I have a diabetic cat. Our vet recommended feeding him regular Fancy Feast from the list off this site:
The vet who owns the site has recommendations for other feline health issues.
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This is not a long-term solution, but our cat needs a (different) prescription cat food as well. We just get it from Hills for convenience and bc when they were having shortages, Hills still had the food, but many websites will give ~30% off for the first order + a discount for a recurring order. Your sister could stick with one for a few months and then switch providers. Again, a hassle and may not be worth it, but it could save her a few hundred dollars, which might make a difference for her.
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Thanks! I’ll definitely suggest that!
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She can make her own pet food which might be less expensive than a commercial prescription diet. I used to cook a special diet for my dog when she had advanced kidney disease. And now that my senior kitties both have early stage kidney disease and the vet suggested a prescription diet, I’m considering making food for them.
Basically very soft boiled rice, ground chicken thigh (cooked), salt substitute (potassium chloride) plus some additional supplements (calcium citrate, fish oil, taurine and a feline multivitamin–all of which are available from Amazon, Chewy, etc). Some recipes add cooked carrots and/or spinach or, occasionally, a hard boiled egg. Packed in water tuna can be subbed for the chicken thigh. Puree everything in a blender or food processor with a small amount of water. Food will keep several days in the fridge.
Reduced protein, low sodium, low phosphorus, low magnesium
The initial price of the various supplement can be pricey, but it’s less expensive in the long run than prescription diets.
She should consult with her vet and maybe ask for a referral to veterinary dietitian.
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Thanks! I’m not sure she’s up for this, but I’ll give her the information (she does have some day to day coping issues, but it’s worth a try).
I believe there are cat food recipes in the catinfo link I posted above (yes, chicken thighs - meat, skin, with bones ground up).
Cats need some essential nutrients like taurine, potassium, and calcium. Make sure a homemade cat food recipe is vetted by a veterinarian. 
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