Phosphorus for non CKD cats?

[Alexis & Nikki (GA)]

Hope everyone is doing well today! I'm hoping to pull from the collective wisdom here regarding feline nutrition. As noted in our profile, Nikki suffered in the past from an undiagnosed gastro issues. Although that has seemed to have cleared up once she became diabetic and went on insulin, I'm trying to keep her eating more "novel" proteins like duck, turkey, and rabbit, just in case. I'm open to eventually trialing chicken, etc though. I've noticed a lot of the novel protein canned food like Wellness Grain-free Turkey & Duck for example, have phosphorus levels over 200 (based on Dr. Lisa's list). In the case of a cat without CKD, does this matter?

Thanks!

 

[BJM]

More than you ever wanted to know about phosphorus - its a Goldilocks situation - too much, too little, just right.

Merck Veterinary Reference Manual Online Overview of Disorders of Phosphorus Metabolism

too little
"Hypophosphatemia without phosphorus depletion may occur after oral or parenteral carbohydrate administration and after parenteral insulin administration as a result of increased cellular phosphorus uptake in combination with glucose. Alkalemia and respiratory alkalosis enhance cellular phosphorus uptake and therefore also have a hypophosphatemic effect."

too much
"Pathologically increased extracellular phosphorus concentrations can be the result of hemoconcentration, decreased renal excretion, decreased intracellular uptake, or cellular release of phosphorus following cell lysis. Decreased urinary phosphorus excretion in association with chronic renal failure is the most common cause of hyperphosphatemia in many monogastric species except horses. "

So if there are no known issues, you may not need to concern yourself with it. Discuss with your vet.

reference levels
"Phosphorus mg/dL 3.0–6.1 in cats"

 

[Alexis & Nikki (GA)]

Thanks for the links! I'll look it over and see if I have any questions. I'll check in with my vet of course but it seems like if it falls into "reasonable" levels (around 200-300), we shouldn't have a problem...