FR
EN
DE
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) in cats is a very serious condition which, even with a lot of love, cannot be cured. Once damaged, the kidneys cannot recover. However, the progression of the disease, if caught in time, can be slowed thanks to a suitable, balanced and above all premium diet. This makes it possible to prolong both the comfort and the life expectancy of a sick cat.
Cat with renal failure: the importance of an appropriate diet
Kidney failure in cats is one of the most feared diseases; it is in fact one of the three leading causes of death. Chronic kidney disease is a progressive loss of vital kidney function. The kidneys rid the blood of many metabolic wastes. The best known are the waste products of the breakdown of amino acids: urea and creatinine.
In our cats, there are two forms of kidney failure: acute kidney failure (AKI) , which can occur at any time and at any age, and chronic kidney failure (CKF) . This is the most common and mainly affects aging cats, our tomcats over seven years old.
Chronic renal failure is the most insidious: like a little beast, it settles in without warning and develops little by little. When the first symptoms appear, it is already too late. The damage caused to the kidneys is irreversible. Among these symptoms: intense thirst , vomiting , diarrhea, loss of appetite and weight, fatigue or mouth ulcers resulting in bad breath .
Whether acute or chronic, kidney failure in cats must be treated quickly and given appropriate treatment, recommended by a veterinarian. The treatment will depend on the severity of the symptoms, detected by the veterinarian via blood and urine tests. But in all cases, it will be essential to adapt the diet of your sick cat. Kidney failure cannot be cured, but a specific diet will help your little companion live for several more years with this pathology (and especially with you).
A cat with renal failure has specific nutritional needs
The diet of a cat suffering from renal insufficiency must first and foremost cover all of its nutritional needs. Whatever their state of health, our whiskered ones must find in their diet proteins (of high quality), lipids and essential fatty acids, trace minerals and vitamins (A, D3, E, and all those of group B) and a little fiber for their intestinal transit. A cat with renal insufficiency will need all of these nutrients, but its food must be specifically adapted to its pathology.
A diet rich in protein
On the other hand, contrary to popular belief, a cat suffering from renal failure needs a diet rich in protein , and not the other way around.
No studies have shown that restricting animal protein has a positive effect on kidney function in sick cats.
Some renal foods that contain low amounts of protein could even put the health of our feline friends at even greater risk.
It is important to know that the digestion of proteins releases the amino acids they contain and allows the cat to renew its own proteins. In the body, proteins are vital. They are structural (skeleton, teeth, skin, hair) and functional: digestion, hormones, enzymes, antibodies, blood platelets, etc.
The cat also uses amino acids to make glucose. This phenomenon cannot be suppressed, even if the cat consumes carbohydrates and little protein. If the cat consumes little protein (less than it needs to maintain its lean mass), it still uses its own proteins to make glucose. And its lean mass decreases. Its muscles are not renewed, it loses muscle, its immunity is less effective, its appetite decreases.
Of course, the protein intake should not be too rich. It's all a question of dosage. And of course, these proteins must be of quality.
Proteins of excellent quality (adapted amino acid profile, and excellent digestibility), provided in quantities that cover the cat's minimum needs. This way, we can limit harmful nitrogenous waste in cats suffering from chronic renal failure, while maintaining for as long as possible their musculature, immunity, ability to digest, appetite and the quality of their coat and skin, the body's first barrier.
As explained in our article on renal failure in cats , in nutrition, it is the protein/phosphorus ratio of a food that provides an indication of the quality of the proteins used. Those with high biological value (fish, meat, eggs, offal) have high ratios while those with low biological value (cereals, carcasses, bones) have lower protein/phosphorus intakes.
At Ziggy, all our foods are rich in quality proteins. Our pâtés do not contain animal flours, reconstituted meat and even less VSM. All our cat pâtés contain real pieces of muscle and noble offal of high nutritional value.
A diet low in phosphorus
In renal failure, the element that really needs to be restricted is phosphorus.
Phosphorus absorption can be reduced slightly by keeping the calcium intake the same (without excess) and reducing the phosphorus intake. This mechanically brings the Ca/P ratio to a value close to 2. You can identify this in the analytical composition of your cat's food.
Phosphorus is present in many food sources, in cereals and other plants, and of course in bone, and therefore in animal carcasses, cartilage and bones. To provide little phosphorus while providing excellent quality proteins, with a well-adapted amino acid profile, we can offer the cat suffering from kidney disease a diet rich in muscle animal proteins, very digestible and with a very low phosphorus/energy ratio.
A diet rich in fatty acids
A very high nutritional intake of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids ( EPA + DHA ) promotes blood fluidity, glomerular filtration, as well as good vascularization of the kidneys.
At sufficient concentration in the diet, applied in Ziggy Vet IRC food, this intake is associated with the best life expectancy of a cat suffering from kidney disease.
Prefer pâté in case of renal insufficiency
As you will have understood, a suitable diet is essential for a cat suffering from renal failure . A specific diet will limit the consequences of the disease, and prolong the life expectancy of your little cat.
There are a wide variety of kibbles and pâtés on the market that are specially designed for cats with renal insufficiency. But be careful, they are not all equal! Be sure to check the ingredients and levels in the food. We can't say it enough: a cat, sick or not, needs protein in its diet!
When asked “Kibble or pâté?”, we strongly recommend pâté for your cat.
Hydration is essential for the elimination of waste through the kidneys. Cats with chronic kidney disease, from the earliest to the most advanced stages, are prone to dehydration. A suitable wet diet is preferred to allow for substantial water consumption.
As a guide, pâté contains on average 75% water compared to 10% for kibble. A cat eating only kibble will of course drink “a lot of water” on the side, but this intake remains (with equal dry matter composition) 30% lower. As a reminder, our felines are by nature small drinkers, who hydrate themselves all the better when they consume wet food, they eat water more efficiently than they drink it.
So, give preference to wet food, and of course, remember to provide several bowls of fresh water. Good hydration is essential!
Ziggy VET Cat Food for CKD Cats
At Ziggy, our priority is the health of all cats. We offer a range of veterinary cat food , including a pâté for cats suffering from chronic kidney disease (CKD) .
Formulated by our veterinary specialist in clinical nutrition, Dr. Veterinarian Géraldine Blanchard, this dietetic food has a very low phosphorus content and an excellent phosphocalcic ratio to support renal function in cases of chronic kidney disease.
Our pâté dedicated to cats suffering from renal insufficiency contains, like all our other pâtés, quality proteins and has excellent digestibility to best preserve the lean mass (muscle) of our little companions with a reduced appetite.
It is also enriched with EPA & DHA, very long chain Omega 3 to slow the progression of the disease.
Our Ziggy VET IRC pâté takes care of your little cat's health, while continuing to delight him!
“Wet food, when it is like Ziggy VET very low in phosphorus, with a controlled quantity of protein but with exceptional quality, and a high intake of EPA & DHA, is by far the best suited to cats suffering from renal insufficiency” - Veterinarian Dr. Géraldine Blanchard.
Our purring opinions on IRC Ziggy cat food
If you change your cat's food, be careful. Even if it is suffering, your feline needs to go through a dietary transition phase: a change that is too abrupt could cause diarrhea and vomiting. Everything you don't want for your little cat and its kidneys! It could also develop a permanent rejection of this new food if ingestion is associated with a negative experience (physical or emotional).
As for treats, these are to be avoided. Pleasing your cat is very tempting, but a simple little exception could be harmful to him.
Kidney failure in cats is a condition that should not be taken lightly. So give your cat a suitable diet (Ziggy VET pâté), and above all, consult your veterinarian regularly. Only blood and urine tests carried out by the veterinarian will allow you to check the health of your kitty.
