Welcome to Sphynxlair! Connect with Sphynx owners & enthusiasts around the world!

raw diet for older sphynx with kidney disease (maybe)

Joined
Mar 5, 2012
Messages
44
Points
29
I have a sphynx girl who is 10.5, she's been flirting with kidney disease (maybe?). Her numbers weren't good months ago, but they resolved with a diet of Royal Canin prescription food (Multi-Function with Hydrolized protein). The cats love this food, it's like crack. They also get heavily supplemented with science diet wet food for seniors.

I'd like to transition to a raw diet and see if that's better for her and my geriatric hairy cat. I've read through the existing threads and couldn't immediately find -- has anyone had experience with this set of parameters?

I'm not too sure about making my own (there are a lot of variables!!), but would be happy starting with a commercial pre-made raw, or supplement (maybe instead of the wet food we feed). Can you recommend a starter for us?

Thanks in advance for any info you can provide.
 

Sheldon13

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Sep 2, 2014
Messages
9,901
Points
613
I’m a little biased, but I think raw is always the best choice if you are able and the cat is willing.


Love and Sphynx ~ It’s all you need
 

StacyM

Lairian
Joined
Aug 4, 2018
Messages
20
Points
24
I have a sphynx girl who is 10.5, she's been flirting with kidney disease (maybe?). Her numbers weren't good months ago, but they resolved with a diet of Royal Canin prescription food (Multi-Function with Hydrolized protein). The cats love this food, it's like crack. They also get heavily supplemented with science diet wet food for seniors.

I'd like to transition to a raw diet and see if that's better for her and my geriatric hairy cat. I've read through the existing threads and couldn't immediately find -- has anyone had experience with this set of parameters?

I'm not too sure about making my own (there are a lot of variables!!), but would be happy starting with a commercial pre-made raw, or supplement (maybe instead of the wet food we feed). Can you recommend a starter for us?

Thanks in advance for any info you can provide.
I am in the same boat with my two kitties. I have one that is on prescription food and I really want to try raw (the smell from the little box is killing us right now) I need a good commercial pre-made raw to start.
 

Condo commando

Gold Lairian
Notable Member
Joined
Apr 7, 2014
Messages
4,070
Points
568
If you have a cat with kidney disease, there are special considerations and you can't just feed a regular raw diet. Also, the diet has to be customized for your cat. So unfortunately, there is no off-the-shelf, commercial raw food for kidney disease.

If you are willing to make the food at home, there is a vet nutrition service (petdiets.com) that will prepare the recipe(s) for you. I did this for my IBD cat. You have to pay for the consultation, but they give you the recipes so you don't have any guesswork.

I have heard that hydrolyzed diets are pretty expensive, so if you make the food at home you should save money on food. So at least you recoup the money spent on the consultation, but of course you are still responsible for making the food.
 

StacyM

Lairian
Joined
Aug 4, 2018
Messages
20
Points
24
Thank you for the info. I have had my kitty in Royal Canin Urinary and Calm for the past 2 years. With everything that’s going on I am having a hard time purchasing it due to being on back order. I am only allowed to buy a few cans at a time and the place I buy it from is 30 min away. It’s been a pain in the butt. My kitty has had every test known and all the vets can tell me is that stress is causing her to pass blood clots. There’s no infections or stones or crystals. I don’t know that I would have to have her on a special kidney diet. I am meeting with the vet in the 20th to chat with them about switching them over to raw.
 

Condo commando

Gold Lairian
Notable Member
Joined
Apr 7, 2014
Messages
4,070
Points
568
@dreadpirate_rackham
@StacyM

There is another pet food company that has veterinary approved diets. I found out about it recently from the vet that I've been consulting with for my IBD cat. It's called Rayne Clinical Nutrition. They happen to have a recipe for urinary tract health if you want to check it out. And they have an online store.


I just want to make clear, this is NOT a diet that is made for kidney disease; however, if all you need is a substitute for Royal Canin Urinary this could work.

For urinary issues I would always go with wet food. If your cat refuses wet food consider a water fountain to encourage them to drink more water.
 
Last edited:

pussiette

Gold Lairian
Notable Member
Joined
Mar 29, 2013
Messages
3,643
Points
318
I have a sphynx girl who is 10.5, she's been flirting with kidney disease (maybe?). Her numbers weren't good months ago, but they resolved with a diet of Royal Canin prescription food (Multi-Function with Hydrolized protein). The cats love this food, it's like crack. They also get heavily supplemented with science diet wet food for seniors.

I'd like to transition to a raw diet and see if that's better for her and my geriatric hairy cat. I've read through the existing threads and couldn't immediately find -- has anyone had experience with this set of parameters?

I'm not too sure about making my own (there are a lot of variables!!), but would be happy starting with a commercial pre-made raw, or supplement (maybe instead of the wet food we feed). Can you recommend a starter for us?

Thanks in advance for any info you can provide.
My cat died from kidney failure the specialist said that while he was having kidney failure protein intake needs to be low - with kidney disease cats should be fed diets reduced in phosphorus, protein, and sodium. The organs need to ultrasounded to see what percentage has failed and bun and cretanine blood work up and urine dilution tests need to be performed for concentration. Renal diets are vet recommended.
 

Jenphil80

Lairian
Joined
Mar 16, 2014
Messages
15
Points
14
D
I have a sphynx girl who is 10.5, she's been flirting with kidney disease (maybe?). Her numbers weren't good months ago, but they resolved with a diet of Royal Canin prescription food (Multi-Function with Hydrolized protein). The cats love this food, it's like crack. They also get heavily supplemented with science diet wet food for seniors.

I'd like to transition to a raw diet and see if that's better for her and my geriatric hairy cat. I've read through the existing threads and couldn't immediately find -- has anyone had experience with this set of parameters?

I'm not too sure about making my own (there are a lot of variables!!), but would be happy starting with a commercial pre-made raw, or supplement (maybe instead of the wet food we feed). Can you recommend a starter for us?

Thanks in advance for any info you can provide.
Darwn's Raw food has a formula specifically for cats with Kidney disease but it's prescription so your vet will need to fill out a form.
 

Sheldon13

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Sep 2, 2014
Messages
9,901
Points
613
D

Darwn's Raw food has a formula specifically for cats with Kidney disease but it's prescription so your vet will need to fill out a form.

Whoa really? I had no idea! I used Darwin when I very first started raw and didn’t know enough to trust myself to make it at home. That’s awesome!


Love and Sphynx ~ It’s all you need
 

CathyO

Senior Lairian
Senior Lairian
Joined
Jul 4, 2019
Messages
552
Points
148
Also good to find vets who have feline nutrition certifications as not all vets have equal education/experience with pet nutrition in particular. Raw is best but only for pets who can process proteins properly and aren't immunocompromised. Very high protein in raw food (60% protein vs only 35% Royal Canin Renal if all moisture removed) has too much phosphorus and ash (bones) which make the kidneys of cats with renal issues work harder. That being said the processing in kibbles also affect how much phosphorus and ash are in the kibbles - food scientists are just good at "converting"/adjusting nutrient profiles. Kibbles continually make a cat dehydrated that's why they drink more when they are on dry food.

Gently cooked commercial food that has your vet's blessing or even prescription wet food, I think, is better than Royal Canin dry food. Royal Canin's top three ingredients are: Chicken By-product, corn, rice or wheat. FDA approves the following animal by-product: skin, hair, bones, glands, powdered blood, etc.. last time I checked chicken beak is not classified as "bone"... Anyway, I think you are on the right track on ensuring more hydration for your kitties but if I'm paying premium for any prescription diet I'd like to know if the source of protein is from meat rather than grain even if I'm reducing the amount of protein for health reasons
 

Sheldon13

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Sep 2, 2014
Messages
9,901
Points
613
The big deal on raw diets for kidney kitties is getting that phosphorus down, absolutely. A great way to do that is to use eggshells in place of bone. Then they still get the needed calcium. There are good recipes out there.


Love and Sphynx ~ It’s all you need
 

Condo commando

Gold Lairian
Notable Member
Joined
Apr 7, 2014
Messages
4,070
Points
568
For CKD I think it's worth it to pay for a nutrition consultation with a specialized vet. I had a cat with kidney disease and there's a lot going on. Also some cats have a more or less advanced stage of the disease and the online diets don't distinguish. Be safe instead of sorry.
 
Back
Top