LOW SODIUM CHICKEN BROTH FOR CATS? I have a three-year-old cat who has high blood pressure and is on a low salt diet. She was just diagnosed with kidney failure as well. I feed her canned food, but she does not care for it. The vet suggested that I try giving her the broth from meat instead of from bouillon cubes or packets so that she will drink more water rather than eat less due to lack of appetite. However, the only chicken broth I can find at my grocery store has 500 mg sodium per cup! Cats should only have about 50mg of sodium per day max. I am wondering if there is a way to make my broth at home that has less than 50mg of sodium per cup?
If you are on a salt-restricted diet, chances are your veterinarian or a veterinary nutritionist will recommend against using canned meat as a food source for cats with chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, the use of low sodium chicken broth as a water additive may be an acceptable alternative to help encourage hunger and hydration in these patients.
The challenge is that homemade broths can vary greatly due to differences in processing methods and meats used. You could always buy low-sodium chicken broth from the store and dilute it further with water to decrease the sodium content. I would recommend using broth from recipes that have been tested for nutritional adequacy by a veterinary nutritionist, particularly if you are using it in addition to canned food and your kitty is on a low-sodium diet.
Can I give my cat a tiny bit of yogurt?
Yes, a bit of yogurt is not at all harmful to cats and may be beneficial. Adult cats and kittens seem to enjoy the tart flavor of yogurt, but keep in mind that it is high in lactose so your kitty will need plenty of water to wash it down.
Yogurt can be offered as an occasional snack or mixed into kitty’s food for extra flavor. You can also freeze it into tiny cubes that are just the right size for an afternoon treat or to help soothe your cat’s tender gums after a dental procedure.
Never give your cat any yogurt that contains fruit, honey, or other added sugars. Cats have a very low lactose tolerance so avoid flavored varieties containing milk solids or whey. Plain, unsweetened yogurts are the safest choice for kitties.
Canned Pumpkin is more of an acquired taste with cats, but it can be a great way to entice a finicky cat to eat. Canned pumpkin is low in sodium and a good source of vitamin A, which may help boost coat quality in cats with CKD. You can also try mixing pumpkin with wet food or adding it to your kitty’s favorite recipe for meatloaf.
[…] cats are obligate carnivores, which means they need meat to survive. no meat, no cat. vegan chicken broth doesn’t count as meat, so don’t bother giving it to her under any […]