Low protein diets for cats is the veterinary diet of choice for cats with kidney issues.

They may also suggest a low phosphorous diet.

Both can be disastrous.

Kidney issues in cats are common for at least two reasons; the commercial cat food and their biology.

Commercial cat food is created from human food waste. It is inappropriate on many levels, from the high plant food content, the chemicals to preserve, colour and flavour, to the decaying animal protein. It is totally out of nutritional balance.

In addition, the kibble is dry and this leads to chronic dehydration. Cats don't have a natural thirst so they normally never make up the shortfall from dry food.

Cats weak link is their kidneys. When their diet is inappropriate, this puts an added strain on the kidneys. Over time, this leads to pathology, from UTIs all the way to kidney failure and everything in between.

Making the diet even more inappropriate by lowering the protein (this is done by adding in more plant based food) worsens the condition.

Cats are carnivores. Big and small, wild and domestic, they are all carnivores. Carnivores are not equipped with the complex liver needed to process plant food as they have no need for it.

Carnivores thrive on a diet of raw animal protein and bone. 

It is the low protein diets for cats that contributes to kidney issues. Lowering it further has the opposite effect of what you want.

You need to INCREASE the protein, the animal protein. And ditch the plant protein.

Kidney issues in cats are often seen by their drinking habits. When they get adequate liquid in their diet, as they do in the wild from the blood of their prey, they have little thirst, except perhaps in very hot conditions. 

Once a cat starts to drink regularly, it normally shows the start of a kidney issue of some sort, regardless of test results.

You can stop the progress by switching to a healthy raw meat and bones diet.

The total opposite of what a mainstream veterinarian will tell you to do. Holistic vets are more on board with cause and effect.

A test showing protein breakdown indicates nothing more than the type of protein - the plant protein, often of very low quality.

High phosphorus levels are often too high in commercial cat food. This can come from the synthetic supplements added. It can also come because the waste from chicken processing is mostly bone.

Cats not only need fresh, raw and quality animal protein and bone (think of a healthy mouse), they need it in the right proportions.

Commercial cat food is totally out of natural balance, despite their protestations to the contrary.

When you feed a raw meat and bones diet to your cat, it is not a high protein diet for them. It is a normal protein diet.

By feeding raw poultry bones with meat on, it is not possible to overdo the phosphorus levels. A chicken wing and neck has both meat and bone.

You can purchase a raw brand of cat food. However, be sure to choose one that doesn't contain added veggies or fruit, or supplements most of which are synthetic.

However, making your own can be rewarding, cost effective and allows for any personal choices your cat has. 

Forget the nonsense of low protein diets for cats by ditching the commercial cat food and feed your cat their natural diet.