Harmful waste products build up in the body of a cat with poor kidney function. One of the best ways to manage this problem is with a special diet that’s low in protein, phosphorus, and sodium and high in vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants.
There are low phosphorus commercial cat foods specially formulated for cats with kidney issues. Many kidney care diets require a veterinarian’s prescription, but some don’t.
These reviews will help you find the best cat food for kidney health for your cat. We’ll talk about both prescription and non-prescription options, so be sure to always follow your vet’s exact instructions when choosing cat food.
Disclaimer: The foods reviewed here were chosen because they have certain characteristics that might help with some of the causes or consequences of this medical condition. However, they are not a medical treatment or a substitute for medical treatment. Keep in mind that each medical case is different and what works for some pets may not work for others. Your veterinarian is the right person to advise you on the best diet for your pet’s individual case.
A Glance at Our Winners in 2023
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Product
Details
Best Overall
Hill's Prescription Kidney Wet Cat Food
Contains gravy to stimulate the appetite
Supports urinary tract health by reducing crystal formation
Hill’s Prescription Diet k/d Kidney Care Chicken & Vegetable Stew Canned Cat Food is our pick for best overall cat food for kidney disease. This popular food requires a veterinary prescription but is widely available.
It is a palatable wet food with chicken as the primary animal protein. As a kidney care diet, it has the right amounts of phosphorus, protein, and sodium to support your cat’s health.
Pros
Contains gravy to stimulate the appetite
Supports urinary tract health by reducing the risk of crystal formation
Cons
Requires a veterinary prescription
2. Purina Pro Plan Vet Diets NF Kidney Care Dry Cat Food – Best Value
Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets NF Kidney Function Advanced Care Formula Dry Cat Food is our pick for best cat food for kidney disease for the money.
Although it is a veterinary diet that requires a prescription, it is a better value than some other veterinary diets. This formula is low in phosphorus and protein for kidney health and contains omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants to help support your cat’s overall health.
Pros
Contains proper amounts of protein and phosphorus
Primary animal protein is tuna
Cons
Requires a veterinary prescription
3. Royal Canin Vet Diet Renal Support Cat Food – Premium Choice
Royal Canin is a quality veterinary diet that is often the preferred choice of veterinarians. This kidney health prescription diet gets high marks from the owners of picky cats. The D stands for “delectable” and the morsels in gravy formula helps to stimulate your cat’s appetite.
Pros
An energy-dense formula for cats that eat smaller meals
Contains antioxidants and fatty acids from fish oil
This is a prescription kidney diet that has controlled levels of protein, phosphorus, and sodium for kidney health. It is grain-free, and the primary animal protein is chicken. It also has the added benefit of joint health ingredients like glucosamine and chondroitin, good for older cats with both mobility and kidney issues.
Pros
Contains real chicken, not by-products
Supports kidney health and joint health
Cons
Requires a veterinary prescription
Cats need to drink more water with dry food diets
5. Forza10 Renal ActiWet Renal Support Canned Cat Food
This is a kidney care diet that does not require a veterinarian’s prescription (check with your vet before buying). It’s made with lamb and contains no corn, wheat, or soy. In addition to having low amounts of phosphorus, protein, and sodium, it also has natural plant ingredients like cranberry for added renal support.
Pros
Does not require a veterinary prescription
Contains no meat by-products or GMOs
Cons
Your vet may prefer a prescription veterinary diet
6. Hill’s Prescription Diet k/d Kidney Care Dry Cat Food
This Hill’s kidney care dry cat food gets high marks from owners of finicky feline eaters who prefer fish-flavored cat food. Formulated with controlled phosphorus and low sodium for kidney health, it also contains l-carnitine and omega-3 fatty acids to support your cat’s overall health.
Pros
Enhanced Appetite Trigger (E.A.T.) technology to stimulate appetite
High levels of essential amino acids
Cons
Requires a veterinary prescription
Cats need to drink more water with dry food diets
7. Royal Canin Vet Diet Renal Support E Canned Cat Food
This is another Royal Canin veterinary kidney diet option. With this variety, the E stands for “enticing” and it is designed to stimulate your cat’s appetite. It comes in a loaf-in-sauce form and is energy-dense, so it provides more nutritional support for cats that eat small portions.
Pros
Formulated with proper phosphorus and protein levels
Contains antioxidants and fatty acids from fish oil
Cons
Requires a veterinary prescription
8. Forza10 Nutraceutic Kidney Renal Support Dry Cat Food
You don’t need a veterinarian’s prescription to buy this Forza10 kidney support food, although it’s a good idea to check with your vet before buying. Like prescription renal diets, it has low phosphorus, protein, and sodium. It also contains therapeutic plant extracts and omega-3 fatty acids from anchovy for your cat’s overall health.
Pros
Does not require a veterinary prescription
Contains natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory ingredients
Cons
Your vet may prefer a prescription veterinary diet
Cats need to drink more water with dry food diets
9. Hill’s Prescription Diet k/d Early Support Dry Cat Food
This version of Hill’s Prescription Diet k/d is formulated for cats with early kidney disease. It provides early protection of kidney function and is also designed to stimulate your cat’s appetite. It is low in phosphorus and sodium and contains omega-3 fatty acids, essential amino acids, and l-carnitine.
Pros
Designed specifically for early kidney disease
Enhanced Appetite Trigger (E.A.T.) technology to stimulate appetite
Cons
Requires a veterinary prescription
Not designed for advanced kidney disease
10. Purina Pro Plan Vet Diets NF Kidney Care Wet Cat Food
Purina Pro Plan Vet Diets NF Kidney Care Wet Cat Food is a canned veterinary diet prescription-only cat food for cats with advanced kidney disease and kidney failure. Low amounts of sodium, phosphorus, and protein reduce the workload of damaged kidneys and help your cat feel more comfortable.
Pros
Specifically designed for advanced kidney disease
Contains added B-complex vitamins
Cons
Requires a veterinary prescription
Not designed for cats with early kidney disease
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Cat Foods for Kidney Disease
Image Credit: Africa Studio, Shutterstock
What are the key factors to keep in mind when deciding on the best cat food for renal failure? The most important thing is to follow your veterinarian’s recommendations.
Vets Recommend
Most cat food for kidney disease requires a prescription. This is because cats with impaired kidney function have unique nutritional needs that are very different from cats with normal kidneys.
Therapeutic kidney diets contain controlled amounts of phosphorus, protein, and sodium, but amounts (and other ingredients) vary from brand to brand. If your vet prescribes a particular food for your cat, be sure to follow the treatment plan.
Cats with kidney disease often have small appetites so finding a food that your cat will eat is important. Talk to your vet about alternative foods to try if your cat doesn’t like the first one.
You can choose dry, wet, or a combination of both, but be sure to provide plenty of water if your cat prefers dry food. With some patience, you and your vet can find the right kidney diet for your cat.
There are a couple of other common-sense tips to keep in mind!
If you have multiple cats and only one has kidney disease, make sure to feed your cats separately so that they don’t eat each other’s food.
Be sure not to confuse kidney/renal care cat food with urinary care cat food. Veterinary diets for urinary health are designed to prevent the formation of crystals in your cat’s urinary tract. It is a different dietary formulation than food for kidney disease.
Final Thoughts
Let’s recap our reviews and top picks!
Hill’s Prescription Diet and Royal Canin Veterinary Diet are top choices of veterinarians. Each manufacturer has several varieties in their renal support cat food lines. Your vet may prefer one company over the other, but both are very good.
Oliver (Ollie) Jones - A zoologist and freelance writer living in South Australia with his partner Alex, their dog Pepper, and their cat Steve (who declined to be pictured). Ollie, originally from the USA, holds his master's degree in wildlife biology and moved to Australia to pursue his career and passion but has found a new love for working online and writing about animals of all types.
