Kidney disease can seem like a debilitating diagnosis for cats. However, kidney disease can often be controlled through diet. A specific diet is often one of the necessary steps to lessen the effects of kidney disease.

Because diet is so important, it can be overwhelming to choose an appropriate food for your cat. There are many options out there, and making the right choice could be the difference between life and death. You should work with your vet to choose the right food, of course. Doing your research and being informed is essential too.

In this article, we’ll review some of the best cat foods for kidney disease out there, as well as look at everything you need to know about kidney disease cat food.

Disclaimer: The foods reviewed here were chosen because they have certain characteristics that might help with some of the causes or consequences of this medical condition. However, they are not a medical treatment or a substitute for medical treatment. Keep in mind that each medical case is different and what works for some pets may not work for others. Your veterinarian is the right person to advise you on the best diet for your pet’s individual case.

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The 8 Best Cat Foods for Kidney Disease

1. Blue Buffalo Natural Veterinary Diet Kidney Grain-Free Dry Cat Food – Best Overall

Blue Buffalo is well-known for its high-quality cat food. However, they also have a veterinary line for specific health conditions, like their Blue Buffalo Natural Veterinary Diet Kidney Grain-Free Dry Cat Food. This diet is made explicitly for kidney disease. It has controlled levels of protein to prevent your cat’s kidneys from becoming overwhelmed. It is grain-free and has controlled levels of phosphorus and sodium. This helps support your cat’s overall health.

Other essential nutrients are also added, including DHA, glucosamine, and chondroitin. These help your cat’s overall health, such as their joint function and mobility.

The first ingredient in this renal cat food is deboned chicken, which is quite surprising for a kidney diet. However, the protein levels are pretty low. The second two ingredients are peas and pea starch. This is a technique called ingredient splitting, where the company splits an ingredient in half to make it appear lower on the ingredient list. If the pea and pea starch were included as one item, they would likely outnumber the chicken.

All in all, we think this is the overall best food for cats with kidney disease.

• See also: Can Cats Really Sense and Predict Death?

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2. Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets Kidney Function Canned Cat Food – Best Value

If you need a cheaper option, you may want to consider Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets Kidney Function Canned Cat Food. Purina is a less expensive company in general, though they still produce pretty good food. This cat food is specifically made to support kidney function. However, you are losing some quality due to the job in price.

The first ingredient is water, which is necessary for all wet foods. However, meat by-products are the second ingredient, which is an extremely low-quality option. There is no way to know where this meat comes from, as it is labeled as just “meat.” This is likely one of the most low-quality meats you can put in cat food.

There are other meats included as well, including chicken hearts, liver, and poultry by-products. Salmon is included as well, though it is much further down on the list. This ingredient does add some omega fatty acids, which are essential for your feline’s health.

If budget is a main focus, we think this is the best cat food for kidney health for the money.

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3. Royal Canin Renal Support D Canned Cat Food – Premium Choice

Cats with kidney disease often have lower appetites, so Royal Canin Renal Support D Canned Cat Food is made to be highly palatable. It is wet food, which many cats find yummier. Plus, the added moisture is helpful for your cat’s kidneys. This food is also low in phosphorus while still being high in antioxidants and fatty acids. Protein levels are controlled as well.

The ingredients are decently high-quality in this cat food for kidney disease. The first one is water, which is essential for high-moisture wet foods. Chicken by-products are the second ingredient. This isn’t high-quality. However, the by-products source is named, so it isn’t the worst option out there. Chicken liver and whole pork are included as well.

This food is pea-free and doesn’t include that many veggies. Mostly, it seems to be made of the necessary protein and a few grains to decrease the food’s overall protein content.

To conclude, when it comes to premium picks, we think this is the best cat food for kidney health out there.

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4. Hill’s Prescription Diet Kidney Care Cat Food

Hill’s Prescription Diet Kidney Care Cat Food might be a good choice for many cats if you need to choose dry food for whatever reason. This is one of the few dry-food options for cats with kidney disease. This food is made to be palatable to increase your feline’s appetite, which is essential for many cats with kidney disease.

This food is made with controlled levels of phosphorous and sodium. There are also high levels of omega-3 fatty acids and l-carnitine. It includes all the necessary amino acids your cat needs, though it is low-protein.

The ingredients are okay, especially when you consider that it is made for cats with kidney disease. Brown rice and corn gluten meal are the first two ingredients. Typically, we would consider this very high-quality. However, because protein needs to be controlled, adding lower meat levels is the only way to make a diet for cats with kidney disease functionally.

The meat included is high-quality. Most of it is chicken. Pork fat is added, though this doesn’t increase the protein content.

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5. Hill’s Prescription Diet Kidney Care Canned Cat Food

Hill’s Prescription Diet Kidney Care Canned Cat Food is an average food for cats with kidney disease. Moisture is essential for many cats with kidney disease. This is mainly because water is vital for kidney function. There is quite a bit of chicken included, which is a high-quality option. Pork liver is included as well, which is also very high-quality. Despite these included protein sources, this food is one of the lowest in protein we have seen. It is only at 4%, which is relatively lower than many other options. This may be a good or bad thing for your cat. We recommend speaking with your vet.

This food is designed to be palatable. If your feline is having appetite problems, this may be helpful. This is a common problem with kidney disease.

The protein level of this food is controlled. It includes limited levels of both phosphorus and sodium as well.

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6. Hill’s Prescription Diet k/d Kidney Care + Mobility Care with Chicken & Vegetable Stew Canned Cat Food

Senior cats often have all sorts of problems. If your cat has kidney disease and mobility problems, the Hill’s Prescription Diet k/d Kidney Care + Mobility Care with Chicken & Vegetable Stew Canned Cat Food may be a suitable option. This food is designed to handle pretty much any problem your senior cat may be having, including kidney disease, cognitive problems, and mobility issues.

This food has controlled phosphorus and sodium, which is essential for controlling kidney function. High levels of amino acid are included to prevent further mobility issues, while the overall protein content is relatively low. It includes added antioxidants and therapeutic levels of fatty acids. This can improve your feline’s mobility, as fatty acids are helpful for joint health.

The ingredients are pretty high-quality. Chicken is the second ingredient after water. Pork liver is the third ingredient and is a very high-quality option.

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7. Weruva Truluxe Grain-Free Canned Cat Food

While Weruva Truluxe Grain-Free Canned Cat Food is sometimes recommended for kidney disease, it isn’t designed for kidney disease. It includes beef broth as the first ingredient, which raises the protein content by a bit. Beef is the first ingredient and the only meat ingredient in this food. It is a high-quality option. However, it adds to the food’s protein content substantially.

The protein content of this renal cat food is relatively high – at 10%. This is much higher than cats with kidney disease need, which is why this food landed so low on the list. The sodium and phosphorus content is also not controlled according to the description.

It does include gravy, which may be useful for attracting picky cats. It is completely grain-free and balanced. There are no GMOs or MSG in the food. Amino acids, vitamins, and minerals are all added and balanced, though not necessarily for a cat with kidney disease.

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8. Weruva Wx Phos Focused Tilapia Tuna

Next on our list is another Weruva food, Weruva Wx Phos Focused. This recipe is particularly low in phosphorus and bioavailable proteins supporting amino acid absorption, all important for cats with kidney disease. Weruva Wx Phos Focused is an all-natural puree formula that helps keep your cat hydrated as well. Cat owners know how hard it is to get their felines to drink water, so this food is a bonus. We like the tilapia tuna flavor, but this formula also comes in chicken flavor.

Of course, some cats are picky and might not like the texture of the puree. Cats with long fur might get the puree stuck in the fur around their mouths.

Buyer’s Guide: Selecting the Best Cat Foods for Kidney Disease

Choosing the best cat food for kidney health can seem stressful, especially with all the options on the market. Selecting a commercial cat food for kidney disease can be even more stressful, as it may be the difference between slowing the disease and allowing it to progress. There are quite a few options on the market for kidney disease.

In this section, we’ll take a look at everything you need to know about selecting the right food for your feline with kidney disease.

What is Kidney Disease?

The kidneys filter out waste from your cat’s blood and transmit it into the urine. This is an essential function, as your cat can’t remove waste any other way. However, sometimes the kidneys stop working at full capacity for a variety of reasons. This makes the level of waste s build up in your cat’s blood system, which can cause all sorts of issues.

Eventually, this disease can lead to death. Chronic kidney disease is not curable, but it can be treated with diet and similar therapies.

Nutrition and Kidney Disease

Nutrition is essential for treating kidney disease. Your cat will need a special diet. Diet can help control clinical symptoms of kidney disease, which can improve your cat’s quality of life. Usually, diets with kidney disease have less protein, sodium, and phosphorous. This lowers the amount of work your feline’s kidneys need to do. Increased omega-3 fatty acids are also included, as they may help improve your cat’s symptoms.

Every pet is unique in their nutritional needs, so we recommend reaching out to your vet for advice.

What are the Specific Nutritional Requirements for Cats with Kidney Disease?

Water

Cats with kidney disease need higher levels of water, which helps support the kidneys. Often, cats will automatically drink more when they’re affected by kidney disease. However, it is still essential to increase their moisture intake any way they cat. Canned food is usually the best way to accomplish this, as it includes higher levels of moisture naturally.

Of course, you should provide your cat with plenty of fresh water as well.

Protein

The kidneys must filter out waste products from protein. If the cat eats less protein, their blood will contain fewer of these waste products, decreasing the amount of work the kidneys must do. This can prevent the progression of the disease and lower your cat’s symptoms.

This is likely the essential part of any kidney disease diet. You don’t want the protein too low, though, as your cats may begin to break down their own muscle mass to compensate.

Sodium

Sodium should be somewhat restricted to help the kidneys, as they filter out excess sodium as well. This can reduce the progression of the disease as well.

Phosphorus

Phosphorus should be limited as well to slow the progression of the disease. Why this works isn’t known, but it is a commonly accepted fact within the community. Most foods have restricted phosphorous levels.

Omega Fatty Acids

Omega fatty acids may help your feline’s kidneys. This is thought to be due to their inflammation-fighting properties, though it isn’t wholly understood either. It may reduce the amount of protein that leaches through the kidneys.

Can Cats with Kidney Disease Eat Chicken?

Yes. It is not about the specific ingredients in their food but the overall phosphorus, sodium, and protein amounts. Many suitable foods may include chicken as the primary protein but are formulated to keep protein levels low. You should not feed your cat cooked or raw chicken, though. Chicken is just made of protein, which is the last thing a cat with kidney disease needs extra of.

Are Eggs Good for Cats with Kidney Disease?

In moderation. Eggs may be added to include extra nutrients, as they are very nutrient-dense. They are also low in phosphorus, which can make them a suitable choice.

However, the eggs need to be combined with other foods to ensure the diet is low in protein overall. Eggs are pretty protein-rich, so your cat should not be given plain eggs. If it’s in a formulated diet, that’s okay, as other foods have offset their protein content. It’s the whole diet that matters, not necessarily the specific ingredients.

Final Verdict

Out of all the kidney disease cat foods, Blue Buffalo Natural Veterinary Diet Kidney Grain-Free Dry Cat Food is the best option. It includes low levels of protein, but the protein included is exceptionally high-quality. It’s also low in phosphorus and sodium, which is essential for cats with kidney disease. Many added nutrients are also included, including omega fatty acids.

Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets Kidney Function Canned Cat Food is another good budget option. It has controlled protein levels and added omega fatty acids. However, it is much cheaper than other veterinary diets.

Hopefully, this article helped you shift through the many kidney support diets out there. Choosing a diet can seem overwhelming. But, with a bit of background knowledge, it can be much more doable. Plus, our reviews should help you choose the exact diet that fits your needs.

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Featured Image Credit: Lenar Nigmatullin, Shutterstock