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FREEZE-DRIED RAW · CAT FEEDING GUIDE

Feeding for Kidney Support

Kidney support is one of the most common reasons cats change how they eat — especially as they move into their senior years. The aim is gentle: protect the body with the diet a cat is built for, while easing the everyday load on the kidneys.

Cats are obligate carnivores, so the answer isn't less meat — it's better meat and far more moisture. Freeze-dried raw delivers high-quality animal protein and, once rehydrated, the water-rich meal that supports healthy hydration a kidney-conscious cat depends on.

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    A healthy Kidney Support cat
    iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

    What your cat actually needs

    Cats are obligate carnivores — they're built to run on meat, organ and moisture. Here's what matters most.

    • Low natural thirst drive

      Needs: Moisture built into the meal, not just the bowl

      Freeze-dried raw rehydrates into a high-moisture meal, supporting the healthy hydration that is a kidney-conscious cat's biggest dietary lever.

    • Obligate carnivore

      Needs: High-quality, highly digestible animal protein

      Meat-and-organ freeze-dried raw delivers premium animal protein a cat's body uses efficiently, with no plant filler to work around.

    • Appetite that can waver with age

      Needs: Aromatic, appealing food in small meals

      Warmed, rehydrated raw smells like real prey, helping tempt a finicky senior to eat enough across the day.

    • Taurine-dependent heart & vision

      Needs: Abundant taurine from animal tissue

      Raw meat and organ are naturally rich in taurine, supporting heart and eye health that matters more as cats age.

    • Poor carbohydrate metabolism

      Needs: A very low carb load

      A meat-first raw diet keeps carbohydrates minimal, supporting steady energy and an easy, healthy weight.

    How much to feed your cat

    Quick answer: portion freeze-dried raw by your cat's ideal weight — about 0.13 oz per pound per day (a 10 lb cat ≈ 1.3 oz), split across two or more small meals. Kittens need more; seniors and indoor cats a little less. Feed to a lean body, not the bag.

    Ideal adult weightFreeze-dried per dayPer meal (×2)
    6 lb 0.8 oz 0.4 oz
    8 lb 1.0 oz 0.5 oz
    10 lb 1.3 oz 0.7 oz
    12 lb 1.6 oz 0.8 oz
    15 lb 2.0 oz 1.0 oz
    18 lb 2.3 oz 1.2 oz

    Starting points for a moderately active adult cat (~0.13 oz of freeze-dried per lb of ideal weight). Kittens need roughly double per pound; indoor and senior cats a little less — always adjust to body condition, not the bag.

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    What to feed your cat

    Build the bowl around high-quality, highly digestible animal protein and generous moisture. Rehydrate freeze-dried raw recipes into a soup-like meal, warm slightly to lift the aroma, and rotate gentle proteins like fish and poultry to keep an older cat interested.

    Land Animal's cat recipes are meat-first and gently freeze-dried to preserve nutrition — rich in real animal protein and taurine, low in carbohydrate, and easy to serve at high moisture for a hydration-forward, kidney-conscious routine.

    Recipes for cats

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    Daily support

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    Treats cats love

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    Feeding by life stage

    • Kitten: Kidney support is rarely a kitten concern; growing kittens need calorie-dense, frequent meals of complete-and-balanced raw to build a strong start.
    • Adult: In adulthood, lean on moisture-rich raw meals and a steady healthy weight to support long-term kidney and urinary health.
    • Senior: Seniors benefit most from highly digestible animal protein and generous moisture in smaller, more frequent meals to support muscle, hydration and kidney health.

    Common concerns — and the diet connection

    • HydrationThe moisture in rehydrated raw helps a low-thirst cat take in more water at mealtime, supporting healthy hydration and kidney function.
    • Maintaining muscleHigh-quality, highly digestible animal protein helps an older cat hold lean muscle without overloading the system with low-value protein.
    • Appetite & weightAromatic, warmed raw meals help tempt a waning senior appetite so they keep eating enough to maintain a healthy weight.
    • Urinary healthA high-moisture, meat-first diet helps dilute urine and supports overall urinary-tract health alongside kidney care.

    Diet supports health but doesn't replace veterinary care — ask your vet about any specific condition.

    Feeding your cat: what to know

    Feed a kidney-conscious cat to a steady, healthy body weight across two or more small meals a day. Small, frequent meals are gentler on appetite, which can waver in older cats, and they help keep food appealing.

    Always rehydrate freeze-dried raw with plenty of warm water — moisture is the single most useful lever you have at home. Keep fresh water everywhere, watch body condition every couple of weeks, and work with your veterinarian on any specific dietary targets for your cat.

    Cat feeding questions

    What should I feed a cat with kidney concerns?
    Focus on high-quality, highly digestible animal protein and lots of moisture. Rehydrated freeze-dried raw delivers premium meat protein in a water-rich meal that supports hydration. Always coordinate specific dietary targets with your veterinarian.
    Why is moisture so important for kidney support?
    Cats have a naturally low thirst drive and often don't drink enough on their own. A high-moisture meal — like rehydrated raw served soup-like — helps them take in more water, supporting healthy hydration and kidney function.
    How much should I feed a senior or kidney-conscious cat?
    About 0.13 oz of freeze-dried raw per pound of ideal weight per day — roughly 1.3 oz for a 10 lb cat — split across two or more small meals. Adjust to body condition and your vet's guidance.
    My senior cat is a picky eater — how do I get them to eat?
    Warm the rehydrated raw to release its aroma, offer small fresh meals more often, and rotate gentle proteins like fish and chicken. The real-prey smell of warmed raw often tempts a finicky older cat.
    Is raw food appropriate for an older cat?
    Complete-and-balanced, pathogen-tested freeze-dried raw is built for a cat's obligate-carnivore needs and serves easily at high moisture. Transition gradually over 7–10 days and loop in your veterinarian for any kidney-specific plan.
    How often should a kidney-conscious cat eat?
    Two or more small, moisture-rich meals a day are gentler on a wavering appetite and help keep an older cat hydrated and eating consistently.

    THE CLEAN BOWL GUARANTEE

    If your cat won't eat it, it's on us

    Try your cat's first plan risk-free. If they turn up their nose, we'll make it right — money-back, and skip, pause or cancel anytime.

    • Obligate-carnivore formulated
    • AAFCO complete & balanced
    • Pathogen-tested every batch

    • "My picky indoor cat actually finishes her bowl now — and she's drinking less because the food has real moisture back in it."

      — Dana & Miso

    • "Switching our senior to raw was easier than I expected. He's more playful and his coat looks incredible."

      — Theo & Pepper
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    Portions are starting points for freeze-dried raw and AAFCO complete-and-balanced recipes. Always feed to your individual cat's body condition and ask your vet about specific health needs.