Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm totally confused as to what type of homemade diet would be supportive for the kidneys and liver in an elderly cat. I read where one vet says low protein like chicken , while another says no, because too low protein is as bad as too high protein. If protein is insufficient the body will just go and break down the protein in the body and use that. Another says, lots of vegetables and grains like brown rice while yet another specifically says cats can't digest grains, don't give carbs, and give very little vegetables. Liver has also been recommended as one of the meats to give yet I've read where, because it's such a concentrated meat, it's high protein, even though it's a high quality protein, it is still one of the higher proteins and therefore hard on the kidneys and that organ meats should only be given in small amounts occasionally. And, some vets say give cheese and dairy, while it's contradicted by others who say definitely don't give it. How can this be so contradictory ? What diet do you think would be easily assimilated, easy on the kidneys and liver and would help to increase some weight gain? What would you consider to be an adequate protein amount, gram-wise, per day for an elderly cat if the kidneys are compromised in any way? What protein would you select, and why? Would you use a combination such as chicken and egg yolks? What would you consider to be major kidney and liver supporting supplements and what supplements would you generally recommend for the health and well-being of an elderly cat? Is there any link, etc, that is less contradictory, re the diet, that you can direct me to? Thank-you.

This certainly can be a confusing problem with apparently contradictory answers. Let's see if we can't present an orderly way of looking at it. Cats are obligate carnivores; that is, they need meat and animal products. They don't handle carbohydrates well, and being descendents from desert animals, they are not big drinkers, getting a large percentage of their moisture from their food. So the natural food for cats is meat and bone from small animals and birds. Healthy cats should get this, or as close to this as practical. Raw is better in that the food is not denatured and is easier to digest. The question is really what to do when the kidneys areaffected. If significant amounts of protein are being lost in the urine, this must be replaced, which means a high protein diet. If much kidney function has been lost, and the BUN is elevated and continues rising, a diet consisting of a low percentage of high-quality protein is indicated, as excess protein is converted tocarbohydrates and nitrogenous wastes, which must be eliminated. If this is already difficult, we don't want to add to the problem. So here a diet with less protein but more fat and fiber is more suitable. In each case, it is best to offer the cat several choices, allowinf the cat to eat what its body is calling for. This is the function of cravings and desires; it is the language the body speaks to tell us what it needs and wants. Food aversions is the way it tells us to avoid something. So in answer to your question, whether we feed a high protein or low protein diet depends on the specific conditions, and what the cat's body is calling for. We just need to stop and listen.