Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is the most common serious illness in older cats, affecting the majority of cats over 15 years old. Early detection, dietary management, and palliative care are essential to maintaining quality of life.
Feline CKD is a gradual welfare erosion that, if unmanaged, leads to nausea, lethargy, poor appetite, and the suffering of uraemic toxin accumulation. The insidious onset — where cats remain apparently well while kidney function declines significantly — means that welfare-preserving early detection depends on proactive veterinary screening rather than waiting for symptoms. Annual blood and urine testing from the age of 7 is recommended for early-stage detection when intervention is most effective. Dietary management is the cornerstone of treatment: renal diets are specifically formulated to reduce the metabolic workload of failing kidneys and have been shown in controlled trials to extend survival time and quality of life. Owners who master home subcutaneous fluid administration provide their cats with a powerful comfort measure that reduces dehydration and associated nausea. The end-of-life decision in CKD — when to pursue euthanasia for quality-of-life reasons — requires ongoing, honest assessment with veterinary support.