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It All Started with Convenience, But I Fell Into a Big Trap
When it comes to wet food, I initially thought just buying canned food and pâté would be enough for them. Oh boy, was I wrong! My Mimi and Mix, they're my precious babies. But around early 2025, Mix started drinking a lot of water and constantly running to the litter box. At first, I thought he was just drinking too much, but it turned out his kidneys were having problems… The vet said that long-term consumption of food with high phosphorus content puts a lot of strain on a cat’s kidneys, and I hadn’t paid attention to that at all when I was buying food.
I was really panicked back then, watching him suffer every day and feeling so guilty myself. Since then, I’ve started seriously researching pet nutrition, browsing online every day, reading materials, and even taking some online courses. The vet also told me, “Once a cat’s kidney function is damaged, it’s difficult to fully recover, you can only try to slow down the deterioration.” That sentence really stuck with me and made me even more careful.
I Was a Bit Shocked After Watching That Factory Video…
Recently, I saw a video online about the production process of wet cat food strips (the one from the 'process of everything' channel). Honestly, I was a bit shocked after watching it. Although I know the production process of pet food can’t be like cooking for them ourselves, seeing so much machinery, so many steps, and some additives still made me a little uneasy.
The video showed that the production process of cat strips is actually quite complex, from raw material processing, mixing, extrusion, to packaging, every step needs strict control. But some factories might use low-quality raw materials or add additives that are harmful to cats’ health in order to reduce costs. This made me feel even more strongly that you need to be extremely careful when choosing food.
Besides the Kidneys, There Are Other Things to Watch Out For
Besides kidney problems, the vet also reminded me that cats have relatively fragile digestive systems, so the ingredients of wet food also need attention. Some wet foods add grains or plant proteins to increase palatability, but these ingredients are actually not easy for cats to digest. Moreover, some wet foods have a high water content, which can easily lead to cats consuming too much water and increasing the burden on their kidneys.
Now I try to choose wet food with meat as the main ingredient, and I pay attention to the content of phosphorus, sodium, and magnesium. In addition, I also pair it with some freeze-dried treats, like chicken breast freeze-dried, to supplement their protein. I think this is more balanced and can better satisfy their appetites. I’ve found that some cats are really obsessed with freeze-dried treats, my Mimi absolutely loves them!
- Choose wet food with meat as the main ingredient
- Pay attention to the content of phosphorus, sodium, and magnesium
- Pair with freeze-dried treats to supplement protein
Regular Check-ups Are the Most Important Thing
Of course, no matter how good the food is, it can’t replace regular check-ups. I take my two cats for a full body check-up every year, including blood tests, urine tests, and ultrasound. This way, we can detect problems early and treat them promptly. The vet said, “Early detection and early treatment are key to controlling kidney disease in cats.”
And, besides check-ups, I also regularly clean their ears, brush their teeth, and trim their nails. These are all important aspects of maintaining their health. I recently bought a set of pet cotton swabs specifically for cleaning their ears, and I find it very convenient. After all, they can’t clean themselves, so we, as their parents, have to take care of them.
Raising cats is a very responsible thing, they can’t speak, they can only express their needs through actions. So, we need to spend more time understanding them, caring about them, so that they can live a healthy and happy life.
I wonder how your furry friends are doing at home? Do they have any particular eating habits or health problems? Feel free to share, let’s exchange experiences in raising cats together!
