Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects the majority of geriatric cats and is one of the leading causes of feline death. Early detection and careful management can significantly extend good-quality life.
CKD causes chronic suffering through uraemic toxin accumulation, dehydration, hypertension, anaemia, and malnutrition as appetite declines. The insidious progression from subclinical to symptomatic disease makes early detection through proactive screening essential for welfare. Cats caught at early IRIS stages and managed with phosphorus-restricted diets, subcutaneous fluid supplementation where needed, phosphate binders, and blood pressure control can maintain good quality of life for years. End-stage CKD — characterised by severe nausea, profound weakness, oral ulceration, and mental dullness — requires quality-of-life reassessment and timely euthanasia decisions. The welfare goal is to maximise good-quality years while preventing prolonged end-stage suffering.