The Key Factors To Choosing A Diet For A Cat With Kidney Disease
Posted on: 13 June 2016
If your cat has been diagnosed with kidney disease, chances are your veterinarian has told you that it's important for them to eat a special kind of cat food. Understanding what your cat will need in their diet is an important part of keeping your kitty healthy for as long as possible. This guide will explain what can hurt your cat, help your cat, and how to build your cat's diet around these things.
Harmful Excess Protein
Cats are carnivores, so diets for healthy cats generally include a lot of protein. Unfortunately, excess protein has to be filtered and extruded from the body, which is a responsibility of the kidneys.
When a cat is healthy, this doesn't cause any severe strain on their body. However, when the kidneys are already sick or failing, it puts additional strain on them and forces them to work harder. This can make the remaining functioning nephrons in your cat's kidneys fail faster.
The easiest thing to do is to put your cat on special kidney diet food which tends to be lower in protein. You could also look for senior variety cat food, which tends to have more fat and less protein. It's also a good idea to avoid giving your cat any kind of meat table scraps, as they can quickly consume more protein than their body needs.
The Importance of Calories and Fat
Cats with kidney disease tend to lose weight, especially as the disease progresses. While excess protein is something to be avoided, it's important to make sure your cat eats plenty of calories and fat. The goal here isn't to make your cat fat, which is unhealthy, but to keep them at a healthy weight. If your cat seems to be noticeably losing or gaining weight, go to your vet for support.
Dry Versus Wet Food
Veterinarians tend to suggest only feeding your cat wet food once they develop kidney disease. Cat kibble is extremely dry, and your cat's body has to consume more water to break it down and process it. Wet food contains a lot of liquid, which will help your cat to keep their fluid consumption up, and that's vital to keeping their kidneys healthy.
Kidney disease may seem like a scary prognosis, but it's fairly manageable if you catch it in the early stages. Follow these tips and your veterinarian's advice to help your cat stay healthy for as long as possible.
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