[Feline Kidney Disease] Practical Tips! How to Care for Your Cat in Early Stages of Renal Failure
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a critical issue in veterinary medicine and a leading cause of death in cats. Statistics show that up to 75% of cats over seven years old experience varying degrees of kidney problems. Despite this, many owners remain unaware of the severity and high prevalence of CKD.
If a cat shows early signs of kidney failure, what can an owner do? The slower the progression of chronic kidney disease, the better. Below, we've summarized a few key points. But the most important thing is to care for your cat while also considering their quality of life and not letting them experience excessive stress.
Balance of nutrients, water, and phosphorus
moisture
Ensuring your cat is adequately hydrated is crucial. Wet or canned food, which are high in water, can help replenish your cat's water needs. If your cat's water loss is too severe to be compensated by drinking water alone, you may need to consider subcutaneous water therapy. This involves injecting water under the skin, where it is slowly absorbed. Veterinary nurses will typically teach you how to administer this treatment at home. Simply following your veterinarian's instructions and administering the correct amount can help stabilize your cat's condition.
Ways to increase your water intake:
- Increase the number of water bowls: Place multiple fresh water bowls in places where cats often go, which can attract cats to drink water actively.
- Try water bowls made of different materials: Try using water bowls made of different materials such as glass, ceramic, iron or plastic to see if your cat is more interested in a certain material.
- Change the water source regularly: Change the water in the water bowl frequently to ensure the water source is fresh. Clean water sources can attract cats and reduce the accumulation of bacteria and dust.
- Increase the proportion of wet food: Increasing the proportion of wet food in your cat's diet can increase water intake while providing a nutritionally balanced diet.
<<Extended reading: What should I do if my cat doesn’t like drinking water?>>
Phosphorus
Phosphorus is a crucial mineral for the growth of cats' bones and cell membranes. A phosphorus deficiency can lead to anemia and acid-base imbalance. However, long-term excess phosphorus can burden the kidneys and potentially lead to chronic kidney disease. Therefore, dietary phosphorus restriction is crucial for preventing or managing kidney disease.
Generally speaking, a normal, healthy cat's phosphorus intake should be less than 350mg/100kcal. However, for cats with kidney disease, the phosphorus intake must be less than 250mg/100kcal. Excessive phosphorus intake will accelerate the deterioration of kidney disease.
Avoid high-protein foods and choose low-phosphorus foods. Kidney-prescription feeds are a simple way to provide the nutritional profile needed by animals with kidney disease. Of course, there are advantages and disadvantages. For example, dry feeds cannot provide water, so we generally recommend feeding a mixture of dry and wet food.
Nutrition
Cats with kidney disease often eat a diet that restricts protein, which can lead to a slight calorie deficit. High-quality fatty acids, such as omega-3 and omega-9, are excellent sources of caloric intake. These high-quality fatty acids don't produce a lot of waste, so they're less taxing on the kidneys. Therefore, common kidney diets often include a higher amount of these fatty acid sources, which can increase caloric intake and maintain a cat's weight while minimizing the burden on the kidneys.
Omega-3 fatty acids can reduce the production of inflammatory substances, lower blood pressure and blood lipids, and slow kidney inflammation and disease progression. Since the average pet's diet is generally deficient in fatty acids, owners may also consider supplementing their pet's diet with fish oil.
For cats with kidney disease, diet is certainly important, but even more important is their willingness to eat. There's more to life than just one lifestyle for a cat with kidney disease. We should find a lifestyle that suits them, allowing them to enjoy their time with their owners and their companionship.
Pay more attention to your cat's urination
When kidney function is impaired, urinary problems not only hinder waste excretion but also increase the burden on the kidneys. Ensuring your cat's willingness to use the litter box requires careful attention. Besides choosing the right litter, setting up the appropriate location, and keeping it clean, each cat may have their own preferences and habits, which require careful observation. Furthermore, in multi-cat households, it's important to be aware of any cats who are in a vulnerable position and may be threatened by others, making them afraid to use the litter box. Over time, this can put additional strain on the kidneys.
Here are some things to keep in mind when using a cat litter box:
- Cat litter: Choose a brand and type of cat litter that your cat likes.
- Quantity: Make sure you have enough litter boxes in your home, the number should be the number of cats + 1.
- Location: Avoid placing litter boxes side by side and avoid placing them in common spaces.
- Others: Keep the litter box ventilated and clean, and clean and replace the cat litter regularly.
Early detection of chronic renal failure
Although kidney function decline is irreversible, early lifestyle changes and treatment can make kidney disease less dire than you might think. The SDMA test (which can detect problems when kidney function declines by 25%), combined with other tests, can provide early insights into kidney health. Therefore, we recommend that owners take their cats for regular checkups. If you notice unusual symptoms like increased water intake or frequent urination, you should be cautious and seek medical attention promptly.