Low Protein Cat Food

Cats are carnivorous animals and hence require foods that are rich in an amino acid derivative called taurine.



This is because cats are not able to synthesize complex compounds. A taurine deficient diet may result in various cat health problems including blindness. Cat food is broadly classified into dry and wet foods.

Sometimes your veterinarian may recommend a low protein cat diet if your cat has a serious health condition like kidney disease or renal failure. If the cat’s kidneys do not function properly the cat will not be able to successfully eliminate waste from its body via urine. In such cases the acidity and electrolyte levels in the cat’s body will be adversely affected making it lose weight, become lethargic and have thirst excessively.



Typically, the protein present in the cat’s food, when digested gets converted in Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) which directly affects the functioning of the cat’s kidneys. Hence lowering the intake of proteins will automatically lower the production of BUN. Hence the best way to avoid or minimize kidney problems in cats is to feed them a low phosphorus cat food that would also have high levels of moisture but minimum sodium content. However most cats do require to be fed high protein cat food on account of their being obligate carnivores. Although cats may get some amount of nutrients from the consumption of grains, fruits and vegetable, their main source of vital proteins is only through fish and meat. Wet cat food is an ideal source of commercial high protein cat food. Such a diet helps in increasing the cat’s energy levels, improves the quality and texture of the coat, prevents diabetes and may even cure constipation in cats. It is observed that some proteins are better than others for cats; this is because the biological benefits of amino acids are different for different sources of protein. Foods like eggs, beef, soybean meal etc are rich sources of protein for cats.

The main reason for a veterinarian prescribing a low protein diet for cats is to minimize the quantity of waste that have to be filtered out of the cat’s body by its kidneys. This thus helps in reducing the pressure on the kidneys. A diet low in salt and phosphorous helps in maintaining a control on any electrolyte imbalances which is a common symptom in cats suffering from kidney problems. Most cats suffering from renal disorders secrete excess stomach acids which makes it difficult to consume any kinds of food.