Best Low Protein Cat Food

The best low protein cat food can slow down or even completely halt the progression of kidney disease in cats.

It is especially beneficial for cats having cardiac issues, liver disease, and congestive heart failure in cats.

If your cat has been diagnosed with any of the above issues, then your vet will prescribe special cat food with controlled protein levels to help manage the condition better.

In addition to vet-prescribed food, you can also check out these low protein cat food brands that can help your pet regain its health and energy levels.

Just in case you are in a hurry, click on our short summary below to view our Top 5 reviewed products for the best low protein cat food:

1. Solid Gold Low Protein Wet Cat Food
2. Blue Buffalo Kidney + Mobility Support
3. Forza10 Renal Support Wet Cat Food
4. Wysong Vegan Cat & dog Food
5. Evanger's Premium Cat & dog Dinner

Best Low Protein Cat Food – 2022 Top 5 Picks

1. Our Editor’s Choice: Solid Gold Wet Cat Food Pate for Adult & Senior Cats - Real Chicken & Coconut Oil - High Protein Grain Free Wet Cat Food for Healthy Digestion, Skin, Coat & Sensitive Stomach - 3oz (24 Count)

We love Solid Gold Tropical Blendz wet cat food because it only contains just 10% protein per can. It has just 111 calories and 4% fat, making it an ideal food for cats with heart disease, congestive heart failure, obesity, and other health issues.

Solid Gold – a holistic cat food brand – has been making high-quality cat products for over 4 decades. It is little wonder that so many cat parents trust it for their pet’s health and wellbeing.

This delicious cat food is made using pure coconut oil which is known to improve skin and coat, boost immunity, and aid in weight management in cats.

Your pet will receive plenty of fiber from the pumpkin, carrots, and spinach found in this palatable and nutritious low protein cat food. These superfoods provide a powerful blend of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to your fur buddy.

Solid Gold low protein canned cat food cleanses, balances, and fuels your cat’s immune system. This can protect your pet from infections and chronic ailments

 You can choose from Solid Gold’s chicken, salmon, or turkey flavors.

What we like about it

• Low protein food with just 10% protein coming from real meat
• Natural grain-free, gluten-free formula for all life-stages.
• Coconut oil supports gut health and boosts immunity
• Superfoods cleanse, balance, and nourish your cat
• Free from grains, fillers, colors, preservatives, and other unwanted ingredients

What we don’t like

• Some cats refused to eat the turkey variety and only liked the salmon.

2. Blue Buffalo Natural Veterinary Diet K+M Kidney + Mobility Support Dry Cat Food, Chicken 7-lb bag

Blue Buffalo’s Kidney support food contains controlled levels of protein and balanced electrolytes both of which are very important dealing with kidney related issues as well as heart disease in cats.

The label states that the food’s minimum crude protein content is 26% which comes from deboned-chicken as its number one ingredient.

Blue Buffalo Kidney support dry cat food also contains chondroitin and glucosamine for improved joint-health. These nutrients can help increase your pet’s mobility.

The best part is that this low protein dry cat food is free from grains and also contains the brand’s trademark LifeSource® bits which provide healthy vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to your cat.

What we like about it

• Controlled levels of highly digestible protein and balanced electrolytes
• Grain-free
• Healthy vitamins and antioxidants for immunity
• Chondroitin and glucosamine for better joint health.
• Great taste and scent which finicky cats love

What we don’t like about it

• The brand requires vet’s prescription at checkout. This is to ascertain that your pet actually needs this food.

3. Forza10 Wet Renal Cat Food, Kidney Care Cat Food with Lamb, 3.5 Ounce Can Kidney Support for Cats Wet Food and Renal Health Canned Cat Food, 32 Pack Wet Cat Food

Forza10 special low protein cat food is formulated by a vet for cats with kidney issues, cardiac diseases, or congestive heart failure.

This special low protein wet cat food contains pasture-raised New Zealand lamb which most cats can easily digest. Its protein content is just 6% with 0.13% phosphorus. Thanks to these low protein, low sodium, and low phosphorus levels, Forza10 cat food supports overall health and well-being in cats having kidney-related ailments.

Moreover, this fantastic food contains balanced levels of Omega 3 and Omega 6 essential fatty acids and is free from soy, wheat, GMO, corn, and other allergens.

Forza10 low protein wet cat food is rich in herbs (dandelion and dried clover) and fruits like cranberries to increase your cat’s immunity to infections.

The brand also makes low protein dry cat food which you can find here.

What we like about it

• Special renal support wet cat food with low protein, low sodium, and low phosphorus
• Formulated by vets and allergy ‘guru’
• Free from grains, soy, GMO, and allergens
• Herbs and berries for immunity boosting
• Great portion size
• Excellent taste and flavor which picky cats love

What we don’t like

• Too dense and fibrous – a texture which some cats dislike. If this happens, you can mix it up with other low protein dry cat food to see if your pet likes it.

Also Read: Best Cat Food for Kidney Disease

4. Wysong Vegan Feline/Canine Formula Dry Dog/Cat Food - 5 Pound Bag

Wysong Vegan Cat food contains 26% plant-based protein (pea, brown rice, soy-protein) which is often easy to digest for cats having frail kidneys, livers, or other organs. (Before switching to vegan cat foods, always consult your vet. Vegan foods do not contain taurine which is essential for cats and even more for kittens.)

Wysong food is suitable for cats and dogs of all ages, sizes, and breeds. It has an impressive nutrient profile with omegas (from flaxseed), pre and probiotics for improved immunity and digestion, as well as micronutrients, nutraceuticals, and antioxidants.

You can find their complete analysis and nutrition profile here. The brand claims to meet AAFCO’s cat and dog nutrition requirements.

In short, Wysong ensures the best nutrition for your pet.

What we like about it

• Contains highly digestible plant protein
• Free from GMO, fillers, and artificial additives.
• Made in the USA

What we don’t like

• As with all vegan foods, you need to supplement your cat.

5. Evanger's Super Premium Low Fat Vegetarian Dinner for Dogs & Cats, 12 x 12.8 oz cans

Evanger’s award-winning pet food claims to be “great for pets needing a hypo-allergenic, reduced protein diet to help with weight management or pancreatic weight loss”. Its label states a minimum crude protein content of just 7%.

Evanger is a family-owned company that uses wholesome natural ingredients packed in their own juices for taste, flavor, and nutrition.

Many cats and dogs, young and old, needing low-protein diets, hypo-allergenic diets have done extremely well on this super-premium food.

What we like about it

• Reduced protein from vegetarian sources.
• Ideal for managing weight, allergies, skin problems, and other health issues in cats
• Made in USA

What we don’t like

• Not main diet, cats need some meat too. Great as a food topper.

What Constitutes a Low Protein Diet for Cats?

Normally, kittens and adult cats need almost 25 to 30% protein in their diets. This amount is necessary to maintain muscle mass and also provide your pet with energy to remain active all day.

However, at times, such high protein levels can lead to enzyme fluctuations in your cat which, in turn, can impact its renal, liver, and heart function. In older cats, over time, this can result in kidney related issues, liver disease, and/or congestive heart failure.

For managing these conditions and preventing the disease from worsening, your vet might place your cat on a low protein diet for cats.

Low protein diet for cats means any cat food, wet or dry, which has controlled levels of protein in it.

Your vet might prescribe specially made veterinarian food with reduced or controlled protein amounts.

Based on your cat’s exact health requirements, your cat could benefit from a food with 10% to 12% protein per serving.

It is very important to understand that ‘low protein diet for cats’ does not mean ‘NO’ protein.

You cat still needs protein to carry out bodily functions and for optimal wellbeing.

To summarize, low protein cat food means any food having controlled or reduced protein levels or easy-to-digest and easy-to-metabolize protein levels.

Low protein diet for cats has a lower percentage of protein as compared to standard cat food available commercially.

If your cat has a confirmed diagnosis of liver/heart/kidney issues, your vet might prescribe low protein cat food containing 10-12% (or even lower) protein levels. Standard cat food contains nearly 30% protein.

When do Cats need Low Protein Cat Food?

Cats with kidney disease (CKD or chronic kidney disease), interstitial inflammation, fibrosis, and obesity, liver disease, heart disease, congestive heart failure, cardiac issues, severe allergies, pancreatitis, etc. sometimes benefit from low protein diets for cats.

However, there is a great deal of controversy in this matter and nothing is black and white.

First of all, there are very few studies on this subject.

It is very important to remember that cats are primarily carnivores. In the wild, their diets constitute nothing but protein.

So, it does not make much sense in limiting their animal protein intake too much.

Then there are other factors that need to be considered while treating CKD, liver issues, renal function impairment, and cardiac diseases in cats.

You see, protein in food is not the only thing that will impact your pet’s health. You also need to consider factors like phosphorus and sodium as well as the balance of electrolytes in the food.

There is no doubt that nutrition and diet are extremely important for the overall health well-being of your cat.

Therefore, when one is treating a serious health issue like CKD or impaired renal function in cats, one must take the entire health profile of the pet into account before finding the best diet for her/him.

What are Some of the Benefits of Low Protein Diet for Cats?

No two cats are the same.

While some cats with kidney issues do well on low protein diets, many do not.

It may require multiple tests along with trial and error to find the best low protein cat food that also has controlled/lower sodium and phosphorus levels.

Having said that, a small percentage of cats with the aforementioned health issues have benefitted from reduced protein or controlled protein levels in their diet.

Such low or controlled protein levels in cat food work in the following ways:

• High-quality low protein cat food could reduce the stress on your cat’s vital organs like kidneys and liver.
• It can sustain adequate nutrition in ailing cats that are too sick to eat.
• Top-rated low protein cat food for kidney disease could modify/slow down/halt the progression of CKD, liver diseases, allergies, heart-issues, etc.
• It could reduce the accumulation of waste products in the blood – a common sign of impaired renal function.

By selecting the best low protein cat food, you can make sure that your pet receives the balanced nutrition it needs for optimal health.

What Features Should You Look for When Selecting the Best Low Protein Cat Food?

Kidney, heart, or liver disease in your cat can be quite serious but with the right food and loving care, your pet can live comfortably for years to come.

Here are some features to consider when looking for the best low protein cat food:

1) Contains controlled levels of highly digestible protein

Completely eliminating your cat’s dietary protein can result in reduced muscle mass and excess weight loss.

Instead, look for low protein cat food with controlled protein levels of highly digestible protein. Look for energy dense nutrition from high-quality low protein cat food brands.

2) Has lower levels of sodium and phosphorus

It is very important to feed your cat a diet lower in sodium and phosphorus. Increased levels of these electrolytes can further tax your pet’s already-impaired renal function.

3)  Is tasty and nutritious

A common side effect of impaired renal and kidney function is an acidic stomach which causes nausea, vomiting, and lack of appetite.

Select a high-quality low protein cat food that is also tasty and stimulates your pet’s taste buds.

Foods with healthy oils and taste-bud stimulating ingredients like herbs, fruits, and vegetables combined with easy-to-digest protein like chicken and/or fish can help.

Conclusion

The best low protein cat food can help cats diagnosed with certain health issues like chronic renal failure, kidney disease, liver problems, and heart-related conditions.

We recommend Solid Gold Low Protein Wet Cat Food because of its coconut oil content and just 10% protein per serving.

Do check out our other recommendations as well.

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