This is our review of best low protein cat food in 2021

You may wonder what is the best low protein cat food for a cat with kidney or liver problems. You can rest assured because You came to the right place to give you the best answer to this question. 

As a pet person who reads a lot about his favorite pet nutrition, I reviewed a lot of scientific papers and guides that are written about these specific issues, and how low protein diets can participate in managing kidney and liver problems.

Protein usually is the main nutrient that should be contained in substantial large amounts in every cat diet because of the fact that cats are obligate carnivores.

Their natural diet should contain animal-based protein that provides them with essential amino acids that their bodies can’t make (taurine and arginine for example).

Also, the benefits of protein are not confined to what we just mentioned, protein supports your cat to build lean muscles and also can assist to sustain general health and growth throughout a cat’s life.

However, some health issues (like kidney,liver disorder or urinary problem) can arise which makes the cat not well accustomed to consuming a high protein diet because of the compromised metabolism as it often happens in the case of kidney and liver problems.

So cat food companies often produce Low protein cat diets that are specifically formulated to tackle these specific health issues.

After reviewing a lot of low protein cats’ diets and comparing them with each other regarding their features that are either general or related to managing kidney and liver problems, we found that Blue Buffalo Natural Veterinary Diet K+M Kidney + Mobility Support Grain-Free Dry Cat Food is the best option in such cases.

It has a low quantity, a high-quality protein that is readily digestible with high bioavailability.

These distinct features set this diet apart from other products on this list, although not very far from other products.

After all, almost all these products have ,to some extent, similar features and nutritional values that are designed to manage kidney and liver problems.

So other listed products may suit your cat’s individual nutritional needs more than our best recommendation.

Besides our lists of best low protein cat food, we will give you a complete, informative buying guide of the best low protein cat food with a detailed analysis of multiple aspects of low protein diets and how it could manage and ease kidney and liver disorders.

So without further due, let’s start with our list.

Our List of Best low protein Cat Food

• Blue Buffalo Natural Veterinary Diet K+M Kidney + Mobility Support Grain-Free Dry Cat Food
• Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets NF Kidney Function Early Care Formula Canned Cat Food
• Purina Pro Plan Urinary Tract Health Variety Pack Canned Cat Food
• Weruva Truluxe Steak Frites with Beef & Pumpkin in Gravy Grain-Free Canned Cat Food

Best low protein Cat Food Reviewed:

Blue Buffalo Natural Veterinary Diet K+M Kidney + Mobility Support Grain-Free Dry Cat Food

• First 5 ingredients: Deboned Chicken, Peas, Pea Starch, Potato Starch, Dried Egg Product
• Key Feature: 
• Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein 26.0% min, Crude Fat 18.0% min, Crude Fiber 6.0% max, Moisture 9.0% max.
• Best For: Overall
• Life Stage: Adult

Analysis Of The First Ingredients:

This prescription of dry cat food is an ideal choice for your cat if it has joint/bone problems associated with kidney issues which often happens if your cat suffers from kidney disease .

Blue buffalo features limited protein of high quality source like deboned chicken as primary protein source.

This highly digestible protein makes it easier for your cat’s tummy to process the food without too much trouble.

It is also accompanied with dried egg product as a secondary protein source with high biological value in order for your cat to make the most efficient use of its amino acids without straining your cat liver or kidney with too much metabolic workload.

The second, third and fourth ingredients in this product are the main sources of fast energy to keep your cat active enough to bounce and roll over as these activities can enhance the joints function.

This formula is also supplemented with ingredients which are very valuable for cats with kidney or liver problems such as DL-Methionine, L-Threonine.

These essential amino acids can enhance the metabolism in both the liver and the kidney. It also can help with digestion and absorption of the food in your cat’s stomach.

These amino acids also can give extra support to your cat’s bones and joints. [1], [2]

Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets NF Kidney Function Early Care Formula Canned Cat Food

• First 5 ingredients: Water sufficient for processing, meat by-products, liver, rice, chicken by-products
• Key Feature: 
• Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein 6.5% min, Crude Fat 3.0% min, Crude Fiber 3.0% max, Moisture 77.0% max.
• Best For: Overall
• Life Stage: Adult

Analysis Of The First Ingredients:

This diet is great low protein food for a cat with early signs of kidney disease.

The low amount of good quality – highly digestible protein is helping your cat’s stomach to efficiently absorb the protein without producing too much protein-metabolite that would burden the kidney to filter out.

Meat, chicken by-products and the liver are the main sources of protein in this formula.

The liver is a concentrated source of high quality protein that is a crucial nutritional element for even cats with kidney and liver problems. 

Meat and chicken by-product is a less quality protein than the liver, but as a complementary source of protein, it is a good ingredient that contributes to the sum value of crude protein. 

Rice is the main source of carbohydrates which makes it the main source of energy as it has high caloric content. 

Different types of fiber are included in this food which can help your cat stomach in digestion as it can nurture the gut beneficial flora.

If the stomach efficiently absorbs and processes the food, this can ease the liver and kidney workload as there are not too many metabolites.

The low content of phosphorus in this diet is of great importance because a troubled or impaired kidney cannot handle and process too much phosphorus which then results in dangerously high levels of phosphorus in your cat’s bloodstream.

So controlled levels of phosphorus in diets for cats with kidney problems is strongly recommended.

Purina Pro Plan Urinary Tract Health Variety Pack Canned Cat Food

• First 5 ingredients: Ocean Whitefish, Meat By-Products, Chicken, Water, Chicken By-products
• Key Feature: Moderate amount of quality protein from multiple sources.
• Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein 10.0% min, Crude Fat 6.5% min, Crude Fiber 0.5% max, Moisture 78.0% max.
• Best For: Cat with urinary issues
• Life Stage: Adult

Analysis Of The First Ingredients:

This wet diet as its name suggests is formulated specifically to support urinary tract health.

The low crude protein here is very valuable as low protein reduces metabolite (ammonia) and minerals like phosphorus, magnesium and sodium which is primarily responsible for urinary crystal and stone formation.

Multiple sources of quality protein are incorporated in this product like ocean white fish and chicken accompanied with less quality protein like meat and chicken by-products.

The fact that there are four meat ingredients in the first 5 ingredients shows that this product is of high quality with no fillers or additives which is (in general) not suitable for cats to consume on a regular basis.

Moisture is also important as it can prevent crystal formation and have potential to dissolve pre-existent crystals and stones.

Weruva Truluxe Steak Frites with Beef & Pumpkin in Gravy Grain-Free Canned Cat Food

• First 5 ingredients: Beef Broth, Beef, Pumpkin, Sweet Potato, Potato Starch
• Key Feature: 
• Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein 10.0% min, Crude Fat 1.3% min, Crude Fiber 0.5% max, Moisture 81.0% max.
• Best For: Overall
• Life Stage: Adult

Analysis Of The First Ingredients:

Wet food that is highly palatable with low protein content. Beef and beef broth is incorporated in this formula as the main sources of high quality protein. 

The three other remaining ingredients are the excellent source of energy to sustain the normal day to day activities of your cat. 

Pumpkin is especially of great importance as it can really help with digestion; thus resulting in diminishing the amount of the waste by-product of digestion.

The latter can really relieve your cat’s kidney and liver from rather unnecessary excessive metabolic workload.

This product is quite good for a cat that doesn’t specifically suffer from metabolic disorder nor kidney or liver disease, but needs a moderate to low content of protein for different purposes.

The minimum content of phosphorus and other minerals is rather a desirable factor in many cases where a low protein diet is recommended. 

Also, The cat that suffers from urinary problems can really benefit from this diet as it is composed of the perfect nutritional blends for these cases.

It has high moisture content with low quantity of both proteins and minerals which makes this food a real candidate to be perfect choice for a cat with urinary issues.

Best Low Protein Cat Food Buying Guide

Here is a buying guide that would help you understand the multiple aspects of low protein cat food and what aims to do in cat nutrition.

Why are protein crucial nutritional elements in cat food?

Animal-based-protein is the most essential nutritional component in cat food.

It provides them with the necessary amino acids such as (taurine, Arginine). Unlike other pets like dogs, Cats cant synthesize these essential amino acids, therefore it becomes an essential dietary requirement to have in every meal throughout their life.

These amino acids are the building blocks of proteins that are vital to cat`s development and survival.

To know the importance of protein in cat food you should know that it is the primary factor in building your cat’s organs and tissues.

Any deficiency in these essential amino acids that cannot be auto-synthesized by cats will lead to critical health issues.

For example, taurine deficiency will result in retinal and cardiac deterioration and could eventually lead to blindness or cardiac issues such as dilated cardiomyopathy.

Also Arginine deficiency will result in accumulation of ammonia in your cat`s bloodstream which will then result in neurological symptoms such as seizure or even death in severe cases.

So having those amino acids as a basic dietary need is paramount when it comes to cat’s food.

You can refer to this article that has much more detailed information about why is protein an integral part to your cat dietary needs

How much protein does a healthy cat need ?

According to AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials), Cat’s diet should consist of a minimum 30% protein for cats that are either in young age or nursing mom for growth and reproduction purposes.

While adult cats need a minimum of 26% protein of their meals for adult maintenance and general health preservation. [3]

What are the cases in which low protein food is prescribed or strongly recommended?

Commercial Low protein diets are usually manufactured to match the dietary needs of cats with kidney problems.

Although The majority of these diets are primarily formulated for cats with kidney diseases, these low protein-based diets can also be used for cats with liver diseases.

The similarity between the liver and kidney function represented in filtering out the waste-byproduct of digestion and their metabolic work makes this kind of diet suitable for cats with impaired function of either the kidney or the liver.

Low protein diet can ease your cat’s kidney or liver by reducing the metabolic workload and minimizing the waste-byproduct (metabolite) that should be filtered out by the kidney or the liver.

Why are high protein diets not suitable for cats with kidney disease?

Cats with kidney issues can’t handle high protein food because of the impaired kidney function.

When a high protein diet is digested, there will be a high amount of toxic waste-byproduct like urea and phosphorus that should be filtered out by the kidney.

So when impaired kidney can’t properly filter all these toxic by-products, they begin to accumulate within the body and in the bloodstream resulting in making the cat feeling terrible on a regular basis.

Also poor kidney function will lead to dehydration because of the fact that impaired kidney cant converse water efficiently which will then result in more water than normal is lost in the urine.[4]

A diet made from moderate amounts of high quality protein can help with that as they produce less urea and other toxic by-products which then needs to be eliminated.

Symptoms of kidney issues?

There are multiple symptoms of kidney disease in cats.

Despite the fact that there are two types of renal failure in cats ( Acute and chronic) there are common symptoms which indicate that your cat may have kidney issues. Some of these issues are:

• Frequent drinking of water, as cats with kidney issues tend to drink more water to replace the fluid they lost through frequent urination
• Frequent urination. It indicated that your cat`s kidney is not functioning well in preserving water. 
• Bacterial infections of the bladder and kidney as they develop easily in diluted urine produced by declining kidney
• Digestive issues such as vomiting, diarrhea or constipation.
• Bad breath and ammonia like odor due to the ammonia accumulation in your cat’s bloodstream.
• Mouth ulcer in gum and tongue. Sometimes your cat’s tongue will be brownish-colored
• Other symptoms such as dry coat, weakness.

Things to consider while shopping for your cat?

As we illustrated earlier, your cat’s diet in such case should comprised of moderate to low amount of protein with high quality and bioavailability, a minimum amount of phosphorus, sodium and other minerals to make kidney functions more easily and reduce as much as possible the metabolite and toxic by-product that would result in protein-digestion process

Final Thought

We provided in this article a list of what we think are the best low protein cat foods that are currently available in the market.

We also included in this article an informative buying guide that will help you understand kidney issues and how proper nutrition can help with that by adjusting the dietary requirements to control, manage, and delay the progress of the disease.

Our first pick Blue Buffalo Natural Veterinary Diet K+M Kidney + Mobility Support Grain-Free Dry Cat Food is ticking all the boxes in regard to what every prescribed kidney diet should have from low amounts of quality protein source to a minimum quantity of phosphorus and other minerals to relatively high amount of omega-3 fatty acids.

However, We also included other diets that are low in proteins which tackles different issues either managing early kidney disorder, urinary problems or correlated-kidney issues such as joint problems.

Having said that, this is not a professional advice or prescription that you should conclusively rely on when it comes to your cat’s s nutrition in such a case, it is a mere suggestion to what is the best low protein cat diets from a strict nutritional perspective.

And Remember that kidney disease is common in cats, especially senior ones, and they need extra care either regarding their nutrition or their therapeutic medicine which only a professional Veterinarian could decide based on your the cat’s individual characteristics and medical examinations.