"Cats Whiskers" wrote in message
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"Bill Graham" wrote in message
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"Kelly Green" wrote in message
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"Bill Graham" wrote in message
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"Kelly Greene" wrote in message
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In searching around the web and looking at a cat memorial... the
number of cats dying of renal failure is shocking. Years ago when I
worked in an animal hospital in the city, this was a disease of old
cats. Now I see people losing much younger animals to this disease.
Anyone have any idea why it's becoming so common?

I don't know, but if I had to guess, it would be the food. Cheap,
poorly made food, probably imported from China (or someplace similar)
and with no inspection by our government agency that is supposed to be
doing things like that, but is really just wasting the taxpayers money.
If you really care about your cats (and other pets) you should feed
them fresh fish and chicken and avoid canned "pet food". I have been
told that there is a vitamin that cats need, but I bet you can buy it
separately and add it to fresh meats for your cat. I try to feed my
cats the same food that I eat myself. - At least the meat and milk. I
figure that if it doesn't hurt my kidneys, it probably won't hurt
theirs.

I know the vitamin you mean but don't know where it can be bought.
Duplicating a cats natural diet with raw meat would be difficult as they
eat the entire carcass.
Yes.....I don't feed them raw meat.....It's usually at least partially
cooked.....But chicken is cheap. Sometimes cheaper than cat food. So you
might as well feed it to them. We have a feral male who seldom eats
anything else. I first attracted him into my house by feeding him roasted
chicken....
What about the bones. One could get stuck in their throat or intestines.
Not good.
You have to be careful to not feed your dog chicken bones. Dogs tend to wolf
food down, and small sharp things like chicken bones can do them harm. but
cats are much more careful about what they eat, and chicken bones won't hurt
them at all.....After all, they eat fish, and other small animals like birds
and mice, and they don't get harmed by this. We don't feed our cat chicken
bones intentionally, but if we do, they will leave the bones in their dish
uneaten. It's just in a cats nature to be a fastidious eater.