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7 Best Cat Foods for Kidney Disease in Canada – 2024 Reviews & Top Picks

Chantelle Fowler

By Chantelle Fowler

cat eating on floor at home

Getting the news that your cat has kidney disease can feel devastating. You might feel that your cat’s kidney disease diagnosis is a death sentence since the kidneys have so many essential functions. Truthfully, kidney disease can be controlled through a proper diet, and if the disease is caught early, your cat can still have many years left to enjoy.

Expensive prescription diets can be hard to fit into the budget, but several non-prescription cat foods can be an excellent option for your pet. Choosing a low-phosphorus food is essential as it can reduce the workload on your cat’s kidneys.

Keep reading to find our list of Canada’s seven best cat foods for kidney disease. Please note that we recommend consulting your vet before starting your cat on a new diet, especially after receiving a kidney disease diagnosis.

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A Glance at the Winners of 2024

Rating Image Product Details
Best Overall
Winner
Hill's Science Diet Tender Tuna Hill's Science Diet Tender Tuna
  • High-quality protein
  • Boosts vision and heart health
  • No preservatives
  • Best Value
    Second place
    Wellness Morsels Healthy Indulgence Wellness Morsels Healthy Indulgence
  • Easy to serve
  • Good value
  • Antioxidant-rich
  • Premium Choice
    Third place
    Hill Prescription Diet k/d Kidney Care Hill Prescription Diet k/d Kidney Care
  • Low in phosphorus
  • Controls sodium intake
  • Boosts natural muscle building
  • Hill's Science Diet Adult 7+ Senior Vitality Hill's Science Diet Adult 7+ Senior Vitality
  • Perfect for senior cats
  • Boosts coat health
  • Supports brain function
  • Royal Canin Feline Health Nutrition Royal Canin Feline Health Nutrition
  • Great for senior cats
  • Low in phosphorus
  • Joint support
  • The 7 Best Cat Foods for Kidney Disease in Canada

    1. Hill’s Science Diet Tender Tuna Cat Food – Best Overall

    Hill's Science Diet Tender Tuna

    Main ingredients: Water, Tuna, Chicken, Pork Liver, Wheat Flour
    Protein content: 7.8%
    Fat content: 2.5%
    Calories: 162 kcal/can

    Hill’s Science Diet Tender Tuna may be one of the easiest products on our list to find in stores and online, which is essential for convenience’s sake and because its availability means your cat won’t need to switch foods if it’s sold out. This Tender Tuna flavor is low in phosphorus at just 0.52%.

    This wet food is the best overall cat food for kidney disease in Canada because of its low phosphorus content and its inclusion of high-quality protein. This tuna dinner features tuna chunks in a tasty gravy and is made with easy-to-digest ingredients. In addition, it contains taurine to boost vision and heart function and is free of artificial flavoring or preservatives. Hills provides complete and balanced nutrition for cats between 1 and 6 years old.

    Pros
    • High-quality protein
    • Boosts vision and heart health
    • No preservatives
    • Low in phosphorus
    Cons
    • Not the best pick for senior cats

    2. Wellness Morsels Healthy Indulgence Wet Cat Food – Best Value

    Wellness Morsels Healthy Indulgence Chicken & Chicken Liver

    Main ingredients: Chicken Broth, Water Sufficient For Processing, Chicken, Chicken Liver, Potato Starch
    Protein content: 7.0%
    Fat content: 4.0%
    Calories: 62 kcal/Container

    With 0.55% phosphorus, Wellness’ Morsels Healthy Indulgence is an excellent pick for your cat with kidney disease. These wet food packets are made with only the highest quality ingredients and feature real chicken and chicken liver morsels for a unique taste and texture. The morsels are packed in a savory sauce that works well as a meal on its own or as a kibble topper. However, some cats, especially older ones with poor dental health, may struggle to eat the morsel chunks.

    This recipe contains antioxidants from cranberries and blueberries and beta carotene from the carrots. It comes in a convenient tear-open package that will take the guesswork out of portion sizes. This food contains no artificial coloring, flavors, or preservatives. We believe this food is the best diabetic cat food in Canada for the money, as it’s simple to serve and made with natural ingredients.

    Pros
    • Easy to serve
    • Good value
    • Antioxidant-rich
    • Low in phosphorus
    Cons
    • Some cats can’t chew the morsels

    3. Hill Prescription Diet k/d Kidney Care Cat Food – Premium Choice

    Hill Prescription Diet k d Kidney Care

    Main ingredients: Brown Rice, Corn Gluten Meal, Chicken, Pork Fat, Whole Grain Wheat
    Protein content: 29.9%
    Fat content: 23.9 %
    Calories: 541 kcal/cup

    Hill’s Prescription Diet’s k/d Kidney Care food is the premium choice on our list as it is one of the priciest options, but cats with CKD will benefit significantly from it. It is designed to control your cat’s phosphorus and sodium intake while providing them with high levels of the essential amino acids their bodies need for muscle building.

    Hill’s Enhanced Appetite Trigger (E.A.T.) technology is said to help stimulate your cat’s appetite and boost the caloric intake. It has a phosphorus level of 0.53%.

    Pros
    • Low in phosphorus
    • Controls sodium intake
    • Boosts natural muscle-building
    • Contains amino acids
    Cons
    • Expensive
    • Low in moisture

    4. Hill’s Science Diet Adult 7+ Senior Vitality Dry Food

    Hill's Science Diet Adult 7+ Senior Vitality Dry Cat Food

    Main ingredients: Chicken, Brown Rice, Corn Gluten Meal, Whole Grain Oats, Pea Protein
    Protein content: 30.0%
    Fat content: 13.0%
    Calories: 439 cal/cup

    Hill’s Science Diet Adult 7+ Senior Vitality Dry Food is truly knocking it out of the park for Canadian cats with CKD. Although it has a slightly higher phosphorus count at 0.67%, it won over the hearts of our on-staff vets. The exclusive blend of ingredients works together to promote healthy kidneys and support brain function.

    In addition, the antioxidant and vitamin blend can boost your cat’s immune system. Vitamin E and omega-6 fatty acids promote coat health, which is vital for cats with CKD as they often have poor coat quality. This dry food is made without any artificial colors or preservatives and is perfect for senior cats with CKD.

    Pros
    • Perfect for senior cats
    • Boosts coat health
    • Supports brain function
    • No preservatives or artificial colors
    Cons
    • Slightly higher in phosphorus
    • Low in moisture

    5. Royal Canin Feline Health Nutrition Aging 12+ Cat Food

    Royal Canin Feline Health Nutrition Aging 12+

    Main ingredients: Water Sufficient For Processing, Pork By-Products, Pork Liver, Chicken, Chicken Liver
    Protein content: 9.0%
    Fat content: 2.50%
    Calories: 71 kcal/can

    Royal Canin’s Aging 12+ canned cat food is designed for senior cats. It has controlled phosphorus levels (0.53%), and the inclusion of omega-3 fatty acids helps provide joint support for your aging kitty. This recipe also contains glucosamine and chondroitin1,  which are fantastic supplements for joint and bone health.

    The tender thin slices in gravy texture are easy on the teeth and gums of senior kitties. This food also contains taurine to help boost vision and digestive health and niacin for energy metabolism. There are some reports of the smell of this food being a turnoff to some cats.

    Pros
    • Great for senior cats
    • Low in phosphorus
    • Joint support
    • Boosts bone health
    Cons
    • Smelly

    6. Weruva Truluxe Steak Frites Dinner Canned Food

    Main ingredients: Beef Broth, Beef, Pumpkin, Sweet Potato, Potato Starch
    Protein content: 10.0 %
    Fat content: 1.3%
    Calories: 124 kcal/6 oz can

    Weruva’s Truluxe Steak Frites with Beef & Pumpkin in Gravy has a phosphorus level of 0.57%. This soft food is made with grass-fed beef to ensure your cat gets a top-quality protein source. Its broth-based gravy is enticing to cats with low appetites and can support their hydration levels.

    Weruva’s Truluxe is free from grain, gluten, corn, soy, and artificial colors or preservatives. It provides a unique blend of amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and taurine to boost your cat’s vision and heart health. It is also 100% complete and balanced for adult maintenance. Picky kitties may turn their nose up at the thicker texture of this food.

    Pros
    • Made with grass-fed beef
    • No artificial colors
    • Boosts hydration levels
    • Good for adults and seniors
    Cons
    • Some cats don’t like the texture

    7. Wysong Epigen Turkey Cat Food

    Wysong Epigen Turkey

    Main ingredients: Turkey, Water Sufficient for Processing, Natural Flavor, Organic Guar Gum, Mixed Tocopherols
    Protein content: 10.0%
    Fat content: 8.0%
    Calories: N/A

    Wysong’s Epigen Turkey food has a phosphorus count of 0.60%. It has been formulated to mimic the natural eating patterns of our pets. It contains no fillers or artificial preservatives and is palatable to keep your kitty interested in mealtime.

    In addition, this limited-ingredient food features 95% meat, which should appease your carnivorous kitty. It is not designed to be used alone. You will need to feed it alongside another healthy, CKD-friendly food.

    Pros
    • Limited ingredients
    • Mimics natural diet
    • No artificial fillers
    • 95% meat
    Cons
    • Not to be used alone
    • Expensive

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    Buyer’s Guide: How to Find the Best Cat Food for Kidney Disease in Canada

    Once you’ve received a kidney disease diagnosis, educating yourself on what that means and what the disease looks like is essential. So keep reading to learn more about kidney disease, the importance of phosphorus in your cat’s kidney-friendly diet, and other nutritional factors to consider.

    What Is Chronic Kidney Disease?

    Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is an ongoing kidney disease. You may sometimes hear it called renal disease or chronic renal failure (CRF). There is no timeline for CKD since it can be very gradual. It can take years for your cat’s kidney function to start failing.

    Healthy kidneys have many important roles, including filtering blood and producing urine. Since the kidneys have a large capacity to perform their functions, you may not begin seeing clinical signs of CKD in your cat until two-thirds of the kidneys are dysfunctional. This may mean that your pet’s kidneys have been deteriorating for months or years before the failure becomes evident.

    There are four stages of CKD. Knowing which stage your cat is in can help your vet determine the type of management (e.g., diet and food) that can slow the disease’s progression and minimize the risk of additional kidney damage.

    What Are the Symptoms of CKD?

    The two early warning signs of CKD include weight loss and poor coat quality. The problem is that these signs are often dismissed as typical signs of aging, so it can take a while for CKD to be officially diagnosed.

    Other symptoms of CKD include:
    • Bad breath
    • Lethargy
    • Depression
    • Increased thirst
    • Variable appetite
    • Vomiting

    The Role of Phosphorus

    You may have noticed that we discussed phosphorus levels throughout our buying guide. It is essential to keep your kitty’s blood phosphorus at a certain level to help slow the progression of CKD. VCA Animal Hospitals suggests that limiting the dietary phosphorus in CKD cats can reduce the effects of renal secondary hyperparathyroidism. This condition occurs if your cat’s parathyroid glands secrete excessive amounts of the parathyroid hormone.

    The recommended phosphorus range for cats with CKD is 0.3-0.6% on a dry matter basis. Most therapeutic kidney foods will fall below 0.5%, but not every cat will eat prescription food. That’s why our list above is comprised mainly of foods you can easily find that are still relatively low in phosphorus.

    cat drinking from a bowl of red bowl
    Image Credit: fantom_rd, Shutterstock

    Other Factors to Consider

    There are other nutritional requirements besides the phosphorus in your cat’s food.

    Water

    Diseased kidneys cannot excrete waste from the body through urine. Your cat’s body will tell them to drink more to compensate for the diluted urine. It is essential for you to provide your cat with fresh water at all times. Offering wet food can also help increase your cat’s water intake.

    Protein

    VCA Animal Hospitals advises that a decreased protein intake can help slow the progression of kidney disease. This is because kidneys must filter out any waste products from the protein your cats eat.

    If your pet ingests less protein, their blood won’t contain as many waste products, decreasing the amount of work their kidneys need to do. However, your cat’s protein levels mustn’t drop too low, as their bodies may start breaking down their muscle mass to compensate.

    Sodium

    Diets high in sodium can increase your cat’s blood pressure and worsen kidney damage. Avoid offering your pet treats high in salt, such as deli meat and some commercial cat treats.

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    Final Verdict

    Hill’s Science Diet Tender Tuna is Canada’s best overall cat food for kidney disease, thanks to its low phosphorus count and high-quality protein. Wellness Morsels Healthy Indulgence provides the best value for its low phosphorus count and antioxidant-rich recipe. Our premium choice is Hill Prescription Diet k/d Kidney Care, and although it’s pretty expensive, it’s prescription strength, so that’s to be expected.

    Hill’s Science Diet again for their Adult 7+ Senior Vitality food is a proprietary blend of ingredients that promotes kidney function and supports senior cats. Living a long and healthy life with kidney disease is possible with an appropriate diet and help from your veterinarian.

    See also: 10 Best Senior Cat Foods in Canada – Reviews & Top Picks


    Featured Image Credit: Africa Studio, Shutterstock

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