Everyone knows that kidney problems are very common in cats. This usually happens because of inefficient feeding and also because felines are not in the habit of drinking water frequently, which turns out to be a reason for kidney failure in cats. When the condition is detected, several measures need to be taken to circumvent the consequences of this serious disease, whichincludes a change in the animal's diet. Kidney food for cats, for example, helps to keep the kitten with a good quality of life, even sick. Want to know more about it? The Paws of the House interviewed veterinarian Simone Amado, who specializes in animal nutrition, and she will tell you everything you need to know about this type of food.

What is kidney food for cats used for and when is it suitable?

If you have a cat with kidney problems, it is very likely that the veterinarian has already suggested changes in the feline's diet. This is because, depending on the case, the ideal is to opt for renal food for cats which, according to Simone, has the role of delaying the progression of chronic kidney disease and relieving its clinical signs, increasing the quality and life span of the animal. "Renal food is indicatedfor cats being treated for chronic kidney disease from stage II onwards," he explains.

However, it is worth noting that any change in your kitten's nutritional management should be done with the help of a professional - preferably with a specialization in animal nutrition - and never on your own. "The veterinarian is the professional trained to indicate the ideal time for the change in the cat's food management", advises Simone.

Food: renal cats need a more specific diet

The kidneys are very important organs, both for human and feline health. As the veterinarian explains, they are responsible for eliminating toxins from the body, regulating blood pressure, producing hormones and vitamin D, among other functions. Therefore, if this organ is compromised, it is important to look for alternatives to control the disease. There aredifferent types of food for felines and investing in a food for cats with kidney problems, for example, can be a good solution.

With this food, renal cats have a totally different quality of life, as you will see below. Here are some of the nutritional benefits of this food, according to Simone:

- The food uses very high quality, highly digestible proteins, thus generating as little waste as possible that a diseased kidney would find difficult to excrete;

- It reduces phosphorus levels, one of the biggest villains in chronic kidney disease, and is one of the most important measures to prevent the progression of kidney damage;

- It provides important nutrients, such as fatty acids and omega 3, which have anti-inflammatory action and help reduce systemic blood pressure;

- Reduces the oxidative stress of chronic injury by providing levels of antioxidant substances;

- It has high levels of vitamins, especially B vitamins. Due to the increased urinary frequency, these vitamins are lost in greater quantities in the urine;

- It controls sodium levels, which helps control systemic blood pressure;

Kidney food: do cats have any contraindications to this type of food?

Because it is a serious disease and requires a very specific diet, kidney food for cats has some contraindications. According to Simone, the alert applies to kittens, pregnant or lactating cats, as well as cases of comorbidities, that is, when the cat has more than one disease. In these situations, the suggestion is that the guardian always looks for a professional in the area of health.animal nutrition, who will understand the feline's nutritional needs and indicate the best treatment based on the animal's lifestyle.

Kidney food: cat must go through a gradual adaptation process

Before fully replacing the traditional food with kidney food, the cat should start consuming the new food little by little. Always remember that very sudden changes can end up harming the process of adapting to the new food and, in some cases, the cat may even end up refusing to eat. The replacement needs to be done gradually. "The ideal is to dedicate 7 days to the substitution anddecrease the amount of the old feed while increasing the amount of the new one", suggests Simone.