this post was submitted on 16 Feb 2024
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Cats don’t handle salt well, they have very sensitive kidneys.
They can get hydration out of ocean water. They have excellent kidneys. They're literally one of the only mammals on land that can drink salt water, and get hydrated. They are extremely specialized to desert environments.
Their kidneys are super efficient, but that also makes them fragile. Kidney failure is the leading cause of death for cats. It’s better not to put them under unnecessary stress.
Blood is salty. How does that work with a carnivore diet?
Well, it doesn’t. Kidney failure is the leading cause of death for cats. So much so that a Japanese professor is working on medication to improve kidney function in cats, which is expected to double their lifespan. Source
Cats are desert animals by origin and they have super efficient kidneys to retain as much water as possible. This also makes them much more fragile. Compare it to a highly tuned racing car, when you push it to the limit you get the most performance but also get more wear on the parts which reduces the lifespan.
Very interesting! I'll be more aware and avoid salt in future for my cat. Thanks!
Weird they seem poorly adapted to their diet though. 🤔
Cats do require some salt, much like people do. You just need to keep it limited.
That’s evolution for you. No sense in having kidneys that last a long time if you’re dying today from dehydration.