Cats with kidney disease require a specialized diet that is low in certain nutrients and rich in others to support their kidney function.
Look for foods which have low phosphorus content — such as egg whites and lean meats (chicken and turkey) — as phosphorus can accumulate in the bloodstream when kidney function declines, leading to further kidney damage.
Reducing protein intake can lessen the kidneys' workload too, but it's crucial that the protein your cat does get is high-quality to maintain muscle mass.
Omega-3s from fish oils can help reduce inflammation and slow the progression of kidney disease, and antioxidants like vitamins E and C, which are found in certain vegetables and fruits can help reduce oxidative stress, which can worsen kidney damage.
Cats with kidney disease often lose B vitamins through increased urination. B vitamins help maintain energy and overall health. These can be found in organ meats (in moderation), and supplements.
Dehydration is also common in cats with kidney disease, so wet or canned cat foods which are rich in moisture and include low sodium levels may be beneficial.
To help, our team — made up of vets and pet nutritionists — have put together this list of the best foods for cats with kidney disease:
Our top picks
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Hill's Science Prescription Diet k/d
Cats with kidney disease may lose their appetite, but this wet food is designed to be highly palatable, encouraging cats to eat and maintain their weight.
It gets our second highest rating: 4.5 stars and is one of 29 recipes in a product range made by Hill’s Pet Nutrition, an international pet food brand known for selling scientifically developed foods.
This particular recipe derives the bulk of its protein from chicken. Dry matter label analysis reveals a wet recipe containing 29.7% protein, 22.9% fat and 39.4% carbohydrates . . . with a fat-to-protein ratio of 77%.
We recommend this food as it provides cats with an excellent source of quality lean protein and is made with science-led ingredients, free from grains, carrageenan, artificial colors, flavors or preservatives.
Read our review of the full Hill’s Prescription Diet (Wet) range hereThings we like
- Science-led ingredients
- Quality protein ingredients
- Omega fatty acids
Main Ingredients Water, pork liver, chicken, egg product, brewer’s rice Texture Wet Type Pate Protein Percentage 29.7% AAFCO Standards Maintenance Best For Adult cats Sample buyer review...
"My cat's vet recommended I change her food to the k/d. She loves it and has also gained some weight which she needed. She used to bug me for treats all of the time, now she's not interested in any treats because the k/d keeps her happy. "
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Hill’s Prescription Diet (Dry)
Hill’s Science Prescription Diet k/d with Chicken dry cat food is designed to help manage the symptoms of kidney disease and support overall kidney health.
This recipe received the Cat Food Advisor’s second highest rating: 4 stars and is one of 22 formulas in the range. It derives the bulk of its protein from chicken and dry matter label analysis reveals it has 29.5% protein, 23.7% fat and 38.2% carbohydrates . . . with a fat-to-protein ratio of 80%.
Kidney disease can lead to a loss of important nutrients through frequent urination, but this food is enriched with B vitamins and antioxidants such as vitamin E to replenish lost nutrients and combat oxidative stress. We highly recommend this food.
Read our review of the full Hill’s Prescription Diet (Dry) range hereThings we like
- Controlled phosphorus levels
- Low sodium
- Antioxidant rich
Main Ingredients Chicken, brown rice, corn gluten meal, whole grain wheat, chicken fat Texture Dry Type Grain inclusive Protein Percentage 29.5% AAFCO Standards Maintenance Best For Adult cats Sample buyer review...
"Excellent quality food formulated for my CKD cat. He took to it right away and has gotten his appetite back. "
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Farmina VetLife (Wet)
This 4-star recipe is one of four wet cat foods in a prescription diet product range made by Farmina.
Although primarily designed for cats with renal insufficiency or failure, it may also support cats with cardiac disease or Hepatic Encephalopathy.
This renal recipe derives the bulk of its protein from chicken. Dry matter label analysis reveals a wet recipe containing 28.6% protein, 27.5% fat and 35.9% carbohydrates . . . with a fat-to-protein ratio of 96%.
Read our review of the full Farmina VetLife (Wet) range hereThings we like
- High quality meat protein content
- Low phosphorus
- Reduced protein
Main Ingredients Chicken filet, sweet potato, hydrolyzed fish protein, fish oil, chicken liver Texture Wet Type Meat in Gravy Protein Percentage 28.6% AAFCO Standards Supplemental Best For All cats/senior cats/kittens Sample buyer review...
"My cat has renal disease. She likes variety in her meals so I mix up the menu morning and evening. She has been eating the Farmina VetLife for a week or so and seems to like it. "
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Forza10 (Wet)
This complete and balanced wet food is formulated specifically for renal support and receives the Cat Food Advisor’s second highest rating: 4 stars.
It is one of seven recipes in a range made by Forza10 and is made with the lower protein levels recommended for cats with kidney issues, as well as the lower phosphorus and sodium.
Forza10 Nutraceutic ActiWet Renal Support Recipe derives the bulk of its protein from lamb lung and chicken. Dry matter label analysis reveals a wet recipe containing 31.7% protein, 27.8% fat and 32.6% carbohydrates . . . with a fat-to-protein ratio of 88%.
Read our review of the full Forza10 (Wet) range hereThings we like
- Low protein
- Low sodium
- Low phosphorus
Main Ingredients Water sufficient for processing, lamb lung, chicken, lamb liver, pork liver Texture Wet Type Pate Protein Percentage 31.7% AAFCO Standards Maintenance Best For Adult cats Sample buyer review...
"This is some of the cleanest cat food I have found. It has excellent ingredients that are great quality. There is one thing you have to keep in mind. Foods with no preservatives means you cannot just leave it out. This stuff will smell like hot death the next day. A small price for something natural and I expect many more years with my 16 year old boy! "
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Blue Buffalo BLUE Natural (Dry)
We normally only include foods within our Best Cat Food pages which are rated between 4 and 5 stars. However, you will see Blue Naturals Veterinary Diet K+M Kidney & Mobility Support receives just 2.5 stars.
This is because the criteria we use to rate foods does not always apply to recipes formulated for specific health conditions. Some ingredients would be considered controversial and marked down in foods for healthy cats, but are necessary in formulas that tackle certain issues/concerns. This food is still one the best for cats with kidney disease.
This recipe is one of five foods in a veterinary diet range made by Blue Buffalo. It derives the bulk of its protein from chicken. Dry matter label analysis reveals a wet recipe containing 28.6% protein, 19.8% fat and 43.6% carbohydrates . . . with a fat-to-protein ratio of 69%.
Read our review of the full Blue Buffalo BLUE Natural (Dry) range hereThings we like
- Quality animal protein
- No meat by-products
- No corn, wheat or soy
Main Ingredients Deboned chicken, peas, pea starch, potato starch, dried egg product Texture Dry Type Kibble Protein Percentage 28.6% AAFCO Standards Maintenance Best For Adult cats Sample buyer review...
"My cats love Blue food, but when one fell ill with kidney problems I switched them both to this dry food. They love it. Rarely any vomiting and her kidney levels improved with this dry food and by feeding wet food twice a day."
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Article reviewed by
Pet Nutritionist
Laura studied BSc (Hons) Animal Science with an accreditation in Nutrition at the University of Nottingham, before working for eight years in the pet food and nutrition industry.
