Baby food for cats with kidney disease
Baby Food for Cats with Kidney Disease
By: Author Robin Griffin
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If your cat has Kidney Disease and is struggling to eat on their own you may have gotten the recommendation to give your cat baby food. Which I admit I was shocked to get this recommendation when I first heard it. Yet to my surprise the meat gravy of baby food was indeed a hit with my cat. In hindsight, of course a yummy meat soup was going to be a hit. Is it just my cats or do they seem to love creamy gravy foods?
1 Why Baby Food?
2 What Baby Food Can I Get My Cat?
3 How Long Can I Give my Cat Baby Food?
Why Baby Food?
The appeal here is that the baby food we are going after is basically ground up meat soup. Just protein and water what is there not to love when you are a cat? Cat’s are Obligate or “true” carnivores are those whose diet requires nutrients found only in animal flesh. While obligate carnivores might be able to ingest small amounts of plant matter, they lack the necessary physiology required to fully digest it.
Since baby food is a few simple ingredients, this means you could attempt to make your own with a food processor at home. Much like many moms out their make their own baby food at home.
Baby foods is high in protein but surprisingly low in phosphorus. Bone is typically what adds in high amounts of phosphorus and is not present in baby food like it is in standard cat food. You will want to note that baby food is missing a lot of the essential vitamins a cat needs.
What Baby Food Can I Get My Cat?
Yup! Human baby food. It’s one of the first things I commonly see recommended when cats give up eating. You can’t just give any baby food.
The baby food should be meat only, without vegetables or fillers such as pasta.
Gerber’s 2nd Foods Meats
Gerber second stage has four different meat flavors and is the brand that offers you the most flavor selection. I also found this was the easiest baby food to find and buy. The flavors are Chicken, Turkey, Beef and Ham. You can shop these flavors right on Amazon or in your local grocery store.
Shop Gerber Meat Starter Pack
When buying these flavors you always want to confirm the ingredients there should be nothing more than the meat, water and starch.
Beech-Nut Stage 1
To be honest I like this option the best. It only contains two ingredients just the broth and the meat. It simplifies things and takes out the starch that is added into the Gerber brand.
Beech-Nut has Chicken, Turkey and Beef. Again as a reminder, when buying baby food for your cat you always want to confirm the ingredients. There should be nothing more than the meat and gravy.
Shop at Walmart
Heinz Stage 2
I have seen this company recommended by others but I would AVOID feeding this to your cats. It includes rice which is unnecessary carbs for your cat. But the dangerous part is it has lemon juice added.
I dunno about you but when I have citrus my cats run the other direction. It’s one of the few times they don’t want to be in the kitchen with me. Turns out that according to the ASPCA lemon juice is toxic to cats.
How Long Can I Give my Cat Baby Food?
It’s fine to feed baby food to your cat here and there as a treat, or food topper, or to jumpstart eating. But, if you plan on feeding this exclusively for more than just a day or two you will want to add a meal completer to it.
A meal completer is a product like EZ Complete. The EZ Complete powder contains the vitamins and minerals that are essential to your cats health. Additionally, if you do find your cat only eating baby food I would contact your vet for more guidance.
Can Cats Eat Baby Food? Best Baby Food for Cats
Mallory Crusta5555 Views 3 Comments baby food for cats, best cat food, best food for cats, can cats eat baby food, cat food, food for sick cats, is baby food safe for cats
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Simple meat-based baby food is an appetizing and easy-to-eat food for sick or elderly cats. In this article, we’ll talk about how baby food can be a great dietary supplement for some cats, which baby foods are best, and which types of baby food are never safe for your cat.
Again, it’s important to remember that just because meat-based baby food is safe for cats, it doesn’t mean that it’s a nutritionally complete meal for them. You should only give your cat baby food as a treat or supplement.
Simple meat-based baby food with no seasonings, onion, or garlic is safe for cats and can be used as a temporary meal replacement.
Simple cooked, pureed meat is easy for your cat’s body to digest, easy for their mouths to handle, and is typically quite palatable. This makes it an ideal choice for cats who are feeling sickly or having a hard time eating.
Baby food can be a good supplemental food choice for:
- Cats with a reduced appetite due to disease, including CKD, cancer, liver disease, and other problems
- Cats with periodontal disease and a painful mouth
- Cats who have had their teeth extracted and can no longer handle firm foods
- Cats with temporary stomach sensitivities and symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea
- Ferals who need to be enticed into a trap or to come closer to people
If you recently had a baby, chances are you’re overwhelmed and sometimes forgetful, so it’s possible that you’ll forget to stock up on cat food. In this case, baby food might just be what you have around. Don’t feel like a bad cat guardian if you have to feed your cat baby food in a pinch!
Provided that you give your cat a meat-based recipe without any dangerous seasonings or additives, it’ll be a delicious and healthy treat.
While baby food is sometimes recommended for cats who need easy-to-eat nourishment, not all baby foods are equal. Just like adult food, some of it is safe for cats and some isn’t. You’ve got green bean baby food, pumpkin baby food, carrot baby food, chicken baby food, beef stroganoff baby food. And just as is the case with people food that isn’t pureed, not all of these varieties are appealing or nutritious for your cat.
The following types of baby food are safe for cats and can be a wholesome addition to the feline diet.
Beech-Nut Classics Stage 1 Meats include chicken in broth, turkey in broth, and beef in broth
. These recipes contain just meat and broth, so they’re entirely safe for your cat to consume. We like that they’re free from starch and therefore closer to your cat’s natural carnivorous needs.
One reviewer said the following about Beech-Nut Chicken & Broth:
“My senior cat had a period where he threw up all the time.
We started giving him baby food and kitten milk to ease his upset stomach. The baby food is quite light and mild. Not stinky. Slightly oily, but not too bad! My cat really enjoyed the baby food. There are no unnecessary ingredients, just chicken and water!”
This product lineup includes ham, turkey, chicken, and beef recipes. They’re all made without any garlic, onions, or other seasonings. The simple recipes include just meat, water, and cornstarch.
While cornstarch isn’t ideal for cats, it can be an acceptable inclusion in their diet if the cat is sick or otherwise in desperate need of nourishment.
Even the first review on the Amazon listing for Gerber’s ham and gravy cat food says:
“All I can really say about this is my 35 pound, orange tabby kitty cat absolutely loves Gerber Baby Food Ham! I bought it for him for a treat once and he learned to audibly say the word “HAM” with that first meal. I’m a vegetarian and I don’t have children but I have a orange kitty that will tell you this is the best stuff he’s every eaten!”
Before you feed your cat baby food, read the ingredient list.
Don’t give your kitty any food containing the following ingredients:
- Onion
- Garlic
- Added sugars or sweeteners
- Canola oil or other vegetable oils
- Salt
- Fruits of any type (except for the occasional pumpkin for gut motility)
- Vegetables of any type
- Dairy
This rules out simple fruity or veggie products like prune baby food, sweet potato baby food, and carrot baby food. It also means that you shouldn’t give your cat meal-style foods for older babies with flavors like beef stroganoff and chicken stew.
Your cat can eat baby food alone for about 2-3 days before you’ll need to start transitioning them back to a nutritionally complete and balanced raw, homemade, gently cooked, or canned diet.
Baby food is designed to nourish infant humans—omnivorous creatures who, unlike cats, can live without fresh raw meat, organs, and bones. Cats, however, require raw meat or a facsimile thereof.
It’s crucial to remember that baby food lacks taurine, an amino acid that cats can only get from supplements or raw meat.
As obligate carnivores, cats require certain vitamins and amino acids found only in fresh meat. One of these is taurine, which supports ocular health along with numerous other bodily functions. Cats who are deprived of taurine for any extended period of time will go blind and experience diminished digestion, heart function, and reproductive abilities.
If your cat is struggling to eat due to dental issues or needs an extra calorie boost, baby food isn’t your only option. Here are a few other types of foods that can help to keep your cat strong.
Kitten food is about twice as calorie-dense as a standard adult cat food. It’s usually extremely palatable and easy to eat, too—which helps your cat to get in all those beneficial calories. The kitten food we’ve found works best is Fancy Feast canned kitten food, but you’ll find many other formulas from a variety of companies.
Just remember to look for canned or wet food. Hydration is always crucial, and a dry food won’t deliver the water your cat needs.
Nutri-Cal is a high-calorie gel for cats who need a concentrated source of energy. It’s highly-palatable to encourage cats to eat it, though some may need to squirt it onto the feline’s gums or paw. It’s also a concentrated source of vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids.
Egg Yolks
Your cat may or may not be willing to eat egg yolks on their own, but if you’re able to get that tongue lapping, the addition of raw egg yolks to their bowl will add a lot of nutrition in a small package.
Boiled or Raw Chicken
You’ve probably heard the standard recommendation of boiled chicken and rice for cats with diarrhea and other digestive issues. Because cats are obligate carnivores with no physiological requirement for plants, we disagree with the inclusion of rice in this bland diet.
Boiled boneless chicken, however, does provide a gentle, palatable source of the nutrition your cat needs with few of the inflammatory ingredients that can make them feel worse.
If you’re willing to try out raw food for your cat, you may also consider feeding them raw chicken, with or without the bones intact. This is a nutrient-dense and extremely tasty form of species-appropriate nutrition. As explained in incredible detail on Raw Feeding for IBD Cats, raw food, as the ancestral feline diet, is potentially the only route for an IBD turnaround.
Feeding cats with renal insufficiency. Read on site? SUPERPET
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Owners of cats with kidney failure know that sick pets need to limit the amount of phosphorus in their diet.
Some worry that meat contains too much of it and such a diet will lead to an excess of phosphorus. We hasten to reassure: a natural diet is suitable for cats with kidney problems.
Article content
- Three important aspects of the diet of cats with kidney disease
- Water
- Protein
- Low phosphate
- Natural nutrition for kidney failure
Three important aspects of the diet of cats with kidney disease
A special diet is important for cats with kidney disease. The key aspects of such a diet are water, the right percentage of animal protein, and a low phosphate content.
Water
In chronic kidney disease (CKD), their ability to retain water and concentrate urine is reduced. Therefore, sick cats are at risk of suffering from dehydration. To avoid this, cats need to get enough fluids.
In nature, most of the fluid in cats comes from food. Animals with chronic kidney disease should not be fed dry food, it has too little water content (up to 10%).
The most suitable food for cats with diseased kidneys is a natural food based on raw meat.
Protein
Cats with renal insufficiency should be fed with protein that is easily digestible. Such protein is included in rabbit and poultry meat. Many of the toxic products that accumulate in the blood in kidney disease are formed when protein is broken down. Cats with kidney disease have been clinically proven to digest the protein found in rabbit, chicken, and hare.
Lack of protein leads to excessive weight loss, which is bad for the general condition of cats. Low-protein food does not arouse interest in cats. When animals are placed on a raw, high quality protein diet, their appetite improves markedly.
By the way, SUPERPET natural cat food is 100% suitable for both cats with kidney failure and for the prevention of this disease. It consists of raw meat, it has a lot of protein, which is easily digestible. There is no salt and other additives atypical for a cat.
In short, SUPERPET is 100% compliant with the recommendations of veterinarians.
If nutrition for a cat with renal insufficiency is important to you, or you want to prevent this disease, then try the SUPERPET meat starter kit with a 30% discount. There is no need to enter any promo codes, the discount will already be calculated for you! Just place an order in just one click and our specialists will contact you to clarify the details of the order.
Low Phosphate
Phosphorus is an important mineral for health. The organism of healthy animals itself regulates the level of phosphorus and removes the excess through the kidneys. With chronic kidney disease, the body stops removing excess phosphorus, because of this, its level in the blood rises markedly. This is called hyperphosphatemia.
Signs of hyperphosphatemia:
- lack of appetite;
- lack of coordination;
- weakness;
- convulsions.
When you limit your phosphate intake, you protect your cat's kidneys from further damage.
If hyperphosphatemia persists even on a special diet, foods high in phosphate should be completely eliminated from the pet's diet or phosphate binders should be used. These drugs reduce the absorption of phosphate from the gastrointestinal tract.
Foods high in phosphate are not suitable for carnivores. Meat is considered a phosphorus-rich food. Phosphorus levels in meat are not high for healthy carnivores, but may be high for carnivores with kidney disease.
It is important to maintain the correct proportions of calcium and phosphorus in the diet. In order for animals to receive calcium, raw chopped bones should be added to the meat. SUPERPET knows this, which is why we add bone to our diet. When bones are included in the diet, calcium and phosphorus enter the body of cats in the right ratio. If blood phosphorus levels continue to rise, phosphate binders may be used. Drugs should only be given as directed by a veterinarian.
Natural nutrition for kidney failure
Veterinarians usually prescribe the following diet for cats with CKD:
- reduce the level of protein, phosphorus, sodium,
- increase the level of omega-3 fatty acids,
- provide B vitamins and antioxidants.
There are different ways to lower your protein levels. You can't just eliminate protein from a cat's diet. It is better to feed them foods that contain high-quality protein that is easy to digest. Such a protein will not harm the body of cats. Protein suitable for cats is found in the meat of rabbit, hare and poultry.
Vegetable protein is poorly absorbed in the body of cats. Therefore, you should not feed them food that contains chicken, fish or cornmeal. Based on flour, dry food and many canned foods are produced.
Feeding raw meat does not lead to an excess of protein in the cat's body. This is the natural diet for carnivores. No study has shown that severe protein restriction in cats prevents complications from kidney disease.
Usually, doctors advise to reduce the amount of protein, phosphorus and salt consumed. New research shows that it is more important to reduce the concentration of phosphorus in the blood of sick animals. This is due to the fact that cats are obligate predators, they naturally have a high need for protein.
Potassium, B vitamins, and omega-3 fatty acids are recommended for cats with unhealthy kidneys.
Natural diet is excellent for cats with renal insufficiency. Game meat is highly digestible, contains the right type of protein and many natural essential fatty acids. Offal supports the level of B vitamins. Raw meat bones contain less phosphates than cereals.
All these ingredients are found in SUPERPET natural food. Therefore, the food is suitable for both healthy cats and animals with kidney disease.
A raw meat diet is ideal for any cat because it meets the natural requirements of a true predator. Most cats fed dry food are chronically dehydrated. Therefore, older animals are prone to kidney failure. For these animals, switching to a natural diet that contains the right type of protein and sufficient fluids can be a lifesaver.
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Choosing food for cats with kidney failure
Renal failure in cats is provoked by certain pathologies. More often than others, the disease affects purebred animals. Its main danger is that toxins enter the blood in large quantities, which can even lead to death. Without proper attention, over time, the disease spreads to other organs. A huge role in the treatment is given to the right diet - a well-chosen therapeutic food can not only save a pet's life, but also improve its quality. Therefore, with kidney disease, it is important to transfer the cat to an appropriate diet in time so that she can continue her usual lifestyle.
Causes and manifestations of renal failure in cats
Kidney dysfunction can occur in a pet for various reasons, for example:
- past illness;
- improper feeding;
- poisoning;
- congenital pathology.
The disease takes an acute or chronic form. In the acute form, it progresses intensively, therapy takes about three months. If kidney failure is not cured in time, the disease becomes incurable, and the animal will be forced to live with this problem all his life.
Pathology manifests itself in impaired metabolism. The body cannot get rid of metabolic products in time, which is why they settle in the body and poison it from the inside. Against this background, there is a deficiency of nutrients.
Pets with kidney failure need to follow a special diet aimed at reducing the load on the kidneys, improving metabolism. The animal must receive vitamins and minerals from food. Suitable food for a cat is selected by a veterinarian, taking into account the age of the pet, body weight, general condition, accompanying symptoms, and other indicators.
Power Features
Despite the fact that the diet is made individually, there are several general principles that pet owners should be aware of:
- Feed for cats with kidney disease should contain a minimum of protein. At the same time, its deficiency leads to weight loss, so it is important to find a balance. The protein that is in the composition should be easily digested. The best sources are chicken and rabbit meat.
- The animal needs to drink enough. Since the body retains water less well, there is a risk of dehydration. To avoid it, you need to make sure that the cat always has access to clean water.
- Phosphorus content in cat food should be limited. In a healthy animal, an excess of phosphorus is excreted through the kidneys. Since this function is impaired during kidney disease, hyperphosphatemia may develop. This condition is characterized by impaired coordination, loss of appetite, and general weakness. The low phosphate content protects your pet's kidneys from further damage.
- Your pet should be getting enough calcium to maintain healthy teeth and bones, but only from plant sources. Milk and products from it with kidney disease in the diet should be minimized, eliminated.
- Fatty meat, seafood and salt are prohibited.
- Undesirable sources of carbohydrates are cereals and crackers.
- Adequate omega fatty acids must be present in the diet.
- Cats need a diet of antioxidants and B vitamins.
In addition, vegetables should be included in the diet of an animal with kidney disease. Be sure to make sure that your pet does not overeat and does not receive too many mineral supplements with food.
With kidney failure, it is critically important to correctly calculate portions of food for a cat. It is best to break the daily intake of food into several small portions. When an animal has a reduced appetite, it is not attracted to food - try to feed it from your hands. Neither hunger nor dehydration is acceptable.
Food Review for Cats with Renal Insufficiency
Wet and dry foods for cats with kidney disease are on the market in a wide range. Daily use of a quality medicinal product significantly improves the condition of the animal. The diet of pets with kidney disease includes premium and holistic foods. It is recommended to transfer the animal to a special dietary diet immediately after diagnosis.
For a daily diet, you can choose one of the following cat foods.
Cat food Farmina Vet Life cat Renal diet for kidney failure
A balanced diet is suitable for adult cats who have problems with the functioning of the kidneys, and the elderly (from 7 years old). The product has successfully passed the control tests, and may well improve the condition of your pet. It contains only 26% protein, which is in line with the recommendations of veterinarians for cats with kidney disease. Dry food contains L-carnitine, Omega-3, as well as a reduced amount of phosphorus - it is only 0.
4% here. Such ingredients of cat food prevent the further development of the disease, increase the activity and endurance of the pet.
The composition includes:
- rice;
- chicken meat;
- corn gluten;
- eggs;
- fish and fish oil;
- vegetable oil;
- inulin;
- calendula extract.
Important: The product must be prescribed by a veterinarian. The recommended course of special nutrition is six months. For the treatment of temporary kidney disease, a period of two to four weeks is usually chosen. Breeders note that after three weeks of eating food for sick pets, their well-being improves, they become more affectionate.
Royal Canin Renal Feline for cats with renal failure
Wet cat food comes in pouches. Formulated to support kidney function in animals with disease. A high-quality product with an adapted amount of protein reduces the burden on the kidneys.
Of the characteristics, it is worth noting the minimum of phosphorus and the presence of a complex of antioxidants in the feed. Royal Canin cat food improves glomerular filtration rate with adapted fish oil.
Cats with kidney disease often have a lack of appetite, which can develop into anorexia. Royal Canin solves this problem with a specially developed aroma profile. It stimulates feed intake and is to the taste of even the pickiest pet. Cat food ingredients: chicken and pork meat, sunflower oil, wheat and corn flour, fish oil, marigold extract, vitamins and trace elements.
Hill's Prescription Diet Dry Cat Food k/d, Mobility Kidney, Joint Care for Kidney & Joint Health
A balanced dry product for a diet for kidney failure reduces the amount of protein and urea in the cat's body. The basis is ground rice and poultry meat flour. It is rich in omega fatty acids. Suitable for weak, emaciated pets.
Already after the first weeks of using this food for cats, the result is noticeable in the form of an improvement in the well-being of the animal.
The skin and coat become shiny, activity increases. However, cat owners note that although the granules have a positive effect, they can quickly become boring to the animal.
Peculiarities:
- suitable for older cats: keeps them energetic and attentive;
- contains a reduced content of phosphorus and sodium, which improves the general condition of the kidneys;
- stimulates appetite in cats with renal insufficiency through a special technology to restore appetite;
- The main meat ingredient is chicken meat, which provides the animal with a safe amount of quality protein (28.3%).
Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets NF Renal Function cat food for kidney disease
It is part of an innovative line of dietary nutrition, developed taking into account the recommendations of veterinarians and specialists in the field of nutrition, microbiology and immunology. Its effectiveness as a daily food for cats with kidney disease has been noted by both breeders and veterinarians.
The diet stimulates a good appetite even in pets weakened due to illness. Recommended for cats with chronic renal failure and for the prevention of renal dysfunction. Like most foods for cats with kidney dysfunction, Purina Pro Plan contains a limited amount of protein. Its high quality prevents unwanted loss of muscle mass. Switching to this diet slows down the development of kidney disease in cats by reducing the production of uremic toxins.
Cat food ingredients include rice flour, corn flour, egg powder, pea fiber, poultry protein powder, fish oil, vitamins, antioxidants. Taste qualities are very attractive to cats, thus it simplifies the observance of the diet.
Dry food for cats Brit VDC Renal grain-free diet for kidney disease
Czech-made feed belongs to the super-premium class. Its main difference from other cat foods on the list is that it is grain-free. The product is perfect for pets with allergies to certain cereals.
