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Junior Member
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Last Login: 10/12/2009 10:50:47 PM
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Hi friends, I am new to this web site and need some help with a very old cat who has kidney problems. My vet has put my cat on a special dry cat food (Hill's prescription Diet k/d) and she has a problem keeping her weight up. At this point I am trying to find anything she will eat. Can I have some suggestions for healthy people food that I might prepare for my cat? I am assuming protein is the problem for my friend. Many thanks, DNC
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Forum Guru
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Last Login: Yesterday @ 8:33:46 PM
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I am new to this web site and need some help with a very old cat who has kidney problems. My vet has put my cat on a special dry cat food (Hill's prescription Diet k/d)
Welcome to the Cat Channel. I am very sorry to hear of your cat's diagnosis. I am currently caring for my third CRF cat, so I'm well acquainted with this disease.
There is considerable controversy regarding the "ideal" diet for a CRF cat. Most people now believe that protein should be restricted only in end stage CRF, but that cats in earlier stages of the disease need high quality protein in order to maintain strength and health. Restricting protein in the earlier stages tends to weaken CRF cats.
There is no controversy where certain dietary issues are concerned, however. First, CRF cats should be fed canned food if they are willing to eat it. Dry kibble is dehydrating, and that's the LAST thing a CRF cat needs. If your cat really requires a prescription renal diet, try the canned versions and see if your cat will eat them. You may have better luck convincing your cat to eat them if you transition very gradually from regular canned food by mixing in just a tiny bit of renal food, then gradually increasing the amount over time. There are several companies who manufacturer prescription renal foods, so if your cat won't eat canned K/D, see if your vet or another vet in your area carries the other brands that you can try, or consider ordering it online.
Second, if you decide not to feed a prescription diet, choose foods that are as low in phosphorus as possible. Lowering dietary phosphorus is important for CRF cats in all stages of the disease. You can find listings of nutrient values, including phosphorus, in many cat foods here:
http://www.geocities.com/jmpeerson/canfood.html
http://webpages.charter.net/katkarma/canfood.htm
Third, feed your cat what she'll eat. If she refuses to eat any canned food, prescription or commercial, then feed her kibble or try homemade food. We always try to convince our cats to eat the foods that are best for them, but when they refuse, they MUST still eat. So then we feed them whatever they WILL eat ... period. NEVER EVER withhold food from a CRF cat in the attempt to force her to eat the "right" food.
and she has a problem keeping her weight up. At this point I am trying to find anything she will eat.
This is a common problem in many CRF cats. The following links will provide you with many tips and tricks to try to convince your cat to take in more food:
http://www.felinecrf.org/persuading_cat_to_eat.htm
http://www.assistfeed.com/
http://www.yahoogroups.com/group/Feline-Assisted-Feeding
Please feel free to post any more questions you may have about this disease or its management. You may also find a lot of useful information and links in the following thread on this forum:
Kitty Kidney Trouble
I wish you and your girl all the best,
Laurie
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http://lfrazer.com
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Forum Guru
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Last Login: Yesterday @ 8:11:36 PM
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Most cat food is a horror story of ingredents. Its even perfectly legal to put cats in cat food ( all those PTS cats gotta go somewhere don't they)
VERY few foods out there are decent. Most of what you find in supermarkets is basically just Garbage. Even the Hills stuff you are into is Garbage, and grainy to boot, cats are pure carnivores. Vets unless qualified in holistic feline food, really can't be trusted on diet, most of what they learn in vet school is through mass corps that just want to make money off people.
Innova EVO
Instincts
Wellness
Natures logic
Go, are some of the better ones.
Raw diets are the best but in a cat thats old its probably not realistic.
A cat can live over 30, most don't because of the food they are given, just as humans can live over 100 but don't because they eat mc donalds and stuff.
cats as pets
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