9 Best Cat Foods for Kidney Disease in Australia – 2024 Reviews and Top Picks
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Kidney Disease in cats is becoming more prevalent, and it can affect cats of any age and breed. Treatment for kidney disease varies, depending on how severe it is, but the good news is that diet changes can often help. Proper nutrition, specifically a low-phosphorus diet, can help reduce symptoms and slow or stop kidney disease from progressing.
Because proper nutrition is vital for cats with kidney disease, it may feel overwhelming to find the right brand. Cats in the early stages of kidney disease can thrive from a high-quality ingredient food that is readily available, but some special recipes require a prescription from the vet.
This article reviews our 10 best cat foods for kidney disease. With over-the-counter products and prescription options, our guide also has a buyer’s guide to help you find the best food for your cat.
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2024
| Rating | Image | Product | Details | |
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Best Overall
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Diamond Care Urinary Adult Cat Food |
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Best Value
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Weruva Truluxe Cat Food, Steak Frites with Beef & Pumpkin in Gravy |
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Premium Choice
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Fussie Super Premium Chicken with Sweet Potato Formula in Gravy |
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Check Price |
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Hill's Prescription Diet k/d with Salmon Wet Cat Food |
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Check Price | |
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Royal Canin Renal Chicken Pouches |
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The 10 Best Cat Foods for Kidney Disease in Australia
1. Diamond Care Urinary Adult Cat Food– Best Overall
| Main ingredients: | Chicken meal, brown rice, brewers rice, corn gluten meal, chicken fat |
| Protein content: | 30% |
| Fat content: | 15% |
| Calories: | 423 kcal/cup |
Our best overall cat food is Diamond Care Urinary Adult Cat Food. This recipe provides your cat a complete and balanced diet while keeping its urinary tract healthy. A lower pH in a cat’s urine is required for a healthy urinary tract, and this formula for adult cats is designed to maintain appropriate acidity. Your cat will benefit from omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acid levels sourced from sunflower oil, chicken fat, and eggs for a healthy coat, as well as antioxidants, such as selenium, vitamin E, and zinc for immune support.
Diamond Care’s veterinarians and nutritionists hand-picked the finest ingredients for each recipe.
While this formula is not targeted at kidney disease, it is low in phosphorus and sodium. It may be more suitable for cats in the early stages of kidney disease, but it’s best to consult with your vet.
- Balances acidity in urinary tract
- High in antioxidants
- Complete and balanced diet
- More suitable for early stages of disease
2. Weruva Truluxe Cat Food, Steak Frites with Beef & Pumpkin in Gravy – Best Value
| Main ingredients: | Beef Broth, Beef, Pumpkin, Sweet Potato, Potato Starch, Carrot, Sunflower Seed Oil |
| Protein content: | 10% |
| Fat content: | 0.14% |
| Calories: | N/A |
Weruva Truluxe Cat Food is our pick for the best cat food for the money. Although it is not a veterinary formula, it is low in phosphorus and sodium, which will help support your cat’s kidney function. This could be a good option if your cat is turning down other low-phosphorus foods. Every can is a complete meal on its own or as a tasty kibble topper because it is formulated with a balanced blend of vitamins, minerals, and heart-healthy taurine.
Your cat will enjoy the meaty mouthfuls and succulent gravy, which also provides plenty of hydration, which is vital for healthy kidneys. This recipe is very wet, which some cats will turn a nose up to. Consult your vet to ensure this brand is appropriate for your cat’s needs.
- Low in sodium and phosphorus
- Hydrating
- Complete meal on its own or a topper
- Lots of moisture
3. Fussie Super Premium Chicken with Sweet Potato Formula in Gravy – Premium Choice
| Main ingredients: | Water, Chicken Meat, Chicken Skin, Carrots, Sweet Potatoes, Red Rice |
| Protein content: | 9.0% |
| Fat content: | 0.21% |
| Calories: | 0.07% |
Fussie Chicken and Sweet Potato cat food is a premium, flavorful entrée with boneless chicken providing moderate amounts of high-quality protein. This recipe contains high-quality, natural ingredients that are low in fat and phosphorus.
Although this formula is low in phosphorus, it is not specially formulated for kidney disease, so check with your vet before feeding your cat. Because of the natural ingredients that include vegetables, some cats do not enjoy the taste.
- Low in phosphorus
- High-quality protein
- Flavorful
- Some cats don’t enjoy the taste
4. Hill’s Prescription Diet k/d with Salmon Wet Cat Food
| Main ingredients: | Meat and animal derivatives, derivatives of vegetable origin, fish and fish derivatives (salmon 4%), cereals, various sugars, eggs and egg derivatives, minerals, oils, and fats. |
| Protein content: | 29.9% |
| Fat content: | 0.51% |
| Calories: | 0.28% |
Hills Prescription Diet Wet Cat Food With Salmon is clinically proven to prolong and improve the life of your cats and is a complete and balanced recipe to provide all the nutrients your cat needs. It’s made with salmon, and your cat won’t be able to resist!
It helps to protect the kidney functions of your cat with controlled phosphorus and sodium levels and is enriched with essential amino acids, omega 3’s, and L-carnitine for healthy, strong muscles. This formula also includes S+OXSHIELD to maintain a healthy urinary tract. Hills cat food is a prescription diet, and a prescription from your vet will be required to purchase this food.
- Complete and balanced recipe
- Controlled phosphorus and sodium levels
- Reduces chances of oxalate crystals
- A prescription is required for purchase
5. Royal Canin Renal Chicken Pouches
| Main ingredients: | Meat and animal derivatives (chicken 4%), cereals, oils and fats, minerals |
| Protein content: | 7.8% |
| Fat content: | 0.09% |
| Calories: | 0.11% |
Royal Canin Renal is formulated with low phosphorus and high-quality protein to support renal function and help improve the cat’s quality of life. To encourage appetite, the food is coated in a delectable sauce and an energy-dense formula to compensate for a decreased appetite. The essential fatty acids DHA and EPA are beneficial to the digestive system and the skin and coat health.
This recipe supports renal filtration, which helps the heart’s function by aiding the dilation of small blood vessels in the kidneys and reducing pressure in the Glomerulus. A perfect blend of fiber promotes healthy digestion and bacteria growth in the gut. Two pouches of this recipe are recommended for an 8.2-pound cat, so it could be a bit costly.
- Encourages appetite
- Supports heart function
- Low phosphorous to support renal function
- Costly
6. Forza10 Active Kidney Renal Diet Dry Cat Food
| Main ingredients: | Rice, hydrolyzed fish protein, hydrolyzed potato protein, anchovy meal, fish oil |
| Protein content: | 26% |
| Fat content: | 0.8% |
| Calories: | 0.24% |
Forza10 active kidney renal cat food is low in protein, sodium, and phosphorus and is designed to aid in the improvement of poor kidney function and heart issues. It is formulated with anchovies, salmon, and therapeutic plants to provide healthy nutrients for your cat, aid digestion, and support kidney function. It has no artificial preservatives, flavors, GMOs, or antibiotics and is free from soy, wheat, and corn.
This delicious renal dry cat food does not require a prescription but is imported from America, which means a waiting time for delivery.
- Low in phosphorus and sodium
- Contains therapeutic plants
- GMO and antibiotic-free
- Imported from America
7. Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diet Kidney Function Cat Food
| Main ingredients: | Water, meat by-products, chicken hearts, rice, liver, poultry by-products, powdered cellulose, salmon |
| Protein content: | 6.0% |
| Fat content: | 0.12 % |
| Calories: | n/a |
Purina Pro Plan kidney function cat food is formulated by Purina nutritionists, researchers, and veterinarians. Its recipe contains restricted amounts of high-quality protein to reduce the workloads on the kidneys and is low in phosphorus to help stop kidney disease from progressing. It contains omega 3 fatty acids and antioxidants and has a great taste to entice a picky eater to eat.
Purina Pro Plan veterinary diet kidney formulas are only intended for intermittent or supplemental feeding and require a prescription from your vet.
- Low in Phosphorus
- Low amounts of high-quality protein
- Omega 3’s and antioxidants
- Supplemental or intermittent feeding only
- Vet prescription needed
8. Blue Buffalo Natural Veterinary Diet Kidney + Mobility Support Dry Cat Food
| Main ingredients: | Deboned Chicken, Peas, Pea Starch, Potato Starch, Dried Egg Product, Pea Protein, Chicken Fat |
| Protein content: | 26% |
| Fat content: | 0.4% |
| Calories: | 0.35% |
Blue Buffalo Natural Kidney support dry cat food is formulated with low levels of phosphorus and sodium to assist with the workload of the kidneys, and chicken is the first listed ingredient which is this recipe’s source of high-quality protein at moderate amounts. It is packed with important nutrients and includes glucosamine and chondroitin for mobility and healthy joints.
It is a tasty dry food that is free of poultry byproducts, corn, soy, and wheat. Because this is a dry food recipe, it is not as hydrating, so it is important to increase your cats water intake.
- Chicken is the first ingredient
- Low in phosphorus and sodium
- Includes glucosamine and chondroitin
- Cats need to drink more water when on this diet
9. Hill’s Prescription Kidney Care Chicken and Vegetable Stew Cat Food
| Main ingredients: | Water, chicken, pork liver, carrots, rice |
| Protein content: | 4.0% |
| Fat content: | N/A |
| Calories: | 0.23% |
Hill’s nutritionists and veterinarians created Hill Prescription Kidney Care diets to support your cat’s kidney health and is clinically proven nutrition to improve and prolong your cat’s life. This recipe is high in essential amino acids with controlled phosphorus and low sodium for optimum kidney health.
It is also designed to promote a urinary environment that reduces the risk of developing struvite and calcium oxalate crystals, safeguards vital kidney and heart function while increasing vitality and energy, and helps picky eaters by supporting appetite and taste satisfaction. Because Hill’s is premium and a prescription diet, it will come with a higher price tag.
- Controlled phosphorous
- High in amino acids
- Improves urinary function
- Expensive
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Right Food for Cats with Kidney Disease
Sadly, there is no cure for kidney disease, so carefully managing your cat’s diet is a top priority. When choosing a cat food that is suitable for a cat suffering from kidney disease, phosphorus restriction is crucial and the simplest way to reduce blood phosphorus levels in cats is to limit their intake.
Phosphorous
Phosphorus is expelled through the urine made by the kidneys, and if kidney function is compromised, phosphorus levels will increase. If kidney disease is in its early days, phosphorus can be somewhat restricted, and most cats can thrive on a quality over-the-counter food, but more serious and advanced cases will require a more substantial restriction of phosphorous. Severe cases could also benefit with medication that binds to phosphorus in the intestinal tract to help limit its absorption.
Protein
Typically, foods that are high in protein are also high in phosphorus. Meals for cats with kidney disease should always contain the highest quality protein possible so that your cat gets the most benefit, while having a minimal negative effect on its kidneys. Look for quality animal-based protein sources, avoiding proteins that are a byproduct of the manufacturing process.
It can be difficult to determine the appropriate protein level for your cat’s food. Too much protein increases the amount of urea and phosphorous the body must eliminate, while cats with kidney disease may suffer from more severe muscle wasting with too little protein. Consulting your vet is the safest option when determining how much protein your cat needs.
Moisture Levels
Dehydration is a problem for cats with kidney disease, and because canned food contains more water than dry food, canned food is the recommended choice. If your cat refuses to eat canned food, choose a high-quality dry food and do everything you can to encourage your cat to drink plenty of water.
Dry food may also be a better option for some cats as canned food is not as calorically dense as dry food, therefore some cats may not maintain their weight. Dry food is a better option if the owner is willing to make up for the loss of water by subcutaneous fluid administration and if your cat has a higher calorie intake after changing foods.
If your cat is losing weight on a diet specialized for kidney disease, the food is not meeting your cats’ nutritional needs, whether or not it seems to be effective for your cats’ kidneys. The solution could be as simple as trying a new brand.
Any new cat food, including low-phosphorus food, should be introduced gradually by mixing it in with your cat’s regular food.
Conclusion
If your cat is in early stages of kidney disease and is looking for food without a prescription, then our best overall choice is Diamond Care Urinary Adult food. It is low in sodium and phosphorus to assist your cats’ kidneys. Weruva Truluxe Cat Food is our best choice for the money and Fussie chicken and sweet potato cat food is our premium choice because of its flavorful recipe that includes a high-quality protein in moderate portions. Hill’s Prescription diet wet cat food with salmon is a prescription food specially formulated to assist with kidney diseased cats.
While we hope these reviews helped you find the best food for cats, we always recommend the guidance and opinion of an experienced vet.
Featured Image Credit: Kabo, Unsplash
