Raw Food Diet for Diabetes & Renal Failure in Felines

Feline diabetes and chronic renal failure (CRF) are two common diseases that can be brought on by a lack of proper nutrition. By understanding your cat's nutritional needs and providing optimal food choices, both conditions can be successfully managed or even reversed.

  1. Causes

    • A dry kibble diet can be the cause of feline diabetes and renal failure, also known as kidney disease. The high carbohydrate content causes weight gain and diabetes, while the low moisture content causes dehydration and kidney disease.

    History

    • Cats have existed for thousands of years. Processed cat food was invented in the mid-1900's. As obligate carnivores, cats were naturally designed to digest high levels of natural, unprocessed meat protein and low levels of carbohydrates (i.e. prey).

    Misconceptions

    • Many veterinarians prescribe a dry kibble that is "low carbohydrate" for cats with diabetes or "low protein" for cats with renal failure. Kibble is low-quality, while the quality of protein rather than the quantity is what matters in feline nutrition.

    Recommendations

    • Raw food offers the highest level of nutrition for felines because it is not processed and is naturally high in protein and moisture. A balanced raw meal can be achieved with a commercial frozen mix or by utilizing the prey model of 80 percent meat, 10 percent bone, 5 percent liver and 5 percent other organ. Grains, fruits, and vegetables should be avoided or given in minimal amounts.

    Warnings

    • When lowering the amount of carbohydrates in your cat's diet, he will immediately also require a reduction in his dosage of insulin.

      A food labeled "premium" is not always so. Learn to read labels and avoid fillers and foods with no quality meat source.