Low-Fat Cat Food for Feline Kidney Disease

Cats may develop kidney disease with the normal aging process. Some may have temporary urinary tract issues such as cystitis or blockage. Others may have kidney issues due to thyroid imbalance. All cats with kidney issues should have a diet low in protein, salt and potassium. Fats are necessary to a feline diet and may encourage appetite. Maintaining body weight and hydration are important to the health of a cat with kidney disease.

  1. Diet and Fats

    • The feline is a carnivore by nature. Cats are attracted to food by the odor of meat-based fats. The fatty amino acids such as omega 3 and omega 6 are essential to their diet. Omega 3 fatty acids support vision, skin and coat health. Omega 6 fatty acids support nervous system function, including muscle action and kidney excretion. The cell wall membrane of the cat includes omega 6 in the structure. Cats convert fats to energy well and can tolerate 9 to 50 percent fat in their diet.

    Benefits

    • Cats cannot make fats to carry water and fat soluble vitamins and nutrients.These fats must come from their diet. Fats provide more energy than carbohydrates and protein. Cats must obtain the vitamin A and niacin that they need from their diet. Vitamin A supports the eyes and niacin helps maintain body weight. Taurine is essential for cats to assimilate their food and supports the immune system. The source of these essential amino acids is fish or meat-based food.

    Considerations

    • Veterinarians may suggest canned food as preferable to dry kibble since dry kibble is generally made from grain-based carbohydrates. The feline intestine is not designed to process high amounts of fiber. Canned food also contains more water, which is important for cats with kidney impairment. Adult cats require 5.5 grams of fat daily and 12.5 grams of protein.

    Prevention/Solution

    • The best treatment of kidney impairment is prevention through proper diet. This requires that the pet owner become adept at reading the content labels of food products. The terms "crude protein" or "crude fat" refers to the testing methodology and not the quality of the food itself. A cat that has been traumatized, is pregnant or very active may need greater amounts of food.

    Cautions

    • Changing your pet to a healthier diet should be done gradually. Mix the old food and the new. Increase the new food slowly as the cat adjusts. It is important to keep a kidney-impaired cat eating well. Try both dry kibble and canned food, or a mixture, over a week to a month.