Comments on: Best Low Protein Cat Food

By: Kate Barrington

Kate Barrington — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 19:55:53 +0000

In reply to Emilie. Hi Emilie, I'd be happy to help answer this question. Animal proteins like turkey, chicken, and fish are generally very digestible for cats. When you say 10% protein, do you mean the as-fed amount listed on the Guaranteed Analysis? Assuming a moisture content of 78%, that would make the dry matter protein content around 45% which is very good for cats. Given your cat's kidney disease, however, it's always a good idea to consult your vet to assess your cat's specific protein requirements.

By: Emilie

Emilie — Sun, 11 Feb 2024 00:35:21 +0000

In reply to Lori Wentz. Thank you for this helpful ful article. My 15 year old cat has some kidney disease. Shes been on wellness pate canned food for 13 years. Turkey salmon or chicken herring. They seem to be about 10% protein. Is that considered a food digest or protein level for her to continue eating?

By: Kate Barrington

Kate Barrington — Tue, 06 Feb 2024 17:46:36 +0000

In reply to Vivian. Hi Vivian! Sorry to hear about the struggles with your cat. If mixing the two foods is working, that may be the best option to make sure she gets the calories and nutrients she needs. Another option is to try adding a wet food topper or some warm broth to make the renal food more appealing. Let us know if that works!

By: Vivian

Vivian — Wed, 10 Jan 2024 10:29:44 +0000

Hi There!
Out 16 cat had a health crisis. We were told she had a stroke and is now on Atenolol for life now. We were told to put her on a renal diet because of her high creatinine and nitrogen levels. She is a super fussy eater. And we finally found the Blue label Wilderness cat food that she loves. We bought the Royal Canines Renal cat food, and she won’t eat it. So we are mixing the renal diet 50/50 with her old food just to get her to eat right now. Can you please suggest anything for us? She is not keen on beef or turkey.

By: Mallory Crusta

Mallory Crusta — Wed, 20 Sep 2023 16:50:41 +0000

In reply to Bonnie. Hmm, that's a difficult situation! If your cat is on a renal diet, I would consider adding an omega-3 fatty acid supplement to it. You don't want to change to a non-kidney diet, but the added omegas should help to reduce inflammation and support joint health. You can add it to all of your cat's food.

By: Bonnie

Bonnie — Sun, 17 Sep 2023 20:50:30 +0000

I cannot get any vet to write a prescription for Blue Buffalo Natural Veterinary Diet K+M Kidney + Mobility Support Grain-Free Dry Cat Food, 7-lb bag. I was able to get it for my kidney stressed cat (cashier was new by and did not ask for prescription). I mixed it with the Royal Canin Renal and Hills Renal and they loved it. I think they needed the extra mobility factor that was in it. Now they go without it.

By: Mallory Crusta

Mallory Crusta — Mon, 28 Aug 2023 19:43:49 +0000

In reply to SD. Instead of any of these, I would now recommend their Wx low-phosphorus food. They recently launched this line, and I think it's the best meaty low-phosphorus diet out there. Again, it's not a prescription diet and doesn't check all the kidney care boxes, but it should help.

By: SD

SD — Fri, 25 Aug 2023 20:26:18 +0000

Hello Mallory,
My cat also has kidney disease and I have been searching for cat food that meets the requirement of low phosphorus, low protein with high quality protein. He refuses to eat Hills Rx k/d. I tried Merrill Duck recipe he ate it 1x so I bought more, but now sure if that is a low protein high quality protein. I am now asking the vet for Cerenia to control the vomiting but trying to find food is a nightmare because I don’t know what to look for on the label. I saw you recommend Weruva Steak Frites as low protein with high quality protein but I am wondering if their other brands Pretty in Pink (salmon) and Quick and Quirky (chicken and turkey), Cat on the Wok etc. would be low protein high quality.?
look forward to our response.

By: Mallory Crusta

Mallory Crusta — Wed, 28 Jun 2023 21:35:01 +0000

In reply to Lori Wentz. Hello Lori, apologies for the late reply! This thread includes some recommendations from someone who is, I believe, in a similar position to you. Aside from the recommendations here, I think an ideal would be a diet specially formulated for your cat by a board-certified veterinary nutritionist. The needs of a cat with liver shunts are different than those with kidney disease, so I can't recommend one of our lower-protein homemade kidney diets. You may be able to get some good advice from the vet moderators in the Cats.com Community here.

By: Lori Wentz

Lori Wentz — Mon, 19 Jun 2023 13:02:30 +0000

Hi, Mallory. Thank you for the information and helpful breakdown of your choices’ nutrition. I’ve referred back to your article(s) several times looking for a food my cat, Max, will enjoy. He was diagnosed with a liver shunt last fall, and after thousands of dollars saving his life, I’m trying to maintain it. He’s on daily meds to control the excess ammonia, and he’s always been a finicky eater. His thyroid was whacked out, too, so he ate anything not eating him for a while, including the Hill’s k/d, which he won’t touch now. He is more of a fan of Royal Canin, but he’d prefer to sneak our other cat’s dry food most of the time. He will only pate in wet; anything else he just licks off the gravy (like the Weruva above). I’ve researched until my head spins. My vet is very “he can only eat Hill’s k/d” so there are no “outside the box” ideas on that front. I’ve been toying with making him food but I’m at a loss on how to find protein with high bioavailability. Any suggestions? Thank you so much again for your article.