Homemade Cat Food for Kidney Disease

If your cat has kidney disease, he needs to eat a specialized diet. The diet of a cat with kidney disease needs to contain a limited amount of high-quality protein, lessening the amount of work the kidneys have to do during the process of protein metabolism. High-quality protein contains essential amino acids your cat needs and must receive through his diet. Your veterinarian can recommend a diet for your cat, but here is another alternative you may try at home.

  1. Ingredients

    • Chicken provides a lean meat for the food (for an even healthier alternative, you may use organic chicken), while chicken fat and clams will give the food an appealing taste and smell (to a cat, anyway). Cooked white rice will add bulk to the food. Sea salt and parsley enhances the flavors already in the food for added zing. Eggshell powder gives the food a calcium boost and can easily be made at home (wash and dry empty eggshells, bake at 300-degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes, then grind to powder and store in a small container). 500 mg vitamin C helps flush the cat's kidneys, but if kidney stones are a problem for your cat, cut the dosage in half.

    Equipment

    • A clean, small to medium sized bowl (choose the size by your preference) will be used to mix the ingredients. A measuring cup and measuring spoons will be required to ensure you use accurate amounts of the ingredients are used. A spoon or other utensil will be required to stir the ingredients. A blender (traditional or immersion style) can be used if you prefer an smooth-textured cat food. A lidded container will be used to store the food.

    Procedure

    • Combine ¼ cup cooked chicken with ½ oz. clams and stir. Next, add ½ cup of cooked white rice and stir into other ingredients (if you have trouble getting this to combine properly, add a tablespoon of water, then stir again). Add 1 tablespoon of chicken fat, ¼ teaspoon each of parsley and eggshell powder and a pinch of sea salt. Crush the vitamin C tablet and add to the food. Mix all ingredients thoroughly. For a smooth texture, carefully blend all ingredients in a blender or use an immersion blender directly in the mixing bowl. (This step is entirely optional, as your cat may prefer a chunkier-textured food.) Store the food in a lidded container in the refrigerator and use within one week.