Indoor cats can often lead long lives with very few health problems along the way.  However, I wanted to alert my cat readers to a disease that cats can develop, typically later in life.  This is chronic renal failure.  It is a progressive and irreversible deterioration of the kidneys.  It is one of the leading causes of death and illness in older cats.  While it is terminal, if diagnosed early, treatment can be administered at a reasonable cost to prolong the pet’s life and maintain a good quality of life for the animal.  It is not uncommon for a cat to live for one to three years after diagnosis with proper veterinary care.

The exact cause of chronic renal failure is unknown, although it is thought there are certain common contributing factors.  These would include age, genetics and dental disease.  As indicated above, the disease typically occurs in older cats.  Older being defined as age seven or greater.  Certain breeds have a higher incidence of chronic renal failure.  Studies have shown that the Maine Coon, Abyssinian, Siamese, Russian Blue, Burmese and Balinese breeds are more likely to develop chronic renal failure.  If a cat has high blood pressure, this can often cause renal failure later in life because the high blood pressure is causing the kidneys to work harder.  Finally, if a cat’s mouth has been neglected and not had regular teeth cleanings by its veterinarian, the excess bacteria in the mouth eventually enters the blood stream and then degrades the kidneys.

There are things that the cat owner can do and watch for to identify chronic renal failure at an early stage.  Obviously, annual examinations by your veterinarian should be conducted.  The exam must include a urinalysis, blood test and blood pressure measurement.  These latter tests will help the doctor determine the health of the kidneys.  There are also warning signs that you, the owner can watch for.  The most obvious ones are increased water consumption and urination.  These usually occur first.  As the kidneys deteriorate further, the cat will likely experience a loss of appetite and weight, nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea, dull hair coat and excessive shedding, bad breath, lethargy, blood in the urine, a stiff gate and hunched back and sometimes blindness.  Because these symptoms do not often appear until approximately 70% of the kidney function is lost, it is important to begin treatment as soon as you see the symptoms.

Unfortunately, chronic renal failure is not curable, but it is manageable.  The most important treatment is to change the pet’s diet to a special kidney diet that controls the amount of waste products that are sent to the kidneys for processing.  These foods are lower in phosphorous, protein and salt.  Sometimes certain medications are administered to lower blood pressure, thereby putting less burden on the kidneys.  Finally, fluid therapy is generally applied on a periodic basis.  It is intended to flush the poisons out of the kidneys and re-hydrate the cat.  This will make the cat feel less nauseous and increase its appetite.  Believe it or not, many times the owner can learn to administer the fluids at home without the need to have the procedure administered at the vet’s office.

As a cat owner, the most important thing you can do for the well being of your cat is to be proactive and observant.  Annual examinations with blood testing, urinalysis and blood pressure monitoring should be “scheduled maintenance” for your feline friend as well as periodic teeth cleanings.  Throughout the course of each year you also should watch your pet for the symptoms of the disease I mentioned earlier.