Neo Diet for Cats
The Hi-Tor Neo Diet, often simply referred to as the Neo Diet, is a type of specially formulated cat food for cats that need to ingest low amounts of protein and phosphorus. Cats who have been diagnosed with chronic renal failure (CRF) are typically placed on such diets, which are designed to put minimum stress on poorly functioning kidneys.
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Dietary Requirements
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The electrolyte balance in cats with kidney problems is very delicate. Low amounts of phosphorus in their diets can help maintain that balance. Additionally, reducing the level of protein they consume means that their kidneys don't have to work as hard to process it. The Neo Diet has a reduced amount of protein and phosphorus when compared to other, traditional cat foods.
Hydration
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Cats with malfunctioning kidneys tend to lose a lot of water through urination. This is because their kidneys can't properly concentrate a large amount of toxins into a small amount of urine, as healthy cats' kidneys can. For this reason, it's essential that pet owners make a special effort to keep felines with CRF properly hydrated. One way to do this is by feeding them a wet food as opposed to a dry food with little to no water content. Neo is a wet, canned food product.
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Palatability
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Cats with kidney problems usually lose their appetites and waste away because they don't take in enough nourishment. A main problem with many kidney health foods for cats is that they are not very palatable, so cats will not eat them, according to the Feline Chronic Renal Failure Information Center. The Neo Diet is "highly palatable" according to its manufacturer, Triumph Pet Industries. This means that cats with a diminished appetite are more likely to consume it.
Calories
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CRF is most often diagnosed after it's already been present for some time. For this reason, cats may have lost some weight. As the condition progresses, they may lose their appetite and drop even more weight. A high-calorie food can help combat wasting from kidney disease. Calories in Neo food come from high-quality fats and carbohydrates, such as rice and flour.
Nutrient Supplementation
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Neo cat food for cats with CRF contains vitamins E, A, B12 and D3, as well as thiamine mononitrate, niacin, d-calcium, folic acid and various essential minerals. Because diminished kidney function can result in many nutrients being flushed away in cats' urine, it's important to replace those nutrients through diet.
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References
- Photo Credit cat image by Vera Kailova from Fotolia.com
