Senior Bengal cat raw diet supplement advice

A 14-year-old Bengal on a long-term raw diet is actually a really solid foundation — raw feeding tends to keep cats well-hydrated and lean, which matters a lot at this age. That said, your vet is right to flag the supplement question, because Bengals are particularly prone to kidney disease and hyperthyroidism as they get older, and a carefully chosen wet food can fill nutritional gaps and support kidney function without upending a diet that's been working. How old is your Bengal exactly, are there any current health concerns on the vet's radar — kidney values, thyroid, weight loss — and what's prompting the vet's suggestion right now?

That's exactly the right time to act — catching it at stage one gives you a real chance to slow progression significantly. The good news is you don't need to replace his raw meals, just complement them. What you're looking for is a wet food with restricted phosphorus and high-quality, easily digestible protein. Can I ask — is he currently on any raw prey model diet, or a commercially prepared raw? And roughly how many meals a day does he get?

Perfect — that makes introducing a wet food alongside really straightforward. Given Arlo's early-stage kidney concerns, the product I'd recommend is Royal Canin Renal wet food in pouches. It's specifically formulated with controlled phosphorus levels and reduced protein load designed to ease the kidneys' workload, while still being palatable and calorie-dense enough to help with that slight weight dip. It comes in several textures — I'd try the 'in gravy' or 'loaf' variants since Bengals can be texture-fussy. Start by offering one pouch per day alongside his existing raw meals rather than replacing them, so the transition feels gradual to him. The Royal Canin Renal range is veterinary-grade and widely available on Amazon UK — the 12-pouch box is good value. One thing worth confirming with your vet: she may want to specify the exact phosphorus ceiling she's targeting so you can cross-check the label.

Combining raw and wet food is generally fine for cats — their digestive systems handle mixed feeding well, far better than dogs do. The transition is more about flavour acceptance than gut disruption. On your second question, it's a fair one: high-protein raw diets can increase the kidneys' filtration workload, and bone content adds phosphorus, which is the key mineral to manage in renal cats. That doesn't mean raw caused this — kidney disease in older cats is largely genetic and age-related — but at stage one it's sensible to moderate total phosphorus across the whole diet. Swapping some of his raw for the renal wet food achieves that without going cold turkey on a diet he's thrived on for years. If you can share his current raw food's phosphorus content with your vet, she can help you calibrate the balance precisely.

You're in a good position — Arlo's being monitored early, he's eating well, and you have a clear plan. The renal pouches should integrate easily, and most cats actually take to them quickly because the gravy variety is quite appealing. Keep an eye on his weight over the next four to six weeks and flag anything to your vet before his next scheduled bloods. He sounds like he's in good hands.