Reply #32: Feeding a cat only dry food increases the risk of kidney problems [View All]

[enlightenment]

Cats get most of their liquid from their food - ever notice that they don't drink from their water bowls nearly as much as dogs? In the wild, raw prey gives them sufficient liquid, but indoor cats need canned/wet/raw food to make up the difference.

I'm not a vet, but we have six cats. One preferred dry food. We didn't think much of it. He now has diabetes and kidney problems. He's supposed to be on a prescription diet, but like yours, he won't touch it (neither will the others).

The vet said to look for food with a high protein count (40% for dry food - hard to find outside of the prescription stuff - Royal Canin makes one) and stay away from the gravy based canned food (made with wheat gluten, it converts to sugars in the body - a no no for a diabetic cat).