What Is Feline CKD?
Feline CKD is a disease in which cats gradually lose their kidney functions. According to the findings of Greycoat Research, 68% of all cats over the age of 7 end up being diagnosed with feline CKD. There have even been instances of cats being diagnosed with CKD at ages as young as 2. This is because cats are genetically vulnerable to CKD, meaning that it is a question of when, and not if.
IRIS Staging of Feline CKD
Greycoat Research's Guide to Feline CKD Care
As kidney cells are (mostly) incapable of regenerating or recovering, damage done to the kidneys is generally permanent. Thus, cats with damaged kidneys must live with them forever.
Of course, proper and dedicated kidney management can lead to a temporary improvement in blood test results. But these results do not indicate actual regeneration or recovery. However, proper care can prevent kidneys from taking further generation, and keep them functioning at their current level, allowing cats to retain their energy levels.
Greycoat Research’s aim is to prevent damaged kidneys from taking even more damage, thereby preserving kidney functions so that afflicted cats can still enjoy a happier and more energetic quality of life.
*The supplements and care your cat needs may differ depending on their current stage of kidney disease and health conditions.
*As feline CKD continues to progress and worsen, each higher stage necessitates more careful management and the administration of more supplements. As symptoms of feline CKD only really become prominent once a cat is in Stage 2 of the disease, it is imperative that owners begin providing preemptive care even if their cats have yet to show any tangible symptoms of CKD.
Stage 1 Feline CKD
“At this point, the kidneys are already damaged, necessitating the feeding of supplements.”
Generally, cats with stage 1 CKD are still considered ‘healthy’ cats. However, Greycoat Research believes that cats with stage 1 CKD are already suffering from damaged kidneys. As the disease is already progressing in this stage, cats with stage 1 CKD should be administered supplements and receive dedicated and active care to manage their CKD.
In at least one case that Greycoat Research has looked into, a cat diagnosed with stage 1 CKD failed to receive proper kidney care, and the disease rapidly grew worse, progressing all the way to stage 4 CKD in the span of just 6 months. Such cases show the dangers of ignoring proper management protocols despite an early diagnosis.
Once your cat has reached stage 1 CKD, you must begin providing them with systematic care for their condition.
So, What Can You Do?
Increase Water Intake
Proper hydration habits can provide a modicum of help in preserving kidney health in cats. If your cat refuses to drink water regularly, it may be a good idea to put them on a wet food diet.
While water intake itself isn’t enough to improve kidney functions or prevent feline CKD, proper water intake management is still crucial, as cats, by nature, are generally indisposed to drinking enough water.
Regular Exercise and Hunting Sessions
Regular exercise and play-hunting sessions not only keep cats active and fit, but also gets cats to drink water more frequently. A diverse and balanced set of activities can help cats maintain their kidney functions. Therefore, it is important to engage in daily activities with your cats and keep an eye on how they respond to playtime (e.g. their interest levels).
Advance Renal Diet Adaptation
Getting your cat accustomed to a renal diet in advance can help you ease them into it properly in the future. As renal food is meant for cats with kidney issues, it is low in protein, phosphorus, and sodium. This, in turn, means that many cats tend to be reluctant to consume renal food and have trouble adjusting to a sudden change in their diet when their CKD worsens. Thus, allowing them to steadily adjust to renal food in advance can help them make a proper transition in the future.
Supplements
AIM and antioxidant-based care is integral for cats with CKD, as they help maintain kidney health and reduce damage to the kidneys. As such, steady administration even from an early stage can help manage their condition in advance.
- AIM Dr. Toru Protocol is an amino acid complex supplement that allows you to care for your cat’s kidneys by helping them expel waste, one of the leading causes of inflammation, from their bodies.
- Intensive Protocol is a kidney health supplement with excellent antioxidant properties designed to help cells stay healthy.
- Probiotics Protocol is a probiotic supplement that aims to manage inflammation and reduce your cat’s ammonia and uremic toxin levels.
Administering Greycoat Research’s supplements alongside other prescribed medications or supplements may result in a mutual interaction between their ingredients. As such, we advise owners to contact us for a free consultation so we can work with you to come up with the ideal feeding schedule for your cat.
Guide to Maintaining Health Kidney Functions
- Daily play-hunting sessions (twice a day, at least 10 minutes per session)
- Early renal diet adaptation
- Limit snacks (reduce amount of snacks, offer low-phosphorus and low-sodium snacks)
- Proper administration of supplements
- Weighing (at least once a month)
- Periodic health checkups (once a year)
* Please make sure your cat periodically receives basic checkups, such as blood tests. (In particular, blood tests should include SDMA, BUN, and creatinine levels for a more accurate analysis of your cat’s kidney functions.)
