Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is the most common serious disease in older cats, affecting up to 35% of cats over 12 years, and early detection through routine bloodwork dramatically improves welfare outcomes and survival.
CKD in cats causes cumulative suffering from nausea, reduced appetite, dehydration, hypertension-related complications, and the systemic effects of uremic toxin accumulation. The insidious nature of early CKD — cats compensate for kidney decline until 75% of function is lost — means disease is often advanced before clinical signs appear. Proactive testing with SDMA-inclusive panels in middle-aged and senior cats enables detection years earlier, when dietary intervention can meaningfully slow progression. Cats in early CKD with appropriate management maintain quality of life for years longer than unmanaged cases. The welfare cost of late diagnosis is measured in months to years of unnecessarily compromised quality of life.