wrote in message ...
Kaeli wrote:
Interestingly enough, after looking at the
dry food info, the dry they like has less
phosphorous per serving than the canned
that they like. This seems to indicate to
me that it's better for their kidneys and
urinary tract to eat the dry that they like
more than the wet that they like. What do
you think?

If the cats are healthy and without kidney issues, I'd rather feed a
higher phosphorus canned diet than lower phosphorus dry food. There is
no evidence that somewhat higher phosphorus levels than the Hill's Gods
dictate note intense sarcasm here ;-) are harmful to healthy cats.
It's becomes a concern with kidney failure (which may be postponed or
avoided by feeding a canned diet). If you look at the phosphorus content
of a mouse, it's higher than cat food. The constant state of dehydration
that occurs as a result of feeding dry food is, IMO, much more harmful.


Megan


Of course I disagree.
1. Renal failure is the second most common cause of disease death in
cats.

2. Detection of renal failure is always waaaaay too late. If you are
having an ERD test done annually after 5 years of age, then fine you
are keeping informed of relevatn risk. Unfortunately nobody is doing
that. Heska hasn't sold enough ERD kits to test the cats in
Pouhkeepsie, much less anywhere else in the country.

3. In a proceedings to be published later this Fall Dr. Beynen takes a
very good look at a huge population of cats in Norway. Those cats with
renal failure detected very early were fed different foods. Those fed
a low phosphorus renal food lived 23 months longer than those that
were fed a moderate phosphorus food.

4. 30% of cats over age 15 will suffer from imparied renal function
and kidney failure. (AC Beynen again)

Here's the decision you must make.
Do I feed a food with excesses of phosphorus in order to justify some
other emotional need/desire/preference I have, even when that
need/desire/preference cannot be proven to show any benefit?

Am I lucky enough to have a crystal ball like Saruman and can see into
the future to know which cat of mine will be the eventual victim of
renal failure?