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Best Cat Food for Kidney Disease (2024): 8 Low Phosphorus Recipes
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Pets with specific health problems often need a unique diet. Whether it's pancreatitis, heart disease, or chronic kidney disease, your veterinarian will often recommend a certain kind of food to help minimize the symptoms of the issue and provide your cat with the support they need.
If your cat has kidney disease (or renal problems), it will need a diet low in phosphorus, sodium, and even certain forms and levels of protein. On the other hand, you'll need to find a food high in certain ingredients, like antioxidants and vitamins.
Let's explore some of the best cat foods for kidney disease or what many vets will call low phosphorus cat food,
Best Cat Food for Kidney Disease
After researching the options for low phosphorus cat food with the vets and feline nutritionists that we work with, our pick for the overall best cat food for kidney disease is the Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Feline Renal Support.
Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Feline Renal Support
Our choice is the Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Feline Renal Support
Best Kidney Care Cat Food: Top 3 Picks
Although our overall top rated kidney care cat food is a wet food, we also looked into a host of other options, both dry and wet.
From our testing and research we've picked eight that will provide your cat with kidney disease the right symptom control and health maintenance.
Our top three cat foods for kidney disease are chosen based on their unique composition, price points, and kitty appeal.
1. Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Feline Renal Support (Overall Pick)
Royal Canin is one of the most reputable names in the prescription foods market for animals. The Renal Support wet cat food ensures your cat gets all of the nutrition they need, as well as a healthy dose of moisture to help promote digestion.
The specially-formulated food is created to stimulate appetite in your cat, so they're more likely to want to finish the entire meal. The highly palatable and energy-dense design also reduces the overall volume of food you need to give your kitty to get the best results. Royal Canin's food promotes healthy kidney function with antioxidants, low phosphorous, and targeted protein levels.
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2. Hill's Prescription Diet k/d Early Support Cat Food (Best Premium)
Another market leader in prescription cat food, Hill's Science Early Support Kidney health care helps to protect your kitty from any worsening conditions of kidney or renal disease. If your cat is predisposed to kidney problems (as some breeds can be), you can provide this food to help them avoid excess sodium and phosphorus, as well as providing higher doses of fatty acids and antioxidants.
Like most foods for cats with kidney issues, the Hill's Science formula helps to enhance appetite to encourage cats to eat and maintain a healthy weight. There are also high levels of amino acids and L-Carnitine in the formula, and a healthy range of minerals for better urinary performance too.
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3. Forza10 Active Kidney Renal Diet Dry Cat Food for Adult Cats (Best Value)
If you're looking for excellent value from a high-performance cat food, Forza10 has you covered. This kidney care cat food is formulated with valuable ingredients like salmon and anchovies to provide your cat with balanced protein content and omega oils.
The low-phosphorus and low-sodium formula is great for cats with renal issues, and comes with no artificial preservatives or flavors, so you know you're not feeding your cat anything they don't need. As an added bonus, you can get quite a large bag of this food to last a long time, so you might not have to spend as much on a specialist diet.
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Read this next: 12 Best Urinary Cat Foods of 2022
Alternative Picks for the Best Kidney Disease Cat Food
If the three top options above don't work for you, don't panic. There are plenty of great alternative options on the market too, such as:
4. Hartz Delectable Stew Lickable Wet Cat Treats for Adult & Senior Cats (TREATS)
Intended as more of a treat for your cat than a full meal, the Hartz Delectables cat food is a great choice if you're having a hard time convincing your kitty to eat a full meal. The stew-style cat treat combines numerous valuable minerals and vitamins and is an easy-to-consume food for your cat.
If you have an older cat, the added vitamin E and B vitamins will be fantastic for giving them extra health support. The lickable formula also means you can easily add this cat treat to your cat's existing meals if they're struggling to build an appetite.
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5. Hill's Prescription Diet k/d Kidney Care Dry Cat Food, Veterinary Diet
While the "early care" option from Hill's Science is ideal for getting ahead of kidney problems, this formula might be a better choice if your cat already has a kidney issue it needs to address. Available in both seafood and chicken flavors, Hill's Prescription kidney food comes with everything your cat needs to improve kidney function.
The Enhanced Appetite Trigger formula helps to enhance appetite and increase food intake for unwell cats. At the same time, this product comes with more than the regular requirement of essential amino acids to support the development of lean muscle mass.
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6. Wet Cat Food Kidney RENAL ACTIWET with Lamb
The RENAL ACTIWET wet food from Forza10 is an excellent pick if you're looking for the right wet food cat's kidney failure prevention and health. This fantastic food option is designed to address common renal issues and cardiac problems at the same time, with low phosphorous and sodium.
The recipe is completely grain-free and made with pasture-raised protein, as well as therapeutic plants and fruits for extra vitamins and minerals. There aren't any chemical preservatives to worry about either, or unnatural by-products.
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7. Blue Buffalo Natural Veterinary Diet K+M Kidney + Mobility Support Dry Cat Food
Another cat food option for kitties with kidney problems pre-approved by vets, the Blue Buffalo Natural Veterinary Diet food is an all-in-one dry kibble. The food is specially formulated to support cat kidney function and joint performance at the same time. The core ingredient is protein-rich chicken, but protein levels in this food are controlled for kidney support.
To help keep your kitty in great shape for longer, the natural cat food comes with a range of added vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients built-in. It also contains glucosamine and chondroitin for better mobility in older cats.
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8. Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets NF Kidney Function
Purina's Pro Plan Veterinary Diets product is a fantastic tool for fighting against various forms of renal failure. The product is budget-friendly and good for people who want their food to last a long time because dry food is less likely to lose its appeal when left out for a cat to graze.
The NF Kidney function food includes B-complex vitamins and potassium, as well as an energy-dense formula to help your kitty get more of the calories they need fast. There's also an extra-low level of sodium.
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What is Kidney Disease in Cats?
Kidney disease in cats is exactly what it sounds like – a condition that involves the deterioration of the kidneys. Kidney disease happens when a cat's kidneys stop filtering through various substances the way they're supposed to eliminate waste products from the blood.
Healthy kidneys are responsible for regulating hydration and calcium, stimulating the production of red blood cells, and managing blood pressure. However, if your cat's kidneys stop working as they should, this can lead to a range of symptoms, such as:
Read this next: How to Tell if Your Cat is Sick
There are several issues that can cause kidney problems in cats, including infections, tumors forming in the kidneys, and exposure to various toxins.
While there's no "cure" for kidney disease, there are various steps your vet can take with you to help stop the disease from progressing into full-blown kidney failure. Depending on the stage of your cat's kidney failure, treatment might include everything from vitamin injections and intravenous fluids to medication to manage nausea and supplements.
The most common way to start treatment when the condition isn't too severe is to adjust a cat's diet.
Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Feline Renal Support
Our choice is the Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Feline Renal Support, the best Overall Cat food for Kidney Disease!
What food should I feed a cat with kidney disease?
While changing your cat's diet won't necessarily cure kidney disease, it will ensure they have more of the support they need to process food correctly and stay as healthy as possible.
The best option is to feed your cat prescription food. Specifically suggested by your vet. Prescription foods are designed just to target the needs of a cat with kidney disease. Most prescription foods will include:
Your vet should be able to provide you with a direct insight into the kind of approved diets you can consider using. Alternatively, they may be able to teach you how to make your own kidney-focused foods at home, but this can be very time-consuming and expensive.
Reduce inflammation with Omega-3 Fatty Acid
Many cats with kidney disease will suffer from inflammation of the kidneys, and other forms of inflammation. Alongside other anti-inflammatory substances, it's worth considering a food with a lot of omega-3 fatty acids like DHA and EPA, which are well-documented to reduce inflammation.
While it is possible to find omega-3 derived from plant sources, cats need the substances found in animal fat. Good sources include sardine oil, tuna and salmon oil. Alternatively, you can consider giving your cat an extra dose of omega-3 with a supplement.
Keep it low in phosphorus and sodium
As your cat's kidney workload begins to decline, phosphorus is one of the substances which won't be easily filtered out from the bloodstream. If this substance is allowed to build up over time, it can cause a range of negative side effects for your cat, causing them to feel ill and worsening kidney function.
The best way to counteract the effects of phosphorus in the bloodstream is to reduce the amount you give your cat in their diet. Usually, the best prescription cat foods will come with lower levels of phosphorus and sodium. Sodium is important to minimize because it can increase blood pressure and make kidney damage worse.
Restrict protein options
Protein is one of the most important ingredients in any cat's diet, but it's also something you need to consider carefully if your cat has a kidney problem. When the diet breaks down during digestion, it produces waste like blood urea nitrogen which your cat's damaged kidneys may struggle to filter out.
Choosing protein-restricted foods with the right amount of high-quality protein is important to give your kitty the best balance of nutrition, and protection.
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Look for extra B-vitamins
Cats with kidney disease are likely to urinate more often, which means they're also more likely to lose out on crucial B vitamins in the litterbox. A deficiency in B vitamins is often associated with a loss of appetite and poor health for your cat.
Therapeutic and prescription diets are usually fortified with further B-complex vitamins to help keep your cat in better health. You can also consider asking your vet about B12 shots to provide your cat with a bonus boost of positive vitamins.
Hydration is essential
Keep in mind, kidney disease causes your cat to urinate more often, as well as losing their appetites, so they're more likely to struggle with dehydration. Some cats with kidney failure may even need to get fluid injections under their skin to help them stay hydrated.
You can improve your cat's hydration in a number of different ways, starting by making sure they always have access to fresh water. Some cats prefer flowing water from a fountain to a bowl, so consider experimenting with different options.
Wet food is also made up of around 70% water or more. This means if your cat is struggling with hydration, you might want to consider a wet food instead of a dry food.
Read this next: Should You Get a Cat Water Fountain?
Critical: Cats With chronic kidney disease need to eat
Finding the right diet for your cat can be complicated, particularly when you're dealing with something as complicated as kidney disease. However, the most important factor of all is making sure your cat is eating.
When your cat is no longer interested in food, the most important thing you can do is get them to eat any way you can – even if this means feeding them more fat and unhealthy substances than usual in a therapeutic diet.
You can even consider adding supplements and probiotics into the mix if you're concerned your cat isn't getting enough of the substances they need.
Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Feline Renal Support
Our choice is the Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Feline Renal Support, the best Overall Cat food for Kidney Disease!
FAQS
What can I feed my cat with kidney disease?
A low-phosphorus diet rich in vitamins and minerals is crucial., Look for something with extra omega-3 fatty acids derived from fish.
What meat is best for cats with kidney disease?
Fish oil can be very useful for cats with kidney disease because of the access to extra fatty acids and oils. However, you can also consider lean proteins like chicken or chicken liver.
Is Chicken OK for cats with kidney disease?
Chicken or chicken broth can be an ok option provided it's low in phosphorous.
Is wet food better for cats with kidney disease?
It may be ideal to feed your cat wet food if they're suffering from dehydration as a result of kidney disease or kidney failure.
Best Cat Food for Kidney Disease: The Verdict
Your vet should be able to provide some extra guidance on the best diet for your cat based on their specific symptoms and conditions. Our top pick for the best foods for cats with kidney disease is the Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Feline Renal Support, which offers an excellent level of support for your cat's digestion system and encourages eating with an appetite triggering system.
Get 30% off and FREE shipping on cat supplies!
U.S.A only
To Find out why we recommend chewy.com, click here
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