My cat has early kidney disease. What phosphorus level is safe?

Hi and thank you for your nutrition question! Out of the percentages you mentioned above, I see a 0.35%, a 0.125% and a 0.6% phosphorus. The least % out of all three of these would be the 0.125% and thus the least amount of phosphorus out of all the 3 different food types you mentioned.. I would be inclined then to get the Royal Canin Aging 12+ (0.125%) food. I hope this has helped. Best of luck to you and Tony!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Paanti. The diet choice for her depends on her current blood work values. Kidney disease has four stages. Depending on where she falls, dictates if she requires protein restriction. If she has very early disease, I would consider a prescription diet such as Purina ProPlan Veterinary Diets Early Care Renal. You could also ask your veterinarian for a prescription for a very high potency fatty acid supplement as this can help in cases of renal disease. I hope this information helps!

Hello. Yes, there are studies done to indicate that phosphorous binders added to non-renal diets will be effective. Many cats will not touch the kidney diets, so adding the binders is the next best way to go. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Royal Canin carries a diet called Senior Consult which has restricted Phos but not as low as the renal diets so it is not appropriate to feed instead of the renal diets. I recommend to discuss this option with your vet before making any diet changes since they are the most familiar with Tony's history. You may ask your vet about an appetite stimulant such as mirtazapine. Many renal cats want variety. Many owners will keep several renal food options and will switch the kibble every week to keep it interesting. Most cats will go back to eating a diet that they had previously stopped eating so you may try circling back. You should also ask about the return policy when purchasing the food in case Tony won't eat the food. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

I'm sorry to hear that Memi has kidney failure. Finding a food that he will eat and enjoys is very important and I applaud you for being willing to make his food. My best recommendation to make sure that the recipe is balanced is to have a board certified veterinary nutritionist create a recipe for Memi. One service that I frequently use is Balance It. https://secure.balanceit.com/ Your veterinarian may also have a recommendation for a nutritionist that they like. It is important to make sure that a recipe is balanced (not just low in phosphorus) to prevent any other problems with the diet. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.

Yes, if you give her normal food it will shorten her life span but I agree with you, her quality of life is more important and she needs to eat! When it comes to kidney disease a food that is as low in phosphorus as possible is recommended. Unfortunately, no over the counter foods are low enough in phosphorus to be beneficial. Hence, the prescription diets. Now, there are many different companies that make prescription diets - I would suggest you try another brand before just giving in to her. The new Hill's kidney diets have E.A.T. (Enhanced Appetite Trigger)™ Technology for cats that has been shown to enhance appetite & increase food intake. Royal Canin and Purina also make kidney diets. Please try these first and if all else fails, just give her what she will eat. Cats are sometimes their own worst enemy! Hope this helps. Best wishes.

In general, foods low in sodium and phosphorus are good choices for patients with kidney disease. The best fatty acid supplement you can provide in my opinion to your kitty is this: https://www.chewy.com/nutramax-welactin-feline-omega-3-cat/dp/101463?utm_source=google-product&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=f&utm_content=Nutramax&utm_term=&gclid=Cj0KEQjwv_fKBRCG8a3ao-OQuZ8BEiQAvpHp6BoPUzdXnGydlce04vEekIBtBBc1AgMnoFoND3oiRtgaAupp8P8HAQ&gclsrc=aw.ds It is easy to dose and generally considered palatable by most cats. I think it is a perfectly fine idea to use them in your kitty.