For senior cats and kidney concerns
Cans whose makers publish phosphorus and come in under 200 mg per 100 kcal. Phosphorus is easy to miss on a label; here it is converted so every can is on the same scale.
At a glance
First on the list: Wellness Complete Health Pâté Chicken Entrée, phosphorus 111 mg.
Sorted by phosphorus. Percentages are shares of calories, so pâtés, shreds and gravies compare fairly.
| Can | Phosphorus | Carbs | Protein | kcal per can |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Complete Health Pâté Chicken EntréeWellness · 12.5 oz | 111 mg | 0% | 35% | 481 |
| 2. Chicken, Turkey & Chicken Liver RecipeWellness · 3 oz | 147 mg | 0% | 40% | 116 |
| 3. Chicken Entrée Cuts in Rich GravyWellness · 3 oz | 162 mg | 12.4% | 40% | 79 |
| 4. Chicken Entrée Cubes in Rich GravyWellness · 3 oz | 162 mg | 6.9% | 37% | 79 |
| 5. Turkey & Salmon EntréeWellness · 12.5 oz | 174 mg | 7.4% | 39% | 407 |
| 6. Complete Health Kitten Pâté Chicken EntréeWellness · 3 oz | 187 mg | 5.5% | 41% | 114 |
| 7. Tuna Dinner (Minced Tuna Entrée) in Light GravyWellness · 3 oz | 190 mg | 25.9% | 46% | 67 |
| 8. Whitefish, Salmon & Herring RecipeWellness · 3 oz | 200 mg | 21.3% | 43% | 85 |
| 9. Lower Phosphorus TurkeyRawz · 5.5 oz · topper only, not a complete diet | 89 mg | 14.3% | 33% | 149 |
| 10. Lower Phosphorus Tuna & SalmonRawz · 5.5 oz · topper only, not a complete diet | 91 mg | 14.3% | 33% | 145 |
Chronic kidney disease is common in older cats, and limiting phosphorus is one of the main diet changes vets use to slow it down. Prescription kidney diets are usually lower in phosphorus than anything on this list.
This list is not a kidney diet. It is a way to see which everyday cans are on the lower side, for example for a senior cat with early changes, so you can have a better conversation with your vet.
A label might say “phosphorus 0.25%”, but that number depends on how much water is in the can. Converting to milligrams per 100 kcal compares what your cat actually takes in per meal, whatever the can size or moisture.
Only 37 of the 144 cans we compare have published phosphorus. Many brands don’t print it, so a missing can here isn’t necessarily high in phosphorus.
3 of these cans are labeled for supplemental feeding only. They are listed last: they can top up a meal but can’t be a cat’s whole diet.
Search, narrow it down further, or change the order.
Showing 11 of 11 cans
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Among complete meals with published phosphorus, the lowest are Wellness Complete Health Pâté Chicken Entrée, Wellness Chicken, Turkey & Chicken Liver Recipe, Wellness Chicken Entrée Cuts in Rich Gravy, starting at 111 mg per 100 kcal. Rawz Lower Phosphorus Turkey, Rawz Lower Phosphorus Tuna & Salmon, Rawz Lower Phosphorus Beef are lower still, but labeled for supplemental feeding only.
It depends on the stage of disease and your cat’s blood work. Your vet will give you a target, and in later stages will often recommend a prescription renal diet.
Most likely the maker doesn’t publish a phosphorus value. You can ask the manufacturer for a “typical analysis”, which usually includes it.