Chronic kidney disease is extremely common in older cats. Appropriate nutritional management is the most important welfare intervention available and can significantly extend comfortable life.
Feline CKD management is one of the clearest examples of nutritional intervention as welfare intervention. The renal diet, when accepted by the cat, reduces uraemic toxin accumulation, slows phosphorus-driven renal deterioration, and directly reduces the nausea, lethargy, and reduced appetite that make CKD so welfare-significant. The challenge is palatability: renal diets are restricted in protein, which makes them less appealing to cats, and forcing consumption of an aversive diet undermines the welfare benefit. Gradual transition, multiple flavour options, and warming food to enhance aroma all improve acceptance. When diet alone cannot maintain quality of life, subcutaneous fluid therapy provides additional support that many owners administer successfully at home with appropriate training, dramatically extending comfortable life for affected cats.