Mary Allen
If the kidneys stop working, there is a risk of serious long-term consequences. It is therefore important to identify and treat chronic renal failure early on. Find out everything about the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of chronic kidney failure in cats here.
Chronic renal insufficiency (CRF) describes a slow deterioration of all kidney functions. This gradual loss of kidney function can progress over months and years without the cat owner noticing any changes in their cat. As CKD progresses, more and more functioning kidney tissue is lost and replaced by connective tissue.
Metabolic disorders only occur when 75 percent or more of the kidney tissue has been destroyed and the cat shows symptoms of kidney disease.
The cause of chronic kidney failure is chronic inflammation, the triggering reason for which is still unclear.
Symptoms of Chronic Renal Failure in Cats
Unfortunately, kidney diseases are often diagnosed very late. Only when a good two-thirds of the kidney tissue has been destroyed does the cat show symptoms of chronic kidney failure.
In the early stages of chronic kidney failure, the cat drinks more and produces more urine accordingly. In indoor cats, this is noticeable when cleaning the litter box. Owners of outdoor cats usually do not have the opportunity to recognize these first signs, as outdoor cats like to empty their bladders outside and also drink more there. Depending on the cat, other symptoms may appear as the disease progresses. These are:
- fatigue
- loss of appetite
- vomit
- diarrhea
- shaggy fur
- bad breath
However, since these symptoms can also be an indication of other diseases such as diabetes mellitus, it is important to have the cat thoroughly examined by the vet.
Here is an overview of all stages of chronic kidney failure in cats and the symptoms:
Stage I: Incipient Renal Insufficiency
- creatinine in the normal range, protein/creatinine ratio normal
- no symptoms
- no impact on lifetime
Stage II: Early Renal Failure
- creatinine slightly increased, protein/creatinine ratio in the border area
- only a few cats already show the first symptoms such as increased drinking
- average life expectancy without therapy is about 3 years
Stage III: Uremic Renal Failure
- creatinine above normal range, protein/creatinine ratio increased, 75% of kidney tissue destroyed
- symptoms such as increased drinking and loss of appetite become noticeable;
- increased occurrence of urinary substances in the blood
- average life expectancy without therapy is about 2 years
Stage IV: End-Stage Renal Failure
- significantly increased creatinine and protein/creatinine ratio
- a cat can no longer urinate
- cat shows severe symptoms such as cramps, severe vomiting, refusal to eat, etc.
- average life expectancy without therapy 35 days
Early Detection of Chronic Nephritis in Cats
The older a cat gets, the greater the risk that it will develop chronic kidney inflammation. At the age of more than ten years, between 30 and 40 percent of all cats are affected. Male males are diagnosed earlier, on average, at 12 years old than females at 15 years old.
The veterinarian can only make a reliable diagnosis with a blood and urine test in the laboratory. The kidney values of urea, creatinine, and SDMA are significantly increased in sick cats. In addition, the phosphate levels in the blood and the protein levels in the urine are too high.
The cat’s blood pressure should also be checked regularly and treated if necessary, as high blood pressure damages the vessels in the kidneys. Over 60 percent of all cats with kidney failure have high blood pressure. In addition to damaging the kidneys, this also causes heart disease in the cat.
It is important to have kidney values checked annually for cats over the age of seven. In particular, the SDMA value shows kidney diseases in the very early stages. Therapy can be started before the cat has symptoms.
Proper Food for Cats With Chronic Kidney Failure
The veterinarian must adapt both the treatment with medication and the necessary diet for chronic kidney failure to the cat and the degree of the disease. You should also follow his rules as a matter of urgency. In principle, the protein and phosphorus content of the diet food must be reduced compared to normal cat food. The cat with kidney disease should not be given any additional snacks or vitamin supplements without consulting the veterinarian. Some preparations contain a lot of phosphorus.
Special kidney diet food is now available from different feed manufacturers and in different forms, so it is now easier to find a diet food that the cat likes to eat. It is important to make the transition slowly: At first, mix the diet food with the usual food by the spoonful and increase the proportion step by step.
Consequences of Chronic Renal Failure in Cats
The main task of the kidneys is to filter toxic substances from the body. These toxins are then passed into the urine, leaving healthy proteins in the body. If the kidneys no longer work properly, the entire organism suffers. The toxic substances that should actually be excreted with the urine can no longer be filtered out and remain in the body. While urea itself is non-toxic, it can turn into the dangerous toxin ammonia, which attacks the brain. This is why it is so important to detect CKD as early as possible so that the cat can continue to live a long, symptom-free life.