Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is one of the most common conditions in older cats. Proper management extends life and maintains quality of life, making it a central welfare challenge in feline medicine.
CKD causes progressive welfare impacts through accumulation of uremic toxins, nausea, hypertension, anemia, and eventually end-stage organ failure. Quality of life management is central — this means addressing nausea with anti-emetics, controlling blood pressure to prevent blindness and neurological complications, providing subcutaneous fluids at home to maintain hydration, and offering highly palatable foods that the cat will actually eat despite reduced appetite. The goal is to maintain good quality of life for as long as possible, not simply prolong survival. End-of-life planning, including understanding when euthanasia provides relief from suffering that cannot otherwise be controlled, is an important aspect of CKD management.