Late-stage CKD in cats requires careful palliative management to maintain quality of life, with nausea control, hydration, and appetite support as central welfare priorities.
Late-stage CKD causes a cluster of welfare harms that require proactive management: uremia causes nausea and reduced appetite; hypertension causes neurological signs and retinal detachment; anemia causes fatigue and weakness; dehydration causes discomfort and worsens toxin accumulation. Owners who proactively manage these complications — including learning to administer subcutaneous fluids at home — can significantly extend good-quality life for their cats. Regular monitoring of blood values, blood pressure, and body condition enables early adjustment of interventions as disease progresses. Quality of life assessment frameworks — evaluating appetite, hydration, hygiene, happiness, mobility, and pain — help owners and veterinarians make informed decisions about the timing of palliative versus intensive care and eventual euthanasia.