Chronic kidney disease is the most common serious illness in older cats, and its management is central to maintaining quality of life in aging feline companions.
Cats with advanced CKD experience significant suffering from uremic toxin accumulation — nausea, vomiting, lethargy, mouth ulcers, and neurological symptoms. Chronic dehydration causes discomfort and worsens kidney function. Anemia from reduced erythropoietin production causes profound weakness. Hypertension — a common complication — causes retinal detachment and sudden blindness. Pain from concurrent conditions like arthritis is often masked by the general debilitation of CKD. The challenge of managing CKD welfare involves balancing treatment burden against benefit — some cats tolerate subcutaneous fluid administration well while others find it extremely stressful. Quality of life monitoring tools exist to help owners recognize when a cat's suffering outweighs the benefits of continued treatment.