If you suspect that your cat is dehydrated, contact your veterinarian for help right away. In the meantime you can try some home remedies to rehydrate your cat: Add a small amount of chicken broth or tuna juice to their water. Instead of dry food, try giving them wet food.
Tuna water can also help to hydrate cats. Dehydration can lead to several health problems in cats, so it is essential to ensure they get enough fluids.
Tuna contains high concentrations of unsaturated fats that are quite unhealthy for cats. It can cause a serious vitamin E deficiency, which can lead to a dangerous condition called “steatitis.” This is a painful disease where the cat's body becomes inflamed. Tuna is also high in minerals that can cause bladder stones.
Tuna is high in phosphorus and while a healthy cat may cope with this, it won't be good for cats with kidney disease. Raw fish can contain thiaminase which is an enzyme that destroys thiamine, or vitamin B1. Too much raw fish in a cat's diet can, therefore, lead to thiamine deficiency.
If you choose to offer your cat the occasional tuna treat, you can choose canned tuna or fresh tuna. Select canned tuna packed in water, not canned tuna in oil or canned tuna with added salt or other flavorings. Chunk-light tuna is a better choice for your cat than albacore, which is higher in mercury.
Tinned tuna will be packaged in either in fresh water, brine (salt water) or oil. Certainly, these latter two forms of tuna are advised NOT to be fed to cats. The high sodium content in brine can cause serious electrolyte (salt) imbalances in the cat's body and brain, potentially even reaching toxic levels.
A little tuna juice when you are already cooking with it is unlikely to cause problems, but it should only be used in small amounts as a treat. Don't worry, your cat does not have a way to measure if you shared a little or a lot and she will just be grateful that she got something that smells so good to her!
Consider introducing your cat to low-phosphorus, fresh dietary foods like watermelon, apples, bananas, green beans, carrots, broccoli, zucchini, and blueberries. Avoid high dietary portions of cereal grains or animal products known to include a higher ratio of phosphorus, such as rawhides, jerky treats, and real bones.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT FRESH WATER IS AVAILABLE AT ALL TIMES BECAUSE CATS WITH RENAL FAILURE TEND TO DEHYDRATE RAPIDLY. Since these cats experience an increased urgency to urinate large volumes, it is also important to provide additional large litterboxes in several locations throughout your home.
Royal Canin, Hill's Science Diet, and Purina renal diets should be fed in dry and canned form to every renal patient. The dry food is usually palatable in most cases. If the cat will also eat the canned food well, reaching the 5 ounces per day goal, dietary modification of renal disease will be complete.
With a pH between 6.2 and 6.4, CATWATER offers the ideal conditions to promote urinary health and minimize the risks of urinary problems in your cat.
Cats can be addicted to tuna, whether it's packed for cats or for humans. Some tuna now and then probably won't hurt. But a steady diet of tuna prepared for humans can lead to malnutrition because it won't have all the nutrients a cat needs. And, too much tuna can cause mercury poisoning.
Wet Food Keeps Cats Hydrated
Instead, they have two options: wet food, or dry kibble. Unlike dry cat food, wet food has enough water in it to provide your cat with much of the hydration they need. You can then use a running source of water (like a pet fountain) to provide the rest of the hydration that they need.
Much as you can feed your salmon-loving cat salmon, you can alternate cooked salmon with cooked tuna-although in moderation, of course. Preferably as an alternate cooked fish treat. As with cooked salmon, cooked tuna is nutritionally beneficial and safe for you tabby-though maybe not as much as salmon.
Low to slightly mild levels of dehydration can be managed at home. Severe cases need prompt veterinary treatment, so please do not delay vet treatment if this is the case. If you plan to treat at home, talk to your vet first if your cat is diabetic.
Another strategy is to give your kitty an ice cube or a frozen “popsicle” made from chicken broth or tuna juice. Your cat's natural curiosity may tempt them to give the frozen treat at least a few licks. They may even be intrigued enough to eat the whole thing — but again, rehydrate your cat slowly.
Numerous natural remedies can be used to support optimal kidney health, reduce infections and help maintain normal blood pressure. Herbs like Rehmannia, astragalus, and dandelion can support optimal kidney health and are included in many of the supplements recommended above.
In addition to feeding a lower protein diet, you also need to avoid giving high protein treats such as meat, jerky treats, cheese, rawhides, pig ears, etc.
CKD is not a curable or reversible disease, however, with early detection, support and treatment can improve your cat's quality and length of life by slowing progression of the disease. In fact, cats can live for many years with consistent management.
Unfortunately, once the kidneys are damaged, they have minimal ability to recover. However, with proper management, most CKD cases progress very slowly. Your cat may have several years of quality, active life with treatment.
Feed your cat tuna like it's a treat, meaning only give your cat tuna occasionally and only up to 10% of their day's calories. As part of a balanced diet, you can safely offer one teaspoon of tuna a few times a week, or about one-half can per month.
Because various canned salmon may include additives or spices that won't agree with your cat's stomach or might be toxic to cats, it's best to steer clear of canned salmon meant for human consumption. There can also be a lot of added salt for flavor, and cats need very little sodium in their diet.