Chronic kidney disease is the most common cause of death in senior cats. Managing welfare throughout its progression requires attentive monitoring, dietary management, and compassionate end-of-life planning.
Feline CKD is a welfare journey that requires owners and vets to stay ahead of symptoms to maintain quality of life. Early detection through routine senior screening enables interventions that slow progression significantly. As disease advances, welfare management shifts: controlling nausea, maintaining appetite, managing dehydration with subcutaneous fluids, and monitoring quality of life become the primary goals. Owners willing to learn home fluid administration can dramatically extend comfortable life for their cats. End-of-life planning — deciding when quality of life has declined sufficiently to warrant euthanasia — is a compassionate responsibility that owners should discuss with their vet before reaching a crisis.