Chronic kidney disease is the leading cause of death in older cats, and stage-appropriate management significantly affects quality of life and welfare across what may be years of progressive disease.
CKD welfare management in cats involves a gradual shift from disease modification at early stages toward symptom management and quality of life preservation as disease progresses. The welfare imperative is to match treatment intensity to what the cat can tolerate and what provides genuine benefit rather than pursuing maximum intervention regardless of benefit. Home subcutaneous fluid administration, while effective at managing dehydration, must be assessed for whether the cat tolerates the procedure comfortably rather than assumed to be welfare-positive in all cases. Quality of life assessment at each disease stage guides whether continued treatment is providing welfare benefit or simply extending life without improving its quality.