Chronic kidney disease is the leading cause of death in older cats, and welfare-centered management combines dietary modification, fluid support, and symptom control to maintain quality of life through disease progression.
Chronic kidney disease welfare management in cats requires an individualized approach that balances disease control with maintaining quality of life throughout a typically multi-year illness trajectory. The dietary restriction required to manage phosphorus and protein is itself a welfare consideration, as cats often resist therapeutic renal diets that are less palatable than maintenance foods. The welfare benefit of eating a renal diet must be weighed against the welfare cost of a cat that barely eats. Home subcutaneous fluid administration, while initially daunting for owners, substantially improves cat welfare by correcting the chronic dehydration that causes nausea, inappetence, and lethargy. Regular quality of life assessment helps owners and veterinarians calibrate treatment intensity to welfare outcomes rather than laboratory values alone.