanciers feel that dry food formulas may contribute to the development of kidney disease. Cats with kidney disease need 24/7 free access to fresh water.

Some commercial cat foods that are formulated specifically for kidney disease are: Purina NF Kidney Function, Hill’s Prescription Diet Feline k/d, Royal Canin Renal formulas for different stages of kidney disease and Eukanuba Multi-Stage Renal Formula. Most of these formulas are available only through a veterinarian.

If you take the necessary steps to control your cat’s diet and have him routinely assessed by his veterinarian, you may successfully slow the progression of his kidney disease and help preserve his quality of life.

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