What to feed a cat with kidney problems?
Cats suffering from kidney disease should be provided with appropriate food. Here are some tips for taking care of your diet.
.png "What to feed a cat with kidney problems?") |
| What to feed a cat with kidney problems? |
1. Proteins
2. Reduced phosphorus content
3. An adapted fat diet
4. Food supplements
5. Water
Read more: What do cats eat?
1. Proteins
Food for cats with kidney disease should contain protein, but in less quantity (18 to 20% of the animal's energy needs).
These proteins, although less numerous than in conventional food, must be of excellent quality and highly digestible. Only cats that don't have a lot of appetites can eat a higher protein food, but temporarily.
2. Reduced phosphorus content
In order to prevent the progression of the disease, the phosphorus intake in the cat's diet must be reduced.
Depending on the stage of evolution of the kidney disease, it is preferable, following the advice of a veterinarian, to maintain a phosphate level in the blood between certain values.
It is therefore important to choose a diet (kibble or mash) that takes this parameter into account while seeking advice from a veterinarian.
Read more: Food allergies in cats
3. An adapted fat diet
Even sick, the cat must keep its muscle mass. He must therefore eat every day, even though many cats with kidney failure tend to lose their appetite.
To compensate for this possible lack, the cat's diet must be a little richer in fats: these will provide the energy the animal needs.
It is important that the cat's diet is rich in fish fatty acids as well as unsaturated fatty acids (omega-3). These have the ability to delay the worsening of the disease, according to some scientific studies.
.png "What to feed a cat with kidney problems?") |
| What to feed a cat with kidney problems? |
4. Food supplements
It is recommended to compensate for the urinary loss in cats by increasing food intake. Supplements can be added to their diet, in particular potassium.
Read more: Can cats eat dry dog food?
5. Water
Cats with kidney problems tend to become dehydrated. You have to make sure that he always has fresh water available, in different places (outside and inside).
If the cat does not drink enough, you can invest in a fountain: some like to drink running water, drinking directly from the tap for example.
Finally, it is good to know that a cat fed with kibble needs to drink more than a cat fed with mash. When the cat eats little or drinks little, it may also be preferable to opt for a wet diet.
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