If your cat has recently been diagnosed with a renal (kidney) disease, you will be anxious to know what steps you can take to improve or maintain your cat's quality of life. Providing an appropriate diet designed specifically for renal disease sufferers is arguably the simplest way for you, as an owner, to positively impact on your cat’s quality of life. We have a number of renal cat diet food which can help your cat to feel better. Below is a list of cat food brands recommended for kidney disease.
Choosing the right food for your cat with kidney disease
Cats with renal failure are often elderly and commonly have oral pain and reduced appetite; therefore, highly palatable food is essential. It is easy to be overwhelmed by the choice in renal diets, but remember the most important criteria for a renal diet is that your cat will eat it!
If a special kidney diet is recommended for your cat it is important to note that some animals will demonstrate a preference for one brand over another. If the first kidney food you offer your cat is not met with enthusiasm, do not despair, talk to your vet about which other brands might be suitable. These foods are designed with palatability in mind; it is probable that your cat will like one of the other options available
Popular Renal diets available (most come in wet and dry varieties):
Hills Prescription Diet Feline K/D
- Reduced levels of high-quality protein
- Extra omega-3 fatty acids to improve blood flow to kidneys
- High levels of anti-oxidants
- Highly palatable
Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Feline Renal (wet)
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- EPA, DHA, Antioxidants and low phosphorus for chronic kidney disease management
- Reduced levels of high-quality protein
- Alkalinizing agents for metabolic equilibrium
- Designed aroma profile for cat's specific preference
- Wet food helps increase fluid intake
Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Feline Renal Dry
- Very low phosphorus
- Nutrients for vascular support
- Antioxidant complex
- Nutrients for balanced digestive system
Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Feline Renal Special RSF26
- Very low phosphorus
- Nutrients for vascular support
- Antioxidant complex
- Nutrients for balanced digestive system
- Enhanced palatability for fussy cats
Purina Veterinary Diet Feline NF (Renal Function) wet
- low phosphorous content to reduce the progression of kidney disease
- omega-3 fatty acids maintain low blood pressure and reduce inflammation
- high-quality proteins are limited to reduce toxicity build-up
- can help to reduce general sickness
- supports urinary health.
- Nitrogen Trap Fibre System to reduce nitrogenous waste
- Moderate levels of high-quality proteins
- Targeted omega-6:omega-3 fatty acid ratio
- Added potassium citrate
- Works to reduce oxalate stone formation
Royal Canin Renal Select Cat
- CKD dietary management supports renal function in case of chronic kidney disease.
- Contains EPA and DHA, a complex of antioxidants and a low phosphorus level.
- Reduces renal workload
- High energy, high energy density helps limit weight loss
- Appetite preference, helps answer to specific cat's preference
Correcting dehydration is an essential objective in the management of patients with renal failure. In order to encourage as much fluid consumption as possible, it is worth considering that use of a wet diet, as dry food has a negligible water content. If your cat enjoys drinking from a dripping tap you may want to consider a water fountain for cats to increase water intake.
Another point to remember is that if your cat has had to stay in the hospital to become stabilised, they may have developed an aversion to the food used within the veterinary clinic. If this is the case, trying another brand once the cat is feeling better should help.
It is important to consult with your vet before changing your cat’s diet – this is especially true of patients with other diseases as well. In some cases, the other condition also requires a special diet, and should take precedence over dietary modification specific to the kidney problem. Most vets will also have some preference for a specific brand or brands.
Although the inconvenience and expense of purchasing these ‘prescription diet’ foods are often greater than the regular canned food or dry kibble you are used to feeding your cat, vets argue they are genuinely effective in the fight against kidney disease.
How do these renal diet cat foods help?
There are two primary mechanisms by which these foods work:
1. Low quantity, high-quality protein content
Dietary protein is broken down in the gut to make the building blocks that make up the body and help it to function. During this process, toxic by-products are produced that normally leave the body via the urinary system. When the kidneys aren't working properly, they cannot do this job efficiently anymore so the uremic toxins build up in the blood and cause the cat in renal failure to feel very poorly. The predominant effect of the low protein diet is to minimize the production of uremic toxins so that the cat feels better.
Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning that their natural diet would consist almost entirely of protein and fat. Protein, therefore, tastes good to cats and stimulates their appetites - this is one of the reasons cats with kidney disease must continue to have some protein in their diet. Special kidney foods contain less protein than regular foods, however, although present in lesser amounts, the protein that is used in them is of a higher quality than that in a normal diet. Therefore there is less protein to cause the toxic waste effect in the blood, but the protein that is within the diet is able to be used to greater effect by the cat.
2. Restricted phosphate content
High phosphorus accelerates renal failure, and restricted phosphorus slows it down. Therefore, reduced phosphate content will help to protect the kidneys from further damage, thereby slowing the progression of kidney disease. In cats restricted phosphate content helps to reduce the incidence of a secondary syndrome called Renal Secondary Hyperparathyroidism. Restricting the dietary phosphate content also helps to reduce the incidence of calcification of various body tissues, including the kidneys.
Whilst understanding each of these aspects of renal diets, the most important point is that research has shown that foods meeting these criteria can provide significant benefits to your cat in terms of improving their clinical condition and decreasing the levels of the toxins in the bloodstream that your vet uses to monitor the progression of renal disease.
Supplements for kidney disease
There are some supplements available that can also help with some of the functions that the renal diets provide, such as the phosphate binder Ipakitine (this works by "binding" to dietary phosphate and allowing it to be excreted in the feces rather than the urine). Also if your vet has determined any other renal-failure related deficiencies such as low potassium, supplements are available - please discuss with your vet as it is not advisable to supplement with these types of minerals unless the cat is deficient.
Keeping track of your cat's health
Cats are notorious for hiding their health issues. A health indicating litter is an efficient way to ensure that you are keeping an eye on your cat's health as it shows up a different colour when there are abnormalities in their urine, helping you to detect problems early.
The advent of these foods in recent years has had a significant and positive impact on the lives of vast numbers of cats suffering from renal disease, and vets almost universally advise their use as an essential part of the treatment regime. For these reasons, it is important for owners to understand how kidney foods work to support their beloved cat.
This article is intended as a guide only. Always seek advice from your veterinary surgeon prior to changing your cat’s diet.