Feeding guide for cats with advanced kidney disease

Q: What fattier meats can I use?

Poultry: Boneless dark meat chicken with skin on, boneless duck including all fat and skin, boneless whole pigeon including skin Beef: Coles 3 star beef mince (18% fat), T-bone steak (bone removed, fat untrimmed), scotch fillet steak (untrimmed), porterhouse steak (untrimmed) Lamb: Cleavers organic lamb mince (19.7% fat) or Coles 3 Star lamb mince (20% fat), loin or forequarter chops (bone removed, untrimmed) Pork: Scotch roast or fillet steaks (untrimmed), pastured pork mince (20% fat), pork and beef mince (15% fat), loin chops (untrimmed) Venison: Mince (6-8% fat) PLUS 100 grams of additional fat (choose from raw or rendered animal fats e.g. duck fat, tallow, lard, dripping or raw beef or lamb fat, or olive oil (light flavour)) Wild boar: Mince (6-8% fat) PLUS 100 grams of additional fat (choose from raw or rendered animal fats e.g. duck fat, tallow, lard, dripping or raw beef or lamb fat, or olive oil (light flavour))

Q: What leaner meats can I use?

Chicken and turkey: Skinless and boneless chicken thigh, breast or drumstick, chicken mince (2-3% fat), chicken hearts (fat trimmed off), chicken gizzards Pork: Rump steak (fat trimmed off), mince (5% fat), sizzle steaks, loin medallions (fat trimmed off) Lamb: Diced or stir-fry strips (5% fat), chump chops, leg steak or rump (fat trimmed off), loin chops or eye of loin, heart (fat trimmed off) Beef: Blade, round or rump steak (fat trimmed off), mince (5% fat), veal loin chops (untrimmed), chuck or gravy beef (fat trimmed off), topside roast or steak (fat trimmed off), eye fillet steak (fat trimmed off), cheek (fat trimmed off) Wild Alaskan pink salmon: Canned in spring water (entire can contents) Goat: Lean diced meat or heart (fat trimmed off) Kangaroo: Mince (2-3% fat) Rabbit: Wild or farmed rabbit meat (2-5% fat) Venison: Shoulder (fat trimmed off), tenderloin or leg steak (2-5% fat) Blue mussels: Cooked only (no shells)

Q: Why add omega-3 and fibre to my cat's diet?

For cats with kidney disease, both omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) and fibre may have a beneficial therapeutic effect. Fibre has been shown to reduce uraemic toxin formation in the gut, and BUN and creatinine may be reduced. Omega-3 fatty acids may reduce kidney fibrosis and DHA in particular may help to protect the kidneys in cats with early kidney disease. We add both omega-3 and fibre to CompleteMe Renal Feline, however we also recommend adding more to the diet, for a stronger therapeutic effect. In reality, it is difficult to add enough omega-3 and fibre to a meal completer to achieve this, without the supplement becoming unpalatable, expensive and bulky. It's better to add it to the food separately, so you can also adjust the dose as needed and introduce it gradually.

Q: Can I use raw meat?

You can include the meat raw or cooked, depending on preference. For raw human-grade meat, be sure to freeze the meat for 10 days prior to use. For wild-caught meats or pork (in areas with Trichinella, freezing for 3 weeks prior to use is sensible. Please discuss raw-feeding with your cat's veterinarian; raw feeding is not suitable for all cats or households.

Q: My cat needs a moderate to low fat advanced renal diet; what can I do?

This diet is high in fat. Some nutritionists have observed that some cats with pancreatitis may not tolerate a very high fat diet. At the moment, there is no published evidence to support this, however research on this is currently being conducted. To reduce the fat content of the diet, we can either increase protein or carbohydrate. There is evidence that, even for cats with early kidney disease, feeding excessive protein (more than they need) may increase uraemic toxin formation , and these toxins can cause harm. So, we need to increase carbohydrate. To do this, please adjust the ratios of ingredients and add a carbohydrate source: 200 grams of leaner meat (see FAQ above for options) 400 grams of fattier meat (see FAQ above for options) 400 grams of cooked white rice or cooked pearled barley ( process briefly in food processor after cooking, to break up the grains, as needed ) 4 mL of omega-3-rich oil 2-3 teaspoons of added fibre 35 grams of CompleteMe Renal Feline Please follow preparation instructions above. This produces a diet with the preferred amounts for protein and phosphorus, 35% calories from fat, and 30% calories from carbohydrate. Generally a lower carbohydrate diet would be preferred for cats with diabetes, however some cats may tolerate this amount. Barley would be the preferred option, for its lesser effect on blood glucose (compared with rice).

Q: What are some of the most delicious combinations?

Here are some ideas: Chicken thigh (skin on) with wild pink salmon Pork mince (15% fat) with rabbit meat Beef scotch fillet with kangaroo mince Duck breast (skin on) with venison shoulder Chicken thigh (skin on) and turkey mince (6% fat) To encourage your cat to eat, try adding a small amount of grated full-fat cheese, crumbled freeze-dried treats, the spring water from a tin of tuna, or commercial treats like Churu. Even if these treats aren't optimal from a nutritional perspective, they can gradually be reduced over time.

Q: Is this suitable for cats with diabetes?

Yes, this diet is ultra-low in carbohydrate and can be fed to diabetic cats. Please note that it is high in fat. This may or may not suit some cats with pancreatitis. If you are looking for a moderate fat renal diet, please see the FAQ above.

Feeding guide for cats with advanced kidney disease

With CompleteMe Renal Feline

Make low phosphorus therapeutic cat food at home quickly and easily. Formulated for cats with IRIS stage 3-4 chronic kidney disease.

Choose the meat and other ingredients you would like to use with our simple, flexible guide.

Makes 1 kilogram of food, which can be portioned and frozen.

Ingredients

900 grams of fattier meat (20% fat)
Please see the FAQs below for options for meat types and cuts.

100 grams of leaner meat (2-5% fat)
Please see the FAQs below for options for meat types and cuts.

50-100 mL of water or broth

4 mL of omega-3-rich oil (4 x 1000 mg capsules)
(choose from: fish oil, salmon oil, krill oil, marine algae oil)

2 to 3 teaspoons of prebiotic fibre
(choose from: chia seeds, oat or barley bran, psyllium husk, inulin, FOS (fructooligosaccharides), hydrolyzed collagen or gelatine)

35 grams CompleteMe Renal Feline

Optional:
1 level tablespoon of one of the following:
Egg yolk, boneless sardine or mackerel fillets, tasty cheese (full fat), natural yoghurt, finely chopped fresh leafy greens (for example, dandelion greens, rocket).

Directions

Batch prep with raw meat:

Dice or grind the raw meats, as desired.
Combine with 35 grams CompleteMe Renal Feline, 50-100 mL water, fibre, omega-3, and any optional ingredients, and mix again.
Portion and refrigerate, or freeze.

Batch prep with cooked meat:

Gently cook the diced or ground meats in a pot or slow cooker with 50-150 mL water, until cooked (20-30 minutes).
Allow to cool, then combine the cooked meat (including liquid from pot), 35 grams of CompleteMe Renal Feline, fibre, omega-3, and any optional ingredients, and mix well.
Portion and refrigerate, or freeze.

Storage and safety

Use with homemade diets only

Do not add to any commercial cat food, or use with any other nutritional supplements (containing vitamins and/or minerals). Only suitable for adult cats; this diet is not appropriate for growing kittens or reproducing females.

Raw feeding safety

For raw meat, freeze for 10 days before use to destroy parasites like Toxoplasma. In areas with Trichinella, please freeze pork for 3 weeks before use. In areas with highly pathogenic avian influenza, we recommend avoiding raw poultry.

Storage and feeding

Larger batches can be made and frozen for convenience. Keep refrigerated food for 3 days, and frozen food for 3-4 months. Please discard any uneaten food after 30 minutes.

Feeding guidelines

Based on your cat's body weight, these amounts (per day) may be a good starting point:

2 kg: 50-65 g
3 kg: 70-85 g
4 kg: 90-100 g
5 kg: 100-120 g
6 kg: 115-140 g
7 kg: 130-160 g
8 kg: 140-170 g

Adjust up or down based on your cat's size, age, body condition, and activity level. Most cats eat 2-4% of their body weight daily. This is a general guideline; please consult with your cat's veterinarian as needed.

For cats with very advanced disease, and/or underweight cats, we recommend calculating your cat's energy requirement and required grams per day with the help of your cat's veterinarian.

Be sure to monitor your cat's weight every few days; an at-home digital baby scale makes this very quick and easy.

Nutritional information

All possible combinations of the ingredients listed above have been checked to ensure that the diet contains moderate to low protein, restricted phosphorus, controlled calcium and sodium, and is highly enriched with omega-3 fatty acids, and fibre.

Please note, this is a very high fat diet. See FAQs below for a moderate fat option.

The specifications for the diet are very similar to commercial advanced renal diets for cats, like Royal Canin Renal and Hill's Prescription Diet k/d.

The average kcal/gram for the diet is: 2.2 kcal/gram
The average protein on a caloric basis is: 31%
The average fat on a caloric basis is: 69%
The avergae carbohydrate on a caloric basis is <1%

Average phosphorus for the diet is:
0.19% as fed basis
0.50% dry matter basis
0.81 g per 1000 kcal ME

Average calcium for the diet is:
0.24% as fed basis
0.68% dry matter basis
1.3 g per 1000 kcal ME

The average calcium to phosphorus ratio is: 1.6

FAQs

What fattier meats can I use?

Poultry:
Boneless dark meat chicken with skin on, boneless duck including all fat and skin, boneless whole pigeon including skin

Beef:
Coles 3 star beef mince (18% fat), T-bone steak (bone removed, fat untrimmed), scotch fillet steak (untrimmed), porterhouse steak (untrimmed)

Lamb:
Cleavers organic lamb mince (19.7% fat) or Coles 3 Star lamb mince (20% fat), loin or forequarter chops (bone removed, untrimmed)

Pork:
Scotch roast or fillet steaks (untrimmed), pastured pork mince (20% fat), pork and beef mince (15% fat), loin chops (untrimmed)

Venison:
Mince (6-8% fat) PLUS 100 grams of additional fat (choose from raw or rendered animal fats e.g. duck fat, tallow, lard, dripping or raw beef or lamb fat, or olive oil (light flavour))

Wild boar:
Mince (6-8% fat) PLUS 100 grams of additional fat (choose from raw or rendered animal fats e.g. duck fat, tallow, lard, dripping or raw beef or lamb fat, or olive oil (light flavour))

What leaner meats can I use?

Chicken and turkey:
Skinless and boneless chicken thigh, breast or drumstick, chicken mince (2-3% fat), chicken hearts (fat trimmed off), chicken gizzards

Pork:
Rump steak (fat trimmed off), mince (5% fat), sizzle steaks, loin medallions (fat trimmed off)

Lamb:
Diced or stir-fry strips (5% fat), chump chops, leg steak or rump (fat trimmed off), loin chops or eye of loin, heart (fat trimmed off)

Beef:
Blade, round or rump steak (fat trimmed off), mince (5% fat), veal loin chops (untrimmed), chuck or gravy beef (fat trimmed off), topside roast or steak (fat trimmed off), eye fillet steak (fat trimmed off), cheek (fat trimmed off)

Wild Alaskan pink salmon:
Canned in spring water (entire can contents)

Goat:
Lean diced meat or heart (fat trimmed off)

Kangaroo:
Mince (2-3% fat)

Rabbit:
Wild or farmed rabbit meat (2-5% fat)

Venison:
Shoulder (fat trimmed off), tenderloin or leg steak (2-5% fat)

Blue mussels:
Cooked only (no shells)

Why add omega-3 and fibre to my cat's diet?

For cats with kidney disease, both omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) and fibre may have a beneficial therapeutic effect. Fibre has been shown to reduce uraemic toxin formation in the gut, and BUN and creatinine may be reduced. Omega-3 fatty acids may reduce kidney fibrosis and DHA in particular may help to protect the kidneys in cats with early kidney disease.

We add both omega-3 and fibre to CompleteMe Renal Feline, however we also recommend adding more to the diet, for a stronger therapeutic effect. In reality, it is difficult to add enough omega-3 and fibre to a meal completer to achieve this, without the supplement becoming unpalatable, expensive and bulky. It's better to add it to the food separately, so you can also adjust the dose as needed and introduce it gradually.

Can I use raw meat?

You can include the meat raw or cooked, depending on preference. For raw human-grade meat, be sure to freeze the meat for 10 days prior to use. For wild-caught meats or pork (in areas with Trichinella, freezing for 3 weeks prior to use is sensible. Please discuss raw-feeding with your cat's veterinarian; raw feeding is not suitable for all cats or households.

My cat needs a moderate to low fat advanced renal diet; what can I do?

This diet is high in fat. Some nutritionists have observed that some cats with pancreatitis may not tolerate a very high fat diet. At the moment, there is no published evidence to support this, however research on this is currently being conducted.

To reduce the fat content of the diet, we can either increase protein or carbohydrate. There is evidence that, even for cats with early kidney disease, feeding excessive protein (more than they need) may increase uraemic toxin formation, and these toxins can cause harm. So, we need to increase carbohydrate.

To do this, please adjust the ratios of ingredients and add a carbohydrate source:

200 grams of leaner meat (see FAQ above for options)
400 grams of fattier meat (see FAQ above for options)
400 grams of cooked white rice or cooked pearled barley (process briefly in food processor after cooking, to break up the grains, as needed)
4 mL of omega-3-rich oil
2-3 teaspoons of added fibre
35 grams of CompleteMe Renal Feline

Please follow preparation instructions above. This produces a diet with the preferred amounts for protein and phosphorus, 35% calories from fat, and 30% calories from carbohydrate. Generally a lower carbohydrate diet would be preferred for cats with diabetes, however some cats may tolerate this amount. Barley would be the preferred option, for its lesser effect on blood glucose (compared with rice).

What are some of the most delicious combinations?

Here are some ideas:

Chicken thigh (skin on) with wild pink salmon
Pork mince (15% fat) with rabbit meat
Beef scotch fillet with kangaroo mince
Duck breast (skin on) with venison shoulder
Chicken thigh (skin on) and turkey mince (6% fat)

To encourage your cat to eat, try adding a small amount of grated full-fat cheese, crumbled freeze-dried treats, the spring water from a tin of tuna, or commercial treats like Churu. Even if these treats aren't optimal from a nutritional perspective, they can gradually be reduced over time.

Is this suitable for cats with diabetes?

Yes, this diet is ultra-low in carbohydrate and can be fed to diabetic cats. Please note that it is high in fat. This may or may not suit some cats with pancreatitis. If you are looking for a moderate fat renal diet, please see the FAQ above.