Chronic kidney disease is the most common fatal disease in older cats. Long-term management maintaining quality of life requires dietary modification, hydration support, and regular monitoring.
Feline CKD is a chronic progressive disease requiring long-term welfare management balancing disease control against quality of life. The disease causes nausea, lethargy, and eventually uraemic toxicity that significantly impairs wellbeing. Early-stage management focusing on dietary phosphorus restriction and hydration support can maintain excellent quality of life for extended periods — some cats live comfortably for years after diagnosis. As disease progresses, more intensive interventions including anti-nausea medication, appetite stimulants, and home fluid therapy become necessary. Quality of life assessment using validated tools enables owners and vets to monitor welfare objectively and recognise when treatment burden exceeds benefit. End-of-life care planning in CKD cats should begin at diagnosis: understanding the disease trajectory allows owners to make considered decisions about euthanasia timing that avoid prolonged suffering.