Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects the majority of cats over age 15. Understanding management and welfare-focused care helps maintain quality of life through this progressive condition.
CKD causes progressive welfare decline through nausea from uremic toxin accumulation, anemia-related fatigue, hypertension causing neurological effects, and the discomfort of dehydration. Many cats with CKD experience chronic low-grade nausea that suppresses appetite without obvious vomiting. Quality of life assessment is particularly important in CKD management as the condition progresses over months to years. Owners and veterinarians must navigate the balance between medical interventions that slow progression and those that cause additional burden, keeping the cat's daily experience central to all decisions.