Cat Kidney Problems: Feline Chronic Renal Failure

Age is a problem without a solution, everyone grows older and their body fails as time passes, it is inevitable in animals and people alike. However, this doesn't mean that you can't take steps to stave this off in your beloved pets, especially if you have an older cat for a companion. Among some of the most common problems for cats is chronic renal failure, which means that the cat's kidneys have in some way been compromised and is no longer doing their intended function. Kidneys play a vital role in the body, filtering out toxins in the blood, hydrating the body by separating out the water from the urine, and basically providing one of the most functions for keeping the body alive so you can imagine how much of a problem it is when they shut down. Everyone can survive with just one kidney, but they play such a pivotal role in the body why would you take the risk of allowing damage to them? For felines, it is almost an inevitable problem since felines become more and more susceptible to chronic renal failure as they get older to the point that one in five cats over the age of fifteen suffer from some form of kidney damage. Unfortunately the sad fact is that, with cats, chronic renal failure is a progressive condition that in most cases is untreatable since it's almost impossible to figure out the cause behind the failure. In the few cases that the cause can be discovered and corrected, the damage already done will remain and continue to cause problems for your cat.

So, as you can imagine, it is very important to spot the signs of chronic renal failure in your cat before the damage can become too extensive, as that is the only real way to 'cure' the ailment. Unfortunately the signs of chronic renal failure can be difficult to detect in your cat, especially if they are older, so it's imperative that you keep a close eye on your cat's health as they get on in years. This is even more important considering that the symptoms of chronic renal failure are very vague and can often be attributed to other health problems, which means the slow onset of symptoms can go almost entirely unnoticed since the best indicator is the presence of toxins in the blood that are normally excreted in your cat's urine. So what are the physical symptoms then? Well the biggest indication is if your cat is exhibiting a lack of appetite or thirst as well as a general lack of energy. If you're in tune with your cat's mood then you can watch for signs of depression which can be another sign that your cat may be experiencing kidney problems. All of these symptoms can be accredited to other problems and you should investigate other causes before assuming that your cat's kidneys are failing, however if your cat is older or comes from unknown parentage (another cause of chronic renal failure being that it is inherited from the parents) then you should consider taking your cat to the vet. The only guaranteed way to determine if your pet is suffering from chronic renal failure is to get it's blood and urine tested.

If your cat does suffer from chronic renal failure then you are probably wondering what you can do for your pet but the sad news is that there isn't much that can be done. As was mentioned previously, many times the cause of the failure isn't discovered and the best you can do is alleviate the symptoms and stall the progression of the failure as much as possible. The goal isn't to cure your cat but rather to improve your cat's standard of living and keep them comfortable, This means changing your cat's diet to lower the presence of the toxins that would put undue stress on your cat's kidneys; a diet that is phosphate and protein restricted is best and has been shown to protect the kidneys from further damage. In addition, many felines are also prescribed various medications that alleviate the symptoms so that your cat can enjoy a higher standard of living, but adjusting it's diet is the most important change that is usually made. There is some good news in that sometimes the cause of the renal failure can be discovered and, if it can be, then the prognosis is much more hopeful for your cat. If the cause can be fixed then in all likelihood the progression of the failure can be stalled entirely, even if the damage already done can't be reversed. Chronic renal failure is a very serious problem for older felines or kittens, but it can be managed once it is discovered.