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Diet for Cats Suffering From Kidney Failure

Diet for Cats Suffering From Kidney Failure

Learning that your cat has kidney failure can be a devastating experience, and you may be particularly concerned about addressing your cat's special dietary needs. Fortunately, with knowledge about how to feed a cat with kidney problems, you can make the right choices about what to feed your special pet. You can choose from commercial foods or use home-made food that meets your kitty's requirements for a healthy diet.

Understand Your Cat's Needs

    A cat with failing kidneys does best with a diet that does not stress the kidneys. Restricting protein content is a key component of such a diet because many renal toxins are produced when protein is metabolized. But cats require a high-protein diet in general, so it is important not to reduce the protein content of their food too much. Reducing phosphorus intake is also critical for maintaining health in cats with compromised kidneys. Failing kidneys do not properly eliminate phosphorus, so restricting consumption is necessary to maintain balanced levels in the blood.

    Your cat may also benefit from supplementing with water-soluble vitamins B and C and with vitamin A for kidney support. A good source of omega 3 fatty acids can also support your cat's health.

Select Appropriate Foods

    Look for a commercial cat food with reduced protein content that uses a high-quality protein source. Feeding a low-protein food will not be effective if your pet eats several times the amount of regular food to get proper nutrition. Read the labels to see if there is information on the food's digestibility, typically listed as kcal/cup or kcal/kg. The lower this number is, the more your cat will need to eat. Also review the full ingredient list. The best commercial foods use human-grade meats and exclude byproducts, chemical preservatives and artificial colors.

    Your veterinarian may recommend a prescription diet and probably sells it in his office. The Hill's Science Diet foods are the most commonly used prescription foods, but be aware they are not the only option. Ask your vet for guidance in selecting a food that meets your cat's needs, especially if your cat does not seem to like the prescription food or if you prefer to use a more natural commercial food or prepare your own food.

    Dr. Wendy Brooks recommends the diets designed by Dr. Donald Strombeck, and Dr. Susan Pitcairn provides several recipes in her book "Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats" (see Resources). Many of these recipes feature a single high-quality meat source, eggs, rice and appropriate supplements.

Supplement as Needed

    The recipes recommended by Dr. Strombeck and Dr. Pitcairn include a good vitamin and mineral supplement, a calcium supplement, and vitamin B complex. Dr. Brooks recommends adding a phosphorus binder if the phosphorus level remains too high after a few weeks on a therapeutic renal diet. To provide essential fatty acids, use a good fish oil or flax oil supplement. Always provide lots of fresh pure water for your cat to help flush the kidneys and maintain hydration.

Disclaimer

    The information in this article should not be considered medical advice. The information in this article is not meant to treat, diagnose, prescribe or cure any ailment. Always consult your animal health practitioner before you start, stop or change anything that has been previously prescribed.

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