Preventing Kidney Disease in Cats

Acute vs. Chronic Kidney Disease

There are two common types of Kidney Disease, acute and chronic. Acute kidney disease is when there is abrupt damage to the kidney. Abrupt damage is usually caused by a toxin, infection, or shock. Cats usually show signs of vomiting and weakness or lethargy, and in some cases, they will urinate a lot or not at all, depending on the way the kidney was damaged.

Chronic Kidney Disease
Chronic Kidney disease is the persistent loss of kidney function over time. It’s important for your cat’s kidneys to stay healthy because the kidneys are responsible for filtering blood and producing urine. If the kidneys are not healthy they can cause a variety of different diseases in cats, but the most common disease is Chronic Kidney Disease. Due to the kidneys being a waste filtration system, sometimes that waste can build up which can make cats ill.

Symptoms of Chronic Kidney Disease

When waste begins to build up in the kidneys it can cause cats to look unkept, lose weight, appear lethargic, and/or seem ill.This build up of waste can also limit their kidneys ability to concentrate urine, which makes them urinate larger amounts and to compensate for the amount of fluid they are losing, your cat will increase their water intake. Often times when cats are experiencing this, you may notice them sitting at the water bowl drinking for long periods of time, or that you are having to fill the water bowl more frequently than before.

Prevention of Chronic Kidney Disease

1. Protect your cat from toxic substances
   • This seems a simple enough concept, but cats tend to have the uncanny ability to get into places they don’t belong. Make sure that toxic substances like chemicals, such as antifreeze and cleaners, are locked away in a cabinet and messes are cleaned up immediately. Also make sure your cat does not have the ability to access any of your or other pet’s medications. The last thing that is very important are house plants. All sorts of house plants can cause vomiting or diarrhea if your cat chews or eats them, but Lilies are particularly toxic and should be removed immediately so your cat does not have access to them.
     
2. Take your cat in for regular checkups
   • Chronic Kidney Disease builds over time, this is why it is important to go to your vet for routine checkups. These routine checkups will increase the likelihood that you will catch any sign of disease and can start treatment early on. As part of this checkup, it is important to do routine blood work even when your cat is healthy. Routine blood work can give the veterinarian a baseline of what is normal when your cat is healthy and then they can monitor changes over time.
3. Encourage your cat to drink plenty of fluids
   • If your cat can drinks plenty of water on a daily basis it can help prevent the buildup of waste in your cat’s kidneys and keep them stay healthier for longer. Make sure your cat’s water bowl is clean and filled with fresh clean water often. If possible, a water fountain is prefered because it encourages cats to drink. Another way to get your cat to take in fluids is through feeding them wet food.
4. Make it easy for your cat to go #1
   • It is important that your cat has easy access to the litter box and that it is in a comfortable environment. Most often people place the litter box in the bathroom because it is not a common place for people or other animals to be. It is also important to clean your cat’s litter box often so they don’t get discouraged from urinating.

Kidney Disease is unfortunately very common in cats, but with these prevention measures you may be able to prevent your cat from developing the disease, or be able to catch it early on.  Every cat responds differently to treatment of Kidney Disease whether it is acute or chronic. If your cat does get diagnosed with Kidney Disease, initiating treatment early on will help them maintain a good quality of life. If you feel like your cat may be exhibiting any of the above signs, please call your veterinarian for an appointment.

Kaylin Stinski

Throughout my life I have always been very passionate about animals and have worked in the veterinary medicine field for the last 10 years. Outside of working directly with the animals, I really enjoy educating clients on the overall care of their pets; not only from a medical perspective, but also discussing general concerns such as behavioral interventions and preventative care.

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