Bear was the sweetest cat ever. No, really. I know most will say that about their cats, but she really was. When she died of CKD (Chronic Kidney Disease) our hearts broke.
The fear of our other cats getting CKD has since haunted us.
This encouraged My Kitty Care to continuosly learn about Chronic Kidney Disease in cats and what NOT to do. The recent suggestions to help prevent CKD by cat-only veterinarian and nutrition expert Dr. Lisa Pierson, caught our attention. It fundamentally focused on two things:
• Diet
• Over vaccinating FVRCP (Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia)
Generally speaking, a good diet is desirable for maintaining a healthy cat. No different than us. But what is a healthy diet for a cat, particularly for helping prevent CKD?
The main thing is to Limit dry food.
The reason is this, dry food is…dry. Wild cats get their moisture from their prey, and our cats naturally get theirs from food, too. Which means wet food. More and more cat food companies make products in cans or pouches that either include gravy in the flavor, or as a stand alone gravy product. We just add fresh, filtered water and mix it with the wet food.
Another reason dry food is not the ideal primary food for your cat, is how protein is processed. Most manufactures render the protein. What does render mean?
As of April, 2021, the FDA defined rendering as:
“Any Firm Or Individual That Processes Slaughter Byproducts; Animals Unfit For Human Consumption, Including Carcasses Of Dead Cattle; Or Meat Scraps.”
Gross. So dry food taxes your cats kidneys by being hard-to-digest, rendered, poor quality protein, and lacking moisture. Even if your cat is sadly diagnosed with CKD, some vets will recommend products designed for cats with CKD, including dry food products. Be wary of these products: they are dry food.
Next on the list is over vaccinating your cat with FVRCP. This is particularly relevant if your cat is an indoor cat. Based on our research, all three of the diseases the FVRCP vaccination addresses are highly contagious, and passed by contact with infected cats, or fecal matter, food bowls, etc. These diseases are serious, and most cats should be vaccinated. Kittens are particularly susceptible to serious illness from these same three diseases, which is why a series of vaccinations are typically administrated by your vet for kittens.
But how often?
Dr, Lisa Pierson says, “It is very important to understand that the current guidelines state that the FVRCP combination vaccine should not be given more frequently than every 3 years. That is not the same as stating “these vaccines should be administered every 3 years.”
Once a kitten has received two doses of FVRCP (rather than the typically recommended four) plus once as an adult, the question becomes, is repeated vaccinations of FVRPC a risk or beneficial? Dr. Pierson’s view that even three years may be too often for an adult cat is because the vaccination has been proven to cause kidney inflammation. The prevalence of CKD in cats, unlike wild cats, makes kidney inflammation a damaging consequence of over vaccinating. Dr. Pierson observes CKD as the most common threat to cats, especially older ones. Unless you board your cat, take your cat to cat shows, or to any place where your cat has contact with cats of unknown health, that may influence the frequency of your cat receiving the FVRCP vaccination, meaning every 3 years, as appropriate. Some vets, however, suggest annually. Regardless, it’s your call.
Why is over vaccinating the FVRCP a potential risk for CKD in our cats?Again referring to Dr. Lisa Pierson:
“The viruses used to make vaccines need to be grown in what is called a “cell culture.” The cells used to make the FVRCP vaccine are feline (cat) kidney cells. When these kidney cells are injected into the cat (along with the vaccine), his immune systems views them as foreign and makes antibodies against them. Unfortunately, those antibodies do not know the difference between the injected kidney cells and his own kidney tissue resulting in a potential autoimmune ‘attack’ on his kidneys. (‘Auto’ means ‘self.”)
Most people become veterinarians because they love animals and want to help them. But it is important, as a pet parent, to be informed about your cat’s health, and how to keep them healthy. That includes your cat’s diet, annual physicals, sufficient exercise, and vaccinations.
Thank you Dr. Pierson for great information.
my kitty care does not endorse any product discussed on The Scratching Post, nor does my kitty care receive payments, or any form of compensation from any company or product on my kitty care.
