Have you ever heard of kidney food for cats? The food has an exclusive composition for animals suffering from kidney diseases and is often indicated by veterinarians as a supportive treatment. So if you suspect you have a cat with kidney problems, it is very important to make an appointment with a veterinarian to have the correct diagnosis and have all the guidelines on how to treat them.treat and help your four-legged friend at this time.

Renal cat food, despite having its advantages, should not be consumed without professional monitoring. To answer all your questions about this type of food, indications, what it is for, composition and how to change cat food, we have prepared a very complete article on the subject. Just take a look!

Kidney food for cats: what is it for?

Anyone who lives with a cat has probably heard of this type of cat food, either because of a simple internet search on the care of chronic renal cats or because the veterinarian indicated it. Renal cat food serves to delay the progression of chronic kidney disease and at the same time alleviates the clinical signs of the problem. This increases quality of life and well-beingof the pet, in addition to prolonging its life expectancy.

Chronic kidney disease: why does it happen and why are cats most affected?

Felines are animals known for drinking little water. The big problem is that this facilitates - and a lot - the development of several dangerous pathologies, ranging from a simple kidney stone to a condition of renal failure in cats. No matter what the case is: if you live with a kitten, medical monitoring is essential to take care of your four-legged friend anddiagnose kidney problems early.

The reason behind the low water intake is related to the history of cats. Felines are animals of desert origin and therefore used to the scarcity of liquids since a long time ago. Still, encouraging the hydration of the pet is something very important to keep the kidneys working in perfect condition. Generally, kidney diseases manifest themselves in old age, when one has aHowever, nothing prevents the disease from developing ahead of time (especially if the animal has a genetic predisposition to it).

The main symptoms that indicate a kidney cat are:

• loss of appetite;
• weight loss;
• increase in thirst;
• increased frequency of cat pee;
• behavioral changes (apathy, aggressiveness or depression, for example);

If there is any suspicion of the problem, be sure to take your pet to the vet for further advice!

Understand the composition of cat food for cats with kidney problems

What differentiates kidney food for cats from other foods is that it has adjusted levels of protein, sodium and phosphorus. This is an important measure to prevent the progression of kidney damage, so veterinarians often recommend switching from traditional cat food to kidney food. As it has a low content of some nutrients that can overload the organ, the quality of kidney food is improved.pet's life improves.

In addition, the types of protein vary, and the food tends to be richer in other ingredients, such as vitamins, fatty acids and omega 6. However, it is important to take special care with the consumption of kidney food: cats should only adopt this type of diet with veterinary advice.

When should renal food for cats be indicated?

Contrary to what many may think, renal cat food is not indicated in any case of kidney disease. In fact, everything will depend on the stage of the disease, which will need to be assessed by a veterinarian specializing in the subject. Renal food is generally only indicated for cats undergoing treatment for chronic kidney disease from stage II.

Oh, and don't think about adopting this type of food as a preventive measure: this can have just the opposite effect, and cause the animal to become a kidney patient. That is why having the recommendation and support of a specialist makes all the difference in caring for the pet. Only a professional in the field will be able to identify the best time to start the new diet.

Kidney food: kittens and pregnant cats must not eat it.

Another reason to avoid taking any action on your own is because not all animals can use renal food. Kittens and pregnant or lactating cats are great examples of this, as any nutritional imbalance in this period can harm the cat's gestation and/or the kittens' development. In addition, cases of comorbidity also need attention: if theIf your kitten has one or more pre-existing conditions, it may have a restriction that prevents it from eating renal cat food.

To avoid any kind of problem, talk to your veterinarian about other treatment alternatives and main care. That way no one will be harmed!

5 benefits of renal cat food

1) Kidney food for cats has high-quality proteins that are easy to digest. This generates a minimal amount of waste, which a diseased kidney has less difficulty excreting.

2) The food is low in phosphorus, which is one of the biggest villains for cats with kidney problems.

3) With this type of food, renal cats have access to important nutrients such as fatty acids and omega 3. They have anti-inflammatory action and help in reducing systemic blood pressure.

4) Kidney food for cats has high levels of vitamins, especially B vitamins. As cat peeing becomes more frequent, a good part of the vitamins are often lost in the urine.

5) This type of food has the right level of sodium, helping to control systemic blood pressure.

Step by step on how to switch from traditional to renal cat food

The judicious and demanding feline palate requires some attention during the change. In addition to nausea, which is common when it comes to a renal cat, cats tend to reject "new" foods because they are too attached to their own routine. Thus, any change is not very welcome, especially if it is done suddenly. Therefore, changing cat food is something that should happen from time to time.gradual way so that the kitten does not feel strange and gradually gets used to the new food. See a step by step on how to make the transition to renal food:

Step 1: On the first day of the change, mix 80% of the food he already uses with 20% of the kidney food.

Step 2: On the second day, mix 60% of the food he already uses with 40% of the kidney food.

Step 3: On the third day, mix 40% of the food he already uses with 60% of the kidney food.

Step 4: On the fourth day, mix 20% of the food he already uses with 80% of the kidney food.

Step 5: On the fifth day, put 100% of the kidney food in the cat food bowl, as the cat will have adapted to the taste of the food.

Bonus: does home remedy for cat with kidney problem work?

For those who like to explore other alternatives, the news is not the best: unfortunately there are no home remedies for cats with kidney problems. In fact, the only person who can recommend a good treatment for your pet is your veterinarian. He will be able to assess which is the best medication that meets the needs of the pet. Antibiotics can be described,vitamins for cats and products that stimulate appetite, as well as other remedies that support kidney function.

Another option is fluid therapy in cats, a procedure that ensures the replacement and balance of substances in the body. There are also natural resources, such as homeopathic remedies and the use of floral for cats, but all of this should be guided by a professional. No type of self-medication is indicated, as it can further aggravate the animal's health condition.