Acceptance and Preference of a Commercial Dry Renal Diet in Healthy Cats: An In-Home Proof-of-Concept Trial

Cats diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have shown a better prognosis when consuming an appropriate renal diet, which makes its palatability a key factor in ensuring proper compliance. A proof-of-concept trial with a commercial dry renal diet was conducted in 33 healthy cats to assess its palatability over three consecutive 6-day phases: acceptance (renal diet only), control (usual food only), and preference (both foods simultaneously). The first two phases used the one-bowl test, whereas the third used the two-bowl test methodology, with latency time, food intake, and behavioural patterns being recorded by the caregivers at home. During the acceptance phase, caregivers classified it as good/very good, bad/very bad, or normal in 60.6%, 24.2%, and 15.2% of cats, respectively. Cats over 6 years, those weighing ≤ 4.9 kg, females, and those accustomed to have food available all day showed a lower median renal diet intake. Among the 29 cats that finished the one-bowl test, only four cats showed significant differences in food consumption: two ate less and two ate more renal diet compared with their usual food. Latency time and food-related behaviours did not differ with the food. Thirty cats completed the two-bowl test, with 43.3%, 43.3%, and 13.3% reportedly preferring the renal diet, their usual food, or neither in particular, respectively. Overall food intake ratios did not differ significantly, although 12 and 8 cats consumed significantly more and less renal diet, respectively. The variables 'first approached' and 'first eaten' showed a significant association in the third phase. In most cases (83.3%), the renal diet would likely/very likely be offered again if recommended. These findings suggest that this commercial renal diet was not less palatable than most of the maintenance foods used as control, reinforcing that its acceptance in CKD cats may depend more on clinical status than food palatability.