I Knew Nothing About Cat Health—Until I Almost Lost Mine

I never thought of myself as a cat person. In fact, I was the kind of person who would admire a cat from afar but never consider living with one. That all changed when my good friend—who was battling stage 4 cancer—asked me to take care of his beloved cat, Momo. At just two years old, Momo became my responsibility, and with absolutely no knowledge of feline care, I stumbled into the world of cat ownership completely unprepared.

As my friend’s health declined, so did his ability to care for Momo, and I slowly found myself stepping in more and more. I started noticing how much Momo depended on me for everything—his food, his well-being, his happiness. What began as an obligation turned into something far greater—I grew to love Momo deeply, and by the time my friend passed away, I couldn’t imagine life without him. The weight of that responsibility hit me hard. I realized that cats, just like people, cannot thrive on poor nutrition and neglect. If I expected Momo to live a long, healthy life, it wasn’t enough to just feed him whatever was convenient—I needed to educate myself and make informed decisions about his care.

For the first four years, nothing disastrous happened. I did what most people do—I fed Momo commercial cat food without a second thought, kept his litter box clean, and assumed I was doing everything right. Then came the day that shattered my ignorance.

The Onion Plant Incident

One evening, I found Momo hiding under the couch, lethargic and visibly distressed. He wasn’t eating, wasn’t drinking, and worst of all, he wasn’t urinating. It was gut-wrenching to see him suffering, and I had no idea what was wrong. I rushed him to the emergency vet, where I was hit with two shocking revelations:

1. Momo had ingested an onion plant, which I—being an uninformed cat owner—had unknowingly left within his reach. Onions are highly toxic to cats, something I had no clue about at the time.

2. The vet informed me that, on top of the toxicity issue, Momo had struvite stones, which were making it even harder for him to urinate. The toxins from the onion compounded the problem, leading to a life-threatening situation.

Momo was treated and came home safe, but the experience left me with overwhelming guilt. How had I let this happen? How had I gone years without questioning what was in his food, whether he was hydrated enough, or whether I was really meeting his health needs? I had inherited him from someone who deeply loved him—someone who trusted me to take care of him—and I had failed to educate myself. That was the moment I made a promise: I would learn everything I possibly could about feline nutrition and kidney health so I would never put him in danger again.

Diving Into Feline Kidney Health & Nutrition

My journey began with basic research, but that quickly evolved into a full-blown obsession. I learned about the cat kidney disease epidemic, how kidney failure is one of the leading causes of death in cats, and how diet plays a monumental role in preventing these issues. I studied feline nutritional needs, took courses on raw feeding, and spent countless hours analyzing research on cat kidney health. I learned how to:

• Prepare raw cat food from scratch, ensuring a biologically appropriate diet.

• Incorporate hydration into meals to prevent kidney and urinary issues.

• Identify harmful ingredients in commercial cat food (looking at you, Hill’s prescription diets).

• Understand the risks of high-carb, low-moisture diets that are marketed as “healthy” but contribute to kidney disease.

During this time, another cat entered my life: Crispin, a feisty little rescue who became Momo’s partner-in-crime. Unlike my early days with Momo, I knew exactly how to care for Crispin from the start—no commercial kibble, no dehydration issues, no nutritional guesswork. Watching both of them thrive—shiny coats, boundless energy, and most importantly, clear, healthy kidneys—was all the validation I needed.

Why This Blog Exists

When I look back at my experience, I realize there aren’t enough resources devoted solely to feline kidney health. Most pet websites barely scratch the surface, and many vets still push prescription diets with questionable ingredients rather than advocating for real, biologically appropriate nutrition. Through my journey, I’ve uncovered crucial insights—some that contradict mainstream veterinary recommendations—and I want to share that knowledge with other cat owners who are as dedicated to their pets as I am.

This blog is for:

• Cat owners who want to provide better care and nutrition for their pets.

• Those whose cats have kidney disease, urinary issues, or are at risk for struvite stones.

• Anyone looking for honest, research-backed discussions on feline health and raw feeding.

• People who, like me, once thought they were doing everything right but later discovered there was so much more to learn.

I will cover topics like preventing kidney disease, understanding the best diets for feline kidney health, debunking common myths, and exploring the benefits of raw feeding. Whether you’re here because you’re desperately searching for a solution for your cat’s health problems or you simply want to educate yourself before issues arise, I hope this blog becomes a valuable resource for you.

Momo’s near-death experience changed everything for me. It turned me from an uninformed cat owner into someone deeply invested in feline health. I created this blog to ensure no cat has to suffer because of a lack of information—because when we know better, we do better.

Welcome to my journey, and I hope it helps you on yours. 🐾

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