Chronic Kidney Disease in Cats: Advanced Welfare Guide

Key Welfare Considerations

• CKD involves progressive, irreversible decline in nephron function affecting multiple body systems.
• IRIS staging (1-4) guides management intensity and prognosis communication for welfare planning.
• Stage 1 and 2 CKD may be clinically silent — early detection through senior screening improves welfare outcomes.
• Polyuria and polydipsia are early signs — ensuring water access is a fundamental welfare provision.
• Phosphate restriction through renal diet feeding significantly slows CKD progression and improves welfare.
• Phosphate binders (aluminium hydroxide, calcium carbonate) provide additional phosphate control in advanced stages.
• Dehydration is a persistent welfare concern — subcutaneous fluid therapy improves quality of life significantly.
• Home fluid administration by owners is well-tolerated by cats and provides significant welfare benefits.
• Hypertension occurs in 20-65% of CKD cats, causing welfare impacts through retinal damage and stroke risk.
• Amlodipine effectively controls hypertension in cats, protecting welfare from hypertensive target organ damage.
• Hypokalaemia causes muscle weakness and is a welfare-impacting complication requiring potassium supplementation.
• Anaemia from reduced erythropoietin production reduces activity levels and welfare — darbepoetin alfa can help.
• Proteinuria in CKD cats indicates glomerular damage — ACE inhibitors or telmisartan may reduce progression.
• Nausea management with maropitant improves voluntary food intake and welfare in advanced CKD.
• Quality of life assessment tools specific to feline CKD help owners and vets make welfare-informed decisions.