Kidney disease is one of the most common problems in middle-aged and older cats. Although there is no cure for kidney damage, early detection is key, and various treatments can help slow the progression of your cat’s illness. Learn more about the symptoms, prevention and management of the disease.
The kidneys are responsible for filtering waste products out of the blood to form urine and play an important part in keeping your cat healthy. Feline kidney disease occurs when kidneys stop functioning properly impairing their ability to remove waste products from the blood. Generally, it’s categorised into two types:
Most cats do not show any symptoms of chronic kidney disease until their kidneys have already been severely damaged. Signs can vary through different stages of kidney disease, but the most common ones are:
A lot of the potential symptoms of kidney disease in cats could be caused by other conditions, so it’s important to get them checked out with the vet as soon as you notice something is wrong.
In most cases of chronic kidney disease, it can be difficult to know what causes it as it can occur due to the natural ageing process or unknown underlying causes. Some of the potential causes can include:
Acute kidney disease in cats can often be caused by:
Your vet will test your cat’s blood and urine for high levels of waste products that should normally be kept within safe levels by healthy kidneys.
Many vets will try to diagnose kidney disease in its early stages, before clinical signs develop, by offering cat owners the option of urine and blood tests for their older cats at routine check-ups or vaccinations.
Early diagnosis and treatment may significantly extend an affected cat’s life expectancy and quality of life, so it’s important to take your cat to the vet as soon as you notice something is different, especially in older cats.
Treatment depends on the stage of kidney disease your cat has and the signs shown, it may include:
Following the initial treatment, your cat is likely to be prescribed a special kidney diet for the rest of their life and may also need medication. It’s important to get them used to their new diet gradually. If unsure of how to do it, ask your vet for advice and check out our guide about feeding your cat.
Your cat will also have to be observed for any changes in eating, drinking and urinating.
Regular check-ups with the vet and further blood, urine and blood pressure tests will be beneficial to monitor the progression of the disease.
To help protect your cat from getting acute kidney failure, the best you can do is to limit your cat’s exposure to toxins (especially lilies that are extremely toxic to kidneys) and make regular vet check-up appointments once or twice a year. Find out more about toxic substances and how to spot the signs of poisoning in cats.
While it may not be possible to completely prevent your cat from getting chronic kidney disease, there are steps you can take to maintain the overall health of your cat's kidneys.
As with many illnesses, including kidney disease, cats are good at hiding signs of pain and it may not be obvious to understand if they’re in pain or discomfort. However, the associated symptoms with the disease can cause your cat to experience overall discomfort.
In acute kidney failure, they may cry constantly or collapse because of the significant pain caused by the swelling of the kidneys. At the end stage of kidney failure, you might notice your cat has an arched back or has weak back legs and trouble walking.
Your vet should advise you on what you can do for your cat with kidney failure to make them more comfortable.
Kidney disease can be a challenging disease for both cats and their owners to manage. But depending on the severity of the kidney damage, with regular monitoring, correct medication and treatment, many cats with kidney disease can go on to lead long and happy lives.
Sadly, however, the health of cats with the condition deteriorates over time, but learning to spot the signs and early intervention are most important.
Determining when to euthanise a cat with kidney failure is a sensitive and difficult decision.
In cases where kidney damage is extensive and treatment does not help, it is important to consider your cat's overall quality of life. Important considerations may include persistent discomfort, refusal to eat, severe weight loss, and inability to control basic bodily functions.
Communicate regularly with your vet as they can assess your cat's condition and provide guidance.
Putting your cat to sleep is a very hard decision. If you feel you need support or someone to listen to your worries, our free Paws to Listen grief support service can provide you with a sympathetic ear at this difficult time. Find out more about our Paws to Listen service.