Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is one of the most common conditions in older cats, causing a slow welfare decline that can be significantly mitigated with appropriate veterinary management.
CKD in cats is a condition where the goal of management is not cure but welfare maintenance - keeping the cat comfortable, able to eat, and engaged in normal behaviour for as long as possible. The disease causes real suffering through nausea, lethargy, and anorexia if unmanaged, but with appropriate treatment many cats have excellent quality of life for extended periods after diagnosis. Owner education about home fluid administration, dietary management, and quality of life assessment empowers informed decision-making. Euthanasia when quality of life deteriorates irreversibly is a welfare-positive choice that should be supported, not delayed out of owner attachment.