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- May 22, 2019
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Our 14-year-old cat has been diagnosed with early kidney disease. Or vet recommended we try one of the kidney support foods like the Hill’s k/d or Royal Canin Renal support (D, E, T), Purina ProPlan NF.
Turns out she eats them both like crazy. Didn’t like the Purina version at all, but eats the k/d and all 3 of the Royal Canin wet foods (D, E, T).
BUT, WHAT is it that makes kidney support food DIFFERENT?
When I looked for this information it said “low” protein, low phosphorus (between .3 and .6%) and lower sodium. And that phosphorous is the WORST part ‘cause the kidneys won’t filter it out and remove it from the cat’s body.
Then I find articles that say LOW PROTEIN is now BAD and causes loss of muscle mass, which the vet just said she has. And ANOTHER article that says the whole thing is garbage and there’s virtually NO DIFFERENCE between “normal” cat food and the renal support stuff…
THEN, our ”regular” vet told us “yes, if she’ll eat the renal food, good, BUT just feed the cat food she likes”……
As much as I could find, I looked at the nutrition information for Hill’s k/d and Royal Canin Feline Renal Support (D, E and T)
I could only find the guaranteed analysis for "D", but they're all the same for everything else, so I presume phosphorus is about the same too.
Hill’s k/d does their nutrition with the moisture REMOVED… I don’t know if this changes the percentages.
If the Royal Canin is “low” protein at 6 – 9% and the Hill’s k/d is THIRTY percent, isn't that 'HIGH' protein? Who’s right? And if Royal Canin says phosphorus is .14% and the Hill’s is .49%, which one is better – does the fact the Hill’s does their analysis on the dry food after the moisture is removed make a difference…
THEN, just for giggles I looked at Sheba perfect portions pate, which is what we feed the cat, especially when we travel, because she likes it and eats it better than anything else we’ve used, including the Blue Wilderness cat food.
Sheba perfect portions pate:
Which is essentially the same as the Royal Canin except Sheba shows “ash” and Royal Canin doesn’t. When I specifically queried phosphorus, it said the Sheba has .35%, which is lower than Hills and right at the bottom of the recommended range for renal support at .3-.6%....
SO, WHO’S RIGHT? And what do we feed the 14-year-old cat?
Turns out she eats them both like crazy. Didn’t like the Purina version at all, but eats the k/d and all 3 of the Royal Canin wet foods (D, E, T).
BUT, WHAT is it that makes kidney support food DIFFERENT?
When I looked for this information it said “low” protein, low phosphorus (between .3 and .6%) and lower sodium. And that phosphorous is the WORST part ‘cause the kidneys won’t filter it out and remove it from the cat’s body.
Then I find articles that say LOW PROTEIN is now BAD and causes loss of muscle mass, which the vet just said she has. And ANOTHER article that says the whole thing is garbage and there’s virtually NO DIFFERENCE between “normal” cat food and the renal support stuff…
THEN, our ”regular” vet told us “yes, if she’ll eat the renal food, good, BUT just feed the cat food she likes”……
As much as I could find, I looked at the nutrition information for Hill’s k/d and Royal Canin Feline Renal Support (D, E and T)
All values percent | E pate | T slice in gravy | D morsel in gravy |
Protein Min | 6.1 | 5.1 | 6.5 |
Protein Max | 9.6 | 8.6 | 10 |
Fat | 5 | 4.5 | 6.5 |
Fiber | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.7 |
Water | 80 | 81 | 79 |
Phosphorus | ? | ? | .14 |
Hill’s k/d does their nutrition with the moisture REMOVED… I don’t know if this changes the percentages.
Nutrient | Dry Matter % |
Protein | 30 % |
Fat | 23 % |
Carbohydrate / NFE | 38.7 % |
Crude Fiber | 2.4 % |
Calcium | 0.85 % |
Phosphorus | 0.49 % |
Potassium | 1.11 % |
Sodium | 0.24 % |
Magnesium | 0.055 % |
Taurine | 0.45 % |
If the Royal Canin is “low” protein at 6 – 9% and the Hill’s k/d is THIRTY percent, isn't that 'HIGH' protein? Who’s right? And if Royal Canin says phosphorus is .14% and the Hill’s is .49%, which one is better – does the fact the Hill’s does their analysis on the dry food after the moisture is removed make a difference…
THEN, just for giggles I looked at Sheba perfect portions pate, which is what we feed the cat, especially when we travel, because she likes it and eats it better than anything else we’ve used, including the Blue Wilderness cat food.
Sheba perfect portions pate:
Crude Protein (min.) | 9.0% |
Crude Fat (min.) | 5.0% |
Crude Fiber (max.) | 1.5% |
Moisture (max.) | 80.0% |
Ash (max.) | 3.0% |
Phosphorus | .35% |
Taurine (min.) | 0.06% |
Which is essentially the same as the Royal Canin except Sheba shows “ash” and Royal Canin doesn’t. When I specifically queried phosphorus, it said the Sheba has .35%, which is lower than Hills and right at the bottom of the recommended range for renal support at .3-.6%....
SO, WHO’S RIGHT? And what do we feed the 14-year-old cat?