Chronic kidney disease is the most common serious illness in older cats, affecting around 30% of cats over 15. Understanding symptoms and treatment options significantly improves feline welfare.
Feline CKD welfare involves both the physical symptoms of declining kidney function and the discomfort of treatments. Cats with advanced CKD experience nausea, weakness, and reduced quality of life. Pain from concurrent conditions like hypertension and dental disease compounds suffering. Home fluid therapy, while effective, requires confidence from owners. The IRIS staging framework allows informed decision-making about when quality of life has declined to the point where euthanasia represents the kindest option. Regular veterinary monitoring from middle age allows early intervention.