Purina Creates Modified Diets for Cats with renal Illness

To address the dietary requirements of cats in both initial and late phases of renal illness, Purina has introduced two Pro Plan diet programs.

NF Renal Function Early Care for stages 1 and 2, and NF Renal Function Advanced Care for stages 3 and 4, have been formulated to meet the dietary needs of cats suffering from kidney disease. According to Purina, the new food options contain modified quantities of both protein and phosphorus “to address the delicate balance of providing needed protein in older cats against uraemic toxin production in late phase renal decline”.

The UK technical manager for Purina, Ellie Groves, commented that “cats have a high requirement for protein; however, around 20% of senior cats have decreased ability to digest protein and so are absorbing less protein.

“An inadequate intake of protein leads to loss of lean body mass” which “is significantly correlated with an increased risk of mortality. But in renal disease, there is the potential for protein breakdown products to increase in the circulation, acting as toxins.” Therefore, it is imperative that “we fine-tune the amount of protein, depending on the stage of chronic renal insufficiency.”

“Restricting phosphorus can slow the progression of chronic kidney disease by reducing morphological damage to the kidneys and is thought to be the most important influencer of survival in cats with CKD.”