How to know if my cat is infected and how to treat him?

Chronic kidney disease is a slowly progressive and irreversible disease. It results in a reduction in kidney functionality. Up to 20% of cats are affected by this disease. It is one of the most common diseases in cats.

Causes of chronic kidney disease are numerous. You must note that in most cases, the origin of the onset of this disease will remain unknown. Some cats may be at risk. The best-known example is the Persian breed cat, which may have a genetic predisposition to kidney disease called “polycystic kidney disease”.

Chronic kidney disease can lead to kidney failure. It mainly affects cats over 8 years old. Clinical signs may be a loss of appetite, weight loss, increased drinking, increased urine emission…

If your cat shows these signs, a consultation with your vet will help to establish a diagnosis. You vet may need to do additional tests such as taking blood or takin urine samples.

It is also possible to monitor the functioning of the kidneys by carrying out regular blood tests on an older cat. This will allow for an early diagnosis and better disease managment right from the start.

Chronic kidney disease cannot be cured. Management aims to slow the disease progression for the cat to live longer.

The vet will prescribe products according to the stage of the disease. Regular monitoring will be necessary for therapeutic adjustment. In other words, the kidney is no longer able to regulate the concentration of phosphorus in the blood. It is therefore necessary to limit the intake of dietary phosphorus as much as possible.

Answer this short questionnaire to find out if it is possible to suspect chronic kidney failure in your cat. If you answer YES to at least one of these questions, talk to your vet.

Is your cat over 8 years old ?

• YES

• NO

Has your cat lost his appetite ?

• YES

• NO

Does your cat vomit ?

• YES

• NO

Is your cat less emotional than usual ?

• YES

• NO