Low Protein Diet for Cats

Cat are carnivores and need animal protein and moderate amounts of fat to be healthy and energetic. While some veterinarians recommend a low protein diet for certain cats (mainly cats with kidney disease), there are many reasons to not reduce the amount of protein your cat eats. Here are some myths and facts about low protein diets for cats.

  1. Myth: Older Cats Should Eat a Low Protein Diet

    • Fact: A low protein diet will not prevent chronic renal failure or any of the other diseases of advancing age. So there is no medical reason to put your senior cat on a low protein diet.

    Myth: Cats With Kidney Disease Need Low Protein Diets

    • Fact: Research suggests that it's the phosphorous in meat, not the meat itself, that contributes to the progression of chronic renal failure. A phosphorous binder can decrease serum phosphate levels in cats, even if they are not on a low protein diet.

    Myth: Too Much Protein Overworks the Kidneys

    • Fact: High-quality proteins are easily metabolized by cats and cause very little waste for the kidneys to process. The best proteins for cats are organ and muscle meat; the worst are soy, rice and other grains.

    Myth: Indoor Cats Do Best on a Low Protein Diet

    • Fact: Cats need meat for energy, and the amino acids in meat provide the building blocks of healthy skin, hair, muscles and organs. Those amino acids also produce the metabolic enzymes necessary for regulating antibodies within the immune system and for transferring nerve impulses. A low protein diet deprives cats of all those benefits and can result in loss of lean muscle mass.

    Myth: A Low Protein Diet Will Keep My Cat From Gaining Weight

    • Fact: Since cats convert protein to energy, feeding high-quality protein will not cause your cat to gain weight. The most common cause of obesity in cats is dry food, which usually contains a lot of grain and is very high in carbohydrates. Cats' bodies don't use grains efficiently, and in many cats they turn to fat.