Why consider using a recipe for your
cat with kidney disease?
Did you know?​​
Cats with kidney disease need appropriate protein, fat, phosphorus, calcium, sodium, omega-3 and fibre for their stage of disease.

Cats with early kidney disease (IRIS stage 1 - 2) can benefit from more protein, and more moderate phosphorus restriction. Severe phosphorus restriction may increase the risk of hypercalcemia.
Cats with advanced kidney disease (IRIS stage 3 - 4) can benefit greater protein and phosphorus restriction.
Raw chicken thigh (skin-on) plus supplements is often recommended as a good choice.
However, it actually provides a lot less protein than commercial early renal diets, increasing the risk of muscle loss in some cats. Other fatty meats may do the same.


Protein restriction is often described as 'outdated thinking', and that it increases muscle loss.
However, excess protein can increase uraemic toxin production, and some of these toxins actually cause muscle loss! We want to provide enough protein for the cat's individual needs, but not too much.
We know that you might want to feed meat only with a meal completer, and not have to use a recipe - but because we want the best possible nutrition for your cat, we don't recommend this.


"Marvin and Oscar were diagnosed with chronic kidney disease in 2022 and have been eating meals designed by Dr Meredith Wall ever since. Their food is their sole treatment. Their kidney function has remained stable for over 2 years and at the age of 16 they are both happy and very active. As well as being nutritionally balanced the meals are tailored to their specific needs, such as low phosphorus, high potassium, prebiotics, antioxidants and omega 3 fatty acids. Protein is carefully balanced to minimise uremic toxins while helping them maintain and build muscle. Oscar’s blood glucose has improved substantially and his SDMA is now within the normal range, indicating an improvement in kidney function. I make a batch every few days that they share and thoroughly enjoy."​
References
Sato et al., 2016. Metabolic alterations by indoxyl sulfate in skeletal muscle induce uremic sarcopenia in chronic kidney disease.
Rodrigues et al., 2019. Indoxyl Sulfate Contributes to Uremic Sarcopenia by Inducing Apoptosis in Myoblasts.
Ephraim and Jewell, 2021. High Protein Consumption with Controlled Phosphorus Level Increases Plasma Concentrations of Uremic Toxins in Cats with Early Chronic Kidney Disease.​
Hall et al., 2022. Feeding cats with chronic kidney disease food supplemented with betaine and prebiotics increases total body mass and reduces uremic toxins.
Hall et al., 2020. Changes in the Fecal Metabolome Are Associated with Feeding Fiber Not Health Status in Cats with Chronic Kidney Disease.
Kobayashi et al., 2022. Renoprotective effects of docosahexaenoic acid in cats with early chronic kidney disease due to polycystic kidney disease: a pilot study.
Harris et al., 2012. Omega-3 Fatty Acids Mitigate Inflammation in Felines with Chronic Kidney Disease.
Shauf et al., 2021. Clinical progression of cats with early-stage chronic kidney disease fed diets with varying protein and phosphorus contents and calcium to phosphorus ratios.
Geddes et al., 2021. The effect of attenuating dietary phosphate restriction on blood ionized calcium concentrations in cats with chronic kidney disease and ionized hypercalcemia.
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