Food for Cats on a Renal Diet

When a cat has chronic renal failure (CRF), its kidneys are unable to remove waste from the bloodstream or regulate the body's fluids. Eventually they stop functioning, which can lead to death. CRF, which is usually found among older cats, is progressive and incurable. However, with early diagnosis, good veterinary care and attentiveness from the owner, cats with kidney disease often enjoy a good quality of life for years. Diet plays a crucial role in reducing the buildup of waste products in the kidneys and slowing or reversing damage.

  1. Causes

    • It's not clear what causes CRF. Factors that may contribute to its onset include chronic bladder disease, blood loss, surgical stress, infection or obstructed urine flow. A link between CRF and a diet of dry food eaten over years has been suggested as a cause. (Dry food has only half the water of wet or homemade food.) When a cat doesn't drink enough water, the lack of fluids in the diet can cause severe chronic dehydration. This can lead to kidney disease.

    Symptoms

    • The initial symptoms of CRF are sometimes subtle and hardly noticeable. Obvious symptoms don't appear until the disease has become serious. By this time the kidneys have lost up to 70 percent of their function. The first signs of illness are excessive thirst and frequent urination. These can be accompanied by loss of appetite, a dull coat, listlessness, nausea, vomiting and weight loss. In later stages, they may develop anemia, high blood pressure and weakness in their hind legs.

    Diet

    • The usual diet for CRF is low in protein, salt and phosphorus. The protein source should be highly digestible. Canned food provides the best nutrition because it contains the moisture and calories that cats with kidney disease need. The disadvantage of canned food is that it usually contains more phosphorus. If the cat's veterinarian recommends it, there are brands formulated with less sodium and phosphorus. Veterinarians usually do not recommend dry food unless the cat refuses to eat anything else. Homemade diets are healthy because they can be tailored to the cat's needs.

    Nutrition

    • A cat with renal disease requires more potassium, B vitamins and fiber. Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to reduce inflammation and maintain kidney health. Vitamins and antioxidant supplements recommended by a veterinarian are also important.

    Protein

    • Whether a cat with CRF needs a low-protein diet or not is an ongoing controversy among veterinarians and animal-welfare experts. Many veterinarians put their patients on a low-protein diet because meat protein can be hard to digest. This stresses the kidneys and makes them work harder. Other vets believe that protein is fine as long as it is high quality. Some also contend that a diet low in protein contributes to muscle-wasting and weakness.

    Tips

    • Above all, a CRF cat must keep eating and drinking. Weight loss is dangerous because it can cause other serious ailments, such as heart disease. If a cat is hesitant or refuses to eat, try heating the food slightly to bring out the flavor. Make low-sodium chicken broth and include small pieces of the chicken. Add the broth to dry food (if that's all the cat will eat) or let the cat drink it. If the cat likes tuna, mix low-sodium tuna into canned or dry food.