Which Cat Foods are Lowest in Phosphorous?

[twinklelight]

Trying to find out which brands, ideally ones that can be bought at a grocery store, are lowest in phosphorous.  Looking for foods my boyfriend's cat can eat to help her with her possible kidney problems.  I also hear fish should be avoided for cats with kidney issues.  His cat eats both wet and dry food.  Unfortunately, she favors fish flavors for her wet food, but he says he tried her with a turkey flavor yesterday (fancy feast) and she ate some of it so there's hope of switching her off the fish.  Any suggestions?  Thanks.

 

[vball91]

This chart has the phosphorus content of most of the canned/pouch/raw foods available in the US. http://www.catinfo.org/docs/FoodChartPhosphorus9-22-12.pdf

I would not recommend any dry food for a kidney cat. The catinfo site explains why.

 

[twinklelight]

Thank You for this  I'm doing the research for my boyfriend because he doesn't really have the time nor the inclination for this type of stuff as I do.  We're not even sure yet if his cat has a kidney problem for sure or what's going on exactly.  But to try to sum up quickly, his cat was acting unwell, he took her to the vet, problem was with her kidneys. Turned out she had a kidney infection. They treated her for 5 nights there on IV fluids and antibiotics.  She came home for two weeks and seemed to be recovering just fine. He took her in for a follow up visit and when they did bloodwork her creatine levels were up to 3.4 and the vet wanted to keep her for another 2 nights. Now boyfriend has her back again and kitty is happy and acting healthy. She goes back to the vet in 3 months for a check in, unless she shows signs of illness prior to that.  They gave him a bag of KD dry food for her, which she's been eating, but he can't keep affording to buy that. And I'm not even sure what the KD is exactly to be honest.  Anyhow, I've only just started doing research on cats with kidneys problems and trying to find out what food he might convert her to that would be better for her kidneys, but also that won't cost him a fortune. Breeze, his cat, her diet is probably about 1/3 dry food, and 2/3 wet food.  Unfortunately she is also is a treat *****, so I'm guessing he'll need to cut back on that a bit as well.  

 

[twinklelight]

Okay so I guess the dry food she is on is Hill's Science Diet K/D.  I've heard Science Diet is overrated and not as healthy as it's promoted to be...but I guess this food is better for her kidneys than the Purina Cat Chow he had been feeding her previously.  It's low phosphorous, low sodium, reduced protein..things that are apparently important for cat's with kidney disease (that's what my boyfriend told me yesterday...the vet has diagnosed her with kidney disease)  It's certainly a more expensive food for him to keep buying for her, but fortunately one bag should last her a long while as she doesn't rely solely on dry food as her nutrition..she eats a lot of canned as well, primarily Fancy Feast brand.

 

[mrsgreenjeens]

My cat is in almost the exact same boat as Breeze.  Her creatinine was 3.3 at her last check-up

. 

Here is a thread for you to start your research.  It's very long, but full is wonderful information: 

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/264767/which-cat-foods-are-lowest-in-phosphorous#post_3409203

The very first link within that thread will probably become your bible...I refer to it daily.  (felinecrf.org).  They have a yahoo group you can also join that is very helpful. 

So...as far as grocery store WET food that is low in phos.  Friskies Turkey and Giblets is low in carbs and phos, Friskies sliced chicken in gravy is low in phos, but NOT low in carbs,

Fancy Feast:  low in carbs and Phos:  None

Fancy Feast:   low in Phos but NOT low in carbs: Grilled beef and liver in gravy, tuna primavera, chicken/cheddar souffle,

9 Lives:  Love in carbs and Phos:  Flaked Tune, Tuna and Cheese, Tuna and Egg

Not a lot of good choices without fish, particularly if you want to stay with low carbs as well

.  I do my shopping elsewhere (other than the grocery store) because I don't want to feed my girl by-products, which is what is in Friskies.  Some excellent brands are By Nature Organix, Natural Planet, Hounds and Gatos, but these are pricey.  Those first two have phos levels below .3, which is better, I think, than some of the prescription kidney foods!  And they don't horrible ingredients in them.  They actually have MEAT listed as the first ingredient.

I would definitely try to stay away from kibble as much as possible, as kidney cats need as much hydration as possible, and kibble is dehydrating. ( I know it seem counter productive for there to even exist a product that is K/D kibble, but that is for cats who have been on kibble their entire lives.  It actually is better for kidney cats than regular kibble, but if she'll eat canned, that is better.)    I even add water to my girl's canned food, plus she has a fountain to drink from, since she always liked drinking from the faucet. 

Ok, I think for now you've got enough to get you started.  Start reading the thread above.  Believe me, it'll keep you busy

  Then come back with your list of questions

 

[mrsgreenjeens]

BTW, the newest way of thinking is that low protein is NOT that good for kidney cats.  Since they are prone to losing weight anyway, they need HIGH protein to try to keep their weight on. But it needs to be good quality high protein.   My Vet recently came back from a seminar on that very topic, and this is what she told me.  I had already been reading this, but it's good to know that FINALLY our Vet is on board with it

 

[mrsgreenjeens]

You posted while I was typing.  If she likes the K/D kibble, then I guess you should continue feeding it, ALONG with lots of canned food.  Prescription food does have it's good side.  My experience with my former kidney cat was, however, that he would eat the K/D for a couple of meals, then decide he didn't like it anymore.  then we would try another brand of K/D, and same thing

.  Finally we just gave up on the K/D stuff, with our Vet's blessing.  So, with our NOW cat that is looking at kidney disease, we never even discussed any of the K/D foods...same Vet.  Interesting, no?  As a matter of fact, when we first got her numbers, we were feeding her raw, (again with our Vet's blessing), however, our little princess is currently on a raw strike, otherwise she'd still be eating it, and, naturally, it's packed with high quality protein 

(Just a little note...our girl is almost 14 years old, and, unfortunately for her, she was fed kibble for the first 12 1/2 years of her life.  If we had fed her a better diet earlier, we may have been about to prevent what is happening to her now.  Can't verify that, but it is my gut feeling)

 

[twinklelight]

Hi Greenjeens. I'm a bit confused.  The link you gave is the link for THIS thread.  Am I missing something here?  Thank you for the information you have shared thus far.  

I had wondered about the protein thing myself, because I had read from several sources that food for kd cats should be low protein, yet I had also read that the protein thing was debatable and the focus should be on quality of protein rather than low protein. Confusing.  

So I guess low carb is also important as is low phosphorous?  Even though his kitty does eat kibble, at least she's eating the Hill's K//D kibble now, and not a lot as she also gets fed several servings of wet food throughout the day.  She's is a wee little thing and has lost weight from being sick, so he's trying to fatten her up again.

It's been a crazy year for cats for both him and myself.  He's already spent over $1800 in vet bills this year for the care of 3 of his cats (Breeze and two others he had that ended up not making it) and his pockets are only so deep.  That's why I'm trying to find which of the cheaper grocery store cat foods would be best for Breeze. At least for the time being. As for dry food, he's implied he's planning to keep her on the Hill's K/D kibble, until/unless he converts her off it completely.

As for myself, I have a cat with Feline Herpes and she's been struggling with breathing issues lately. Had already done research on the topic in the past when I first got her, but now investigating the subject again because I'm determined to do all I can to help clear up her congestion and avoid bad flareups this coming winter. Last winter was a hard one for her.

So, basically I'm going a little nuts trying to gather info for two different cats with two different illnesses...the fun never ends...

 

[mrsgreenjeens]

Oops!  Sorry about that.  (yesterday I was a little drugged for a migraine.)  Hopefully THIS is the correct link:  http://www.thecatsite.com/t/119727/crf-chronic-renal-failure-links-and-experiences-with

The only reason I pointed out the low carbs info is that, basically, carbs are not needed by cats.  So, the lower the carbs, the better the food. (usually)  This would not just be for kidney cats, but for all cats.  , especially diabetic cats.  Carbs are one reason so many cats are diagnosed with diabetes in the first place...because they eat too many carbs that they don't need.  OK, I'll get off my soapbox. 

As you just pointed out, Breeze has lost a lot of weight.  That's probably how you and  BF figured out she was sick in the first place.  And THAT is exactly why (IMHO) she needs high protein food, to gain back some of that weight.  I look for high protein, medium fat, low carb, low phos (I try to stay under 1.0) AND high calorie!  Boy is that tough!  I even tried making my own cat food.  My other cats loved it, but not the one I made it for

Since money is an issue right now, try the Fancy Feast food I listed above.  It's not a bad choice.

For your own cat, do you give her L-Lysine daily for her herpes? 

 

 

[twinklelight]

I'm working on the Lysine thing for my cat. Had tried it in the past when I first got her, but she's not much of a wet food eater and I questioned how much was really getting into her (I was crushing lysine tablets and mixing them in her food) and I also didn't know how helpful Lysine really would be in the first place so I gave up trying.  Now I'm finding out from everyone, vet included, that I should be giving her the Lysine and that it really does help.  She''s finishing up a course of antibiotics right now and I was hoping to try the lysine with her again soon, after her breathing got better and she's done with the antibiotics. Her chest has been very congested.  Had her at the vet last week. Vet put her on Clavamox.  Seemed she was improving but suddenly yesterday she started getting worse again.  She's breathes fast like she can't take full breaths.  Totally sucks because she was doing so well just the other day.  I'm giving her a steam treatment in the bathroom with the shower running as I type this.  Did one earlier for her and it did seem to help somewhat.  I think she has some nasty gunk in the lungs that she's just having trouble getting it out.  Today she has me worried because she hasn't been interested in food.  If I don't see things improve soon, I'll have to take her back to the vet and that sucks because I'm more broke than my boyfriend is.  Anyhow, thanks for your info and the link.  I'll definitely be taking a look on it.  Should go check on herpes kitty now, poor girl

 

[jlc20m]

BTW, the newest way of thinking is that low protein is NOT that good for kidney cats.  Since they are prone to losing weight anyway, they need HIGH protein to try to keep their weight on. But it needs to be good quality high protein.   My Vet recently came back from a seminar on that very topic, and this is what she told me.  I had already been reading this, but it's good to know that FINALLY our Vet is on board with it

I agree! Moderate to high protein, low phosphorous, low sodium, lots of hydration are what's needed. A friend of mine has two 8-and-a-half year old sisters with no kidney problems but giving them a moderate protein, low sodium, low phosphorous diet. No one food is perfect so she mixes different wet (including Hill's Prescription Feline g/d Healthy Aging). Extra water is mixed with the wet to make it more enticing as these girls like kibble over wet. She has four water bowls around the house which are changed three times daily and ice cubes added because the cats drink more water when it's very cold. This is a tough problem. Those pdf files with foods listed by phosphorous levels are great. A frustrating problem to cope with or prevent which requires a balancing act...

Jlc20m

 

[twinklelight]

Well, his kitty seems to be doing okay thus far, though we won't know for sure where she's at with things until she get her 3 month follow-up.  I've looked at several good sites about feline kidney disease and passed on some links to him, as well as a list of the foods and their phosphorous levels.  He's trying different ones that are lower on the list (in phosphorous) to see which his kitties like best (he has two cats)  Breeze seems to be pretty good with the water drinking.  Her latest thing tho is she's started drinking from the toilet, maybe because the water is colder there and she likes that.  He does have a fountain but I need to encourage him to leave water bowls out in other areas of the house, or at the very least, to have one in the kitchen. The ice cubes in the water are a good idea.  As for kibble, as far as I know he's continuing to keep her on the Hill's K/D the vet gave to him.  Thanks a TON for all the info shared here,  It's all a little confusing and starts to make my head spin after awhile..but I'm learning little by little.

  

 

[netta2158]

Greetings!  I happened upon your communication and noticed your vet bill quote.  Just a suggestion:  have you given thought to getting pet medical insurance coverage for the kitties?  Your vet would probably have information on a few insurance co.'s for you and it's fairly reasonable from what I've heard.  Perhaps this would be of help for you, at least to get back some reimbursement.  You never know when surgery's or emergencies happen.  Best of blessings for your pets, you, and yours.  Peace and Agape.  

 

[darlar]

Hello, I have been reading your advise, I have a male cat that has kidney disease and they put him on Royal Canin, he was on Halo brand sensitive stomach but and he ate halo wet but now I can not get him to eat any wet food, I need help, I need to know what brands of cat food to try, I have spent so much money on cat food and he just won't eat it, and now he is not even eating the royal canin crunches very well either. The vet said this is early stage but what do I do. They wanted him on their food but he just won't eat it. Please any advise. I went through this with my other cat I had for 21 years but had to be put down, Too hard to go through cause he was my baby now it is happening again. Can't take it. You get too attached to these animals like they were you own baby. 

 

[cocheezie]

I have the same problem. It's a cycle I've repeated many times. My refrigerator is always full of opened tins of cat food (and my feral gets what my kidney cat won't eat). I started off mixing a bit of k/d into other foods on a 30/70 ratio then gradually worked up to a 50/50 ratio. Then she'd go off the k/d in any form and I'd start all over again. Finding food that she will eat, gradually adding k/d ...

Here is a good link about phosphorus and food: http://www.felinecrf.org/which_foods.htm

Here is a link detailing the amount of phosphorous in canned food: http://www.felinecrf.org/which_foods.htm

Here is a link on transitioning cats from dry to wet: http://www.thecatsite.com/a/transit...-to-a-new-type-of-food-canned-raw-or-homemade

It's better that they eat than don't eat. Fishy foods in general are very high in phosphorus and should be avoided as much as possible.

 

[chalupa]

Can someone help me out? About where does Mauri food fit in terms of Dr. Piersons phosphorous chart. Here is what they wrote when I asked about phosphorous levels in their food.
In regards to phosphorus percentage levels in our food:
Kangaroo is 0.20%
Venison is 0.26%
Brushtail is at the higher end of our range at 0.36%

With that being said, we are lowering the levels of phosphorus in all our formulations we are producing this month.
Also we are launching 4 new proteins which we are focusing on lower phosphorus levels, Unagi (eel), Antibiotic and Hormone Free Duck, New Zealand Frost Fish and Goat.


Please let me know if you have any questions and I will update you on our improved phosphorus levels.

 

[mrsgreenjeens]

Did they say this is "as fed" or what?  Makes a difference.  I'm guessing this is "as fed", or "guaranteed analysis", which is totally different that what you see on Dr. Pierson's chart. 

Normally you can figure you take the "as fed" figure and multiply it times 4 (ish).  (I don't know the exact formula, but that's what I use as a rough guide and it usually gets me close

. ) That gets you the % of phosphorus on a dry matter basis, which is how Dr. Pierson's chart is organized. 

 

[chalupa]

@mrsgreenjeens  thanx for replying. they did not say as fed but I'm guessing that is what is meant. not sure I should still feed this food to her occasionally, but she does love it.

 

[anne with cats]

Also list on Tanya's CRF site.

 

[chalupa]

@Anne with Cats  thanx the Tanya's crf site too, wonder if I times by 4 if that is the phosphorous content, not sure the difference of the charts, will have to look. I've been unsure of my math skills my whole life. always look to others hoping they know what is more likely the correct number. either way I guess it's not terrible to feed this food sometimes. kangaroo seems the safest choice and it's the favorite anyway.