Why Are My Cat's Creatinine Levels Fluctuating?

Hi! Claire Luvcat here.

Since the launch of our Dr. Toru Protocol supplements, we've had customers contact us saying that their cats' creatinine levels initially went up after they were fed our supplements before falling. They were simultaneously alarmed at the unexpected rise in the beginning, but grateful to see how the levels fell after a certain period of time.

This post is meant to help clear up some misconceptions and confusion about creatinine levels and how they work, as well as what they indicate.

What’s the Deal with Creatinine Levels?

Generally, SDMA testing is conducted when initially diagnosing a cat with feline kidney disease. Once a cat has been diagnosed with feline kidney disease, BUN and creatinine levels are the most commonly observed figures to monitor the progress of the disease. While they are not the only figures to be monitored, creatinine levels are considered vital to see if a cat with kidney disease is being treated and cared for properly.

As such, people who care for cats with kidney disease tend to focus on their cat’s creatinine levels on their blood tests results.

So, Are Creatinine Levels Absolute?

While creatinine levels are very informative and undeniably valuable in providing insight into your cat’s conditions, they are also influenced by various external factors.

  • Hydration Levels:
    Cats who are dehydrated will have slightly higher creatinine levels in their blood tests than those who are not. As such, water consumption may affect your cat’s creatinine levels.

  • Build, Age, Gender:
    Cats who enjoy exercise and have more muscular builds than other cats will have slightly higher creatinine levels than those who laze around. Young cats tend to be more active than older ones, and are thus prone to slightly higher creatinine levels. This also applies to male cats.

  • Diet:
    Cats raised on a primarily raw food diet will have slightly higher creatinine levels than those who were not.

In conclusion, if your cat has been more active than usual, or consumed less water than usual, then your cat’s blood tests may show temporarily elevated creatinine levels.

For example, many veterinarians recommend that your cats fast before a blood test. While some cats may willingly drink water while they are fasting, many will not, and these cats may have slightly higher creatinine levels in their blood tests.

In other words, slight fluctuations in your cat’s creatinine levels are not an absolute indicator of your cat’s overall health and condition.

TT’s Path to Recovery

My own cat TT was diagnosed with acute kidney disease in 2019, and has been receiving treatment for chronic kidney disease since then. I feed her supplements every day, and she has to have her blood drawn on a near monthly basis.

As shown in the above graph, her creatinine levels will occasionally fluctuate, but overall, they are falling without rebounding, a clear indicator that her condition is being managed properly.

Read more about TT's recovery here!

A Hopeful and Healthier Future for Cats

Based on my own experiences and observations, I believe that the most important thing when caring for a cat with kidney disease is to ensure that your cat remains lively and energetic. While blood test results are obviously meaningful, I believe that after a certain point of treatment and care, the following signs are more significant indicators of how well your cat’s kidney disease is being managed.
  • High energy levels and spirits
  • Vigorous appetite
  • Sufficient sleep time
  • Healthy and regular bowel movements

I'm always happy to read reviews from grateful customers rejoicing at how their cat's creatinine levels have dropped. At the same time, I wanted to explain that creatinine levels are prone to temporarily rising due to a number of factors.

When caring for a cat with feline kidney disease, paying attention to their energy levels can help you better notice changes in their condition, so that you can respond accordingly to keep their condition stable.

I hope this information will help you keep your cats healthy and happy! Good luck, everyone! TT and I are rooting for you all!

Related Supplement

AIM Dr. Toru Protocol is a cat kidney supplement developed by Greycoat Research and Japan’s Institute for AIM Medicine. The supplement activates AIM proteins in a cat’s body to clean waste from the kidneys, thereby supporting kidney health and functions and preventing kidney disease.

Intensive Protocol is a cat kidney supplement provides antioxidant and anti-inflammation capabilities to keep feline kidneys healthy. The supplement provides comprehensive renal care and has a synergetic effect when used alongside AIM Dr. Toru Protocol.

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