A sick-looking tabby cat showing symptoms of chronic kidney disease, lying down and looking lethargic.

Common Causes and Early Detection of CKD in Cats

Receiving a CKD diagnosis for your cat can be overwhelming—it’s scary, confusing, and leaves you wondering what the future holds. But here’s the good news: you’re not alone, and there are things you can do to help your kitty live a longer, healthier life. Early intervention and understanding the causes behind CKD can drastically improve your cat’s quality of life. And that’s exactly what we’re here to explore. In the first part of this series, we talked about the progression of CKD and the signs to look out for. Now, we’ll help you understand how you can take action now—before the disease advances further. This post will cover the most common (root) causes of CKD, why routine vet visits are a must-have, and the diagnostic tests that may be run to detect CKD.

Early detection can make all the difference, and while CKD is serious, it’s not a death sentence. By being proactive and informed, you can help your cat feel better, stay healthier, and live their best life—starting today. Let’s jump in!

Common Causes of CKD in Cats

Here are some of the most common root causes of CKD in cats. But first, what exactly is a root cause? Unlike treating symptoms that only scratch the surface, identifying the root cause means digging deeper to understand why your cat’s kidneys are struggling in the first place. Holistic veterinarians are like medical detectives—they don’t just stop when symptoms disappear. They aim to find the underlying reason your cat is showing signs of disease and work to heal the body at its source. By addressing the root cause, not only can we prevent CKD from worsening, but we may also help your cat on a path to lasting recovery and optimal well-being. Let’s dive into the common culprits behind CKD.

Dehydration

Dehydration is a leading cause of CKD in cats. Cats naturally aren’t big drinkers—they evolved to get most of their moisture from prey, not from sipping water. But for cats eating primarily dry food, hydration becomes a real issue. With only about 7-10% moisture content in kibble, they simply aren’t getting the water their kidneys need to function properly. Over time, this chronic dehydration puts strain on the kidneys, making them work harder to filter waste and maintain the body’s water balance. This constant overdrive can lead to kidney injury and, eventually, CKD.

Why Hydration is Key for Kidney Health

Your cat’s kidneys have one primary job: to filter out toxins and maintain proper fluid balance in the body. Without enough water, the kidneys are forced to work overtime, struggling to keep up with the body’s needs. This ongoing strain is what leads to kidney damage over time, eventually contributing to CKD.

The Problem with Dry Food

Most dry kibble contains only a fraction of the moisture cats need daily. Even if your cat is drinking water regularly, they’re likely not getting enough to make up for the lack of moisture in their food. This puts strain on the kidneys, reducing their ability to function properly over time.

Key Issues:

  • Inadequate Water Intake: Cats on a dry food diet are at a much higher risk of dehydration. Even if they’re drinking water, it’s usually not enough to compensate for the lack of moisture in their food.
  • Toxin Build-Up: Without enough water, toxins in the bloodstream become more concentrated, making the kidneys work harder to filter them out. This ongoing stress weakens the kidneys and leads to kidney damage.
  • Difficulty Concentrating Urine: Dehydration makes it harder for the kidneys to concentrate urine and flush out waste, which is an early sign of CKD.

Diet

Diet plays a huge role in your cat’s overall health, and when it comes to Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), the wrong diet can be a significant contributor. Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning their bodies are designed to process a meat-based, moisture-rich diet. But unfortunately, most commercial cat foods—especially dry kibble—fall far short of providing what cats truly need. Here’s why that matters:

The Problem with Dry Kibble:

Dry kibble, a convenient staple for many cat owners, is one of the main dietary causes of CKD. Why? It comes down to two big issues: moisture content and quality of ingredients.

  • Lack of Moisture: Cats evolved in the wild getting most of their hydration from their prey, which contains around 70-80% moisture. In stark contrast, dry kibble contains only about 7-10% moisture. This chronic dehydration forces your cat’s kidneys to work overtime to filter waste and maintain proper hydration levels. Over time, this constant strain can wear out the kidneys, leading to damage and, eventually, CKD.
  • Low-Quality Ingredients: Commercial kibble is often packed with low-quality proteins, meat byproducts, fillers, and additives that are hard for your cat to digest. Many kibbles contain plant-based proteins, grains, and carbohydrates that obligate carnivores like cats aren’t designed to process efficiently. When the kidneys have to filter out the waste products of these low-quality ingredients, they take on an additional burden. This ongoing stress can worsen kidney function over time.
  • High Phosphorus: Many commercial cat foods are high in phosphorus, which can further damage already compromised kidneys. In healthy cats, the kidneys filter out excess phosphorus, but in cats with compromised kidney function, phosphorus builds up in the blood, causing further kidney damage.

Switching to a diet rich in moisture and high-quality protein from fresh, raw, or lightly cooked meals can help prevent CKD and support kidney health. More on this in the next post of the series…

Gut Health

In the previous sections, we talked about how dehydration and a poor diet—especially dry kibble—can really strain your cat’s kidneys and play a big role in Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). But here’s something you might not have thought about yet: your cat’s gut health.

Now, I know it can feel overwhelming when there’s so much to keep track of, but gut health is one of the most important and often overlooked pieces of the CKD puzzle. When your cat’s digestive system isn’t working well, toxins that should be eliminated start building up in the bloodstream. And guess which organs have to work extra hard to deal with that? Yep—the kidneys. They’re already struggling, and this added burden can make everything worse.

This is where something called the gut-kidney axis comes into play—a back-and-forth connection between your cat’s gut and their kidneys. When the balance of bacteria in the gut gets thrown off (a condition called dysbiosis), harmful toxins can leak into the bloodstream and cause even more damage to the kidneys. It’s a vicious cycle. But when the gut is healthy, it actually helps protect the kidneys by reducing inflammation and supporting the immune system.

We’ve already touched on how diet affects everything, and that’s true here, too. If your cat is eating commercial, processed food—especially kibble—it can upset the balance of gut bacteria and make things worse. But by switching to a diet rich in moisture and high-quality proteins, you can help restore balance and ease the strain on their kidneys.

This is where Dr. Katie’s course became a total game-changer for me. She breaks down gut health step by step, showing how to rebuild it from the ground up. Through her guidance, I learned how to add probiotics, digestive enzymes, and natural supplements into my cat’s routine, which has made such a difference for Joey’s health. Supporting his gut helped ease the strain on his kidneys, and I truly believe it’s one of the reasons he’s still thriving today.

So, if your cat is dealing with CKD, don’t forget to take a closer look at their gut health. By focusing on their diet and adding the right supplements, you can make a huge difference. It might just be one of the most powerful—and often overlooked—ways to support your cat’s kidneys and help them live a longer, healthier life.

Environmental Factors

Environmental factors play a much bigger role in your cat’s kidney health than you might realize. It’s not just about what they eat or drink—what’s in their environment can also have a lasting impact on their kidneys. Many common household products and chemicals can be harmful, and because cats are such curious creatures, they’re often more exposed to these dangers than we think.

Let’s start with household toxins. Everyday cleaning products, air fresheners, certain medications, antifreeze, and even plants like lilies can all pose serious risks to your cat’s kidneys. Antifreeze is particularly dangerous because it’s sweet-tasting and tempting to pets, but even a small amount can cause acute kidney failure. Lilies are another common culprit—every part of the plant is toxic to cats, and even a small exposure can lead to kidney damage.

Common Environmental Toxins:

  • Antifreeze: Even a tiny amount of this sweet-tasting chemical can lead to acute kidney failure.
  • Lilies: All parts of the lily plant are toxic to cats, and ingestion can cause severe kidney damage.
  • Household cleaning products: Many conventional cleaning sprays and detergents contain chemicals that can harm your cat’s organs, including their kidneys.
  • Rat poison and pesticides: These toxic substances can lead to kidney damage or failure if accidentally ingested by your cat.

But it’s not just about toxins in the physical environment—stress is another silent factor that can take a toll on your cat’s kidney health. Cats are incredibly sensitive and often pick up on the emotional energy around them. When you're stressed, they can feel it, and over time, that stress can weaken their immune system and increase oxidative damage in their body. This internal stress can place extra strain on their kidneys, worsening existing conditions like CKD.

In short, being mindful of what’s in your home and managing stress can make a significant difference in protecting your cat’s kidneys. By creating a healthier, safer environment, you’re giving your cat the best chance at a longer, happier life—especially if they’re already dealing with CKD.

Other Causes

While dehydration, poor diet, and environmental factors are significant contributors to Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) in cats, other underlying issues can also play a major role. These causes may not always be within our control, but understanding them can help you take proactive steps to support your cat's health and catch kidney issues early.

  • Genetic Predispositions: Some cats are simply more prone to kidney disease due to their genetics. Breeds like Persians and Himalayans are especially susceptible to conditions like polycystic kidney disease (PKD), which can lead to kidney failure as they age. In these cases, early detection is key, so if your cat falls into a high-risk breed category, regular vet visits are even more critical. PKD is a slow-progressing disease, but monitoring and managing it early can greatly extend your cat’s quality of life.
  • Secondary Conditions: Certain health conditions can put extra strain on your cat's kidneys, eventually contributing to CKD. These can include chronic inflammation, infections, cancer, and common feline diseases like hyperthyroidism or hypertension (high blood pressure). In particular, FeLV (Feline Leukemia Virus) and FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus) are known to weaken the immune system, leaving the kidneys more vulnerable. Additionally, dental disease is a sneaky but dangerous culprit. Persistent bacterial infections in the mouth can travel through the bloodstream, reaching the kidneys and causing damage over time. This makes regular dental care a vital part of CKD prevention.
  • Old Age: Just like humans, cats' bodies go through wear and tear as they age. Kidney function naturally declines in senior cats, especially as inflammation becomes more common and the body’s ability to repair itself weakens. Cats over the age of 10 are at a much higher risk for CKD, which is why regular vet check-ups, bloodwork, and urine tests become more important as they enter their golden years. The sooner CKD is detected, the better chance you have of managing the disease and slowing its progression.

This list covers some of the most common root causes of CKD, but it’s not exhaustive. There are many factors that can influence your cat’s kidney health, and CKD can result from a combination of issues. However, understanding these key causes gives you a strong foundation for taking proactive steps to provide the right support for your cat. While some factors—like genetics and aging—are inevitable, being informed and proactive about regular check-ups and addressing secondary conditions early can make a huge difference in preventing or managing CKD.

Diagnosing CKD in Cats

Understanding the root causes of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is an important first step in protecting your cat's health. By addressing factors like dehydration, poor diet, and environmental and emotional toxins, you're already making strides in prevention and management. But even with the best care, CKD can develop silently over time, which is why early detection is crucial. The sooner you catch kidney issues, the more options you have to slow the progression and improve your cat’s quality of life. Next, we’ll discuss how a vet will diagnose CKD, the tests they’ll most likely run, and why routine vet visits are SO important.

Routine Vet Visits: Detecting CKD Early

Cats are experts at hiding when something’s wrong, so regular vet visits—especially as they get older—are key for catching Chronic Kidney Disease early. Often, by the time you notice symptoms, CKD has already progressed. But with routine checkups, your vet can pick up on subtle changes in kidney function before things get worse.

For healthy adult cats, once a year is usually enough. But for senior cats (typically 11 years and older), twice a year is ideal to stay ahead of any potential kidney issues. During these visits, your vet will likely run blood tests and urinalysis, even if your cat seems perfectly healthy. These tests can reveal hidden problems, giving you more time to act and keep your kitty feeling their best.

Diagnostic Tests for CKD

Diagnosing CKD isn’t just a one-and-done process. It often takes a combination of tests to get the full picture of how well your cat’s kidneys are functioning. Here’s a breakdown of what tests could be recommended, depending on your cat’s situation:

  • SDMA Test: This is one of the earliest indicators of kidney dysfunction and can catch CKD even before symptoms appear. Think of it as your early warning system, detecting issues long before other tests might flag anything.
  • Bloodwork (Complete Blood Profile, BUN, Creatinine): This is where we really start to understand how well the kidneys are doing their job. BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen) and creatinine levels help assess how effectively the kidneys are filtering waste from the blood. Higher levels mean the kidneys aren’t working as they should.
  • Urinalysis: This test looks at how well your cat’s kidneys are concentrating urine and can detect other issues like infections or excess protein in the urine. If your cat’s urine is too dilute, it could be a sign that the kidneys are struggling.
  • Urine Specific Gravity and Protein Tests: These help assess how much protein is being lost through the kidneys. The UPC Ratio measures protein loss and can tell your vet if the kidneys are in worse shape than bloodwork alone reveals.
  • Imaging (Ultrasounds, X-rays): Sometimes, vets may recommend imaging to get a better look at the structure of your cat’s kidneys. This can help rule out other issues or assess the extent of the kidney damage.
  • Blood Pressure: High blood pressure is a common complication in cats with CKD. High blood pressure puts extra stress on the kidneys, heart, and blood vessels - increasing the risk for vision loss, stroke, and worsening kidney disease. Regular blood pressure checks should be done if your cat suffers from CKD.
  • Urine Culture: Sometimes, CKD can come with an added complication—urinary tract infections. A urine culture can help determine if there’s an infection that needs antibiotics, which is especially important for CKD management.

Assessing Your Cat: What Vets Look For

Assessment checklist for feline chronic kidney disease (CKD), including diet history, laboratory values, and patient assessment.

In addition to running diagnostic tests, your vet will also take a close look at your cat’s overall health by checking a few physical and behavioral signs. These can help catch CKD early and give you a better idea of how your kitty is doing. Here are a few things they’ll focus on:

  • Body Condition Score (BCS): This evaluates your cat's overall body fat and muscle mass. Cats with CKD often lose weight and muscle, making the BCS a helpful tool for monitoring disease progression.
Feline body condition score chart showing different levels of ideal, underweight, and overweight conditions in cats with chronic kidney disease.
  • Body Weight: Unexplained weight loss can be one of the earliest signs of CKD. Your vet will track weight changes over time to look for gradual declines, which can indicate kidney problems.
  • Muscle Condition Score (MCS): CKD can cause muscle wasting, especially along the spine and hind legs. Your vet will assess your cat’s muscle tone to identify any loss that might not be obvious from weight changes alone.

  • Hydration Status: Dehydration is a common issue in cats with CKD. Your vet may check for signs like dry gums, poor skin elasticity, or sunken eyes to assess your cat’s hydration levels.
  • Water Consumption: Increased thirst and frequent drinking are often early signs of CKD. Your vet will likely ask about how much water your cat is drinking, as excessive water consumption can be a sign of kidney problems.
  • Coat Condition: Cats with CKD may show a decline in coat quality, such as dry, flaky skin or a greasy, unkempt appearance. This can indicate poor grooming habits due to reduced energy or discomfort.
  • Appetite and Current Diet: Cats with CKD often have decreased appetites. Your vet will ask about your cat’s eating habits and current diet to ensure they’re getting the right nutrients to support kidney health.
  • Litter Box Habits: Your vet may ask if you’ve noticed any changes in urination, such as more frequent urination or increased urine volume. These can be early signs of kidney dysfunction.
  • Energy Levels: A drop in energy or increased lethargy could be a sign of CKD. Your vet will assess your cat’s behavior and ask if they’re sleeping more than usual or showing less interest in play and activity.
  • Current Supplements and Medications: Your vet will want to know if your cat is on any supplements or medications, as some can affect kidney function. They’ll ensure that any supplements or treatments are appropriate for your cat’s condition.

By evaluating these physical, behavioral, and lifestyle factors in combination with lab tests, your vet can develop a more comprehensive understanding of how CKD is impacting your cat’s health. This holistic assessment will also help them determine the stage of the disease more accurately, allowing for better-tailored treatment and management strategies to slow its progression and improve your cat's quality of life.

Wrap It Up

As we wrap up this second part of our CKD mini-series, you now have a better understanding of the common causes of Chronic Kidney Disease in cats, how to catch it early through regular vet visits, and the importance of diagnostic tests. These proactive steps are essential for managing the disease and helping your cat live their healthiest life.

But the journey doesn’t end here—there’s so much more you can do to support your kitty. In the next part of our series, we’ll dive into holistic approaches to managing CKD, focusing on how hydration, diet, and natural remedies can work together to give your cat the best care possible. We’ll also share some homemade diet recipes designed to support kidney health and talk about supplements that can ease the burden on those hardworking kidneys.

Stay tuned for Part 3, where we explore how you can take a natural, holistic approach to managing CKD and see real results for your kitty!

DID YOU MISS PART 1 OF THE SERIES?

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Understanding Lab Results

FAQs

1. What causes Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) in cats?

There are several causes of CKD in cats, including chronic dehydration, poor diet (especially dry kibble), genetic predispositions, and exposure to toxins such as antifreeze or lilies. Underlying health conditions like infections or high blood pressure can also contribute to kidney damage over time.

2. How often should I take my cat to the vet if they have CKD?

For cats with CKD, it's recommended to visit the vet at least twice a year, especially if your cat is a senior. Regular checkups allow for monitoring kidney function through bloodwork and urinalysis, helping to manage the disease more effectively and slow its progression.

3. What diagnostic tests are used to confirm CKD in cats?

Your vet may recommend several tests, including bloodwork (BUN and creatinine levels), SDMA testing, urinalysis, and urine protein-to-creatinine ratio. These tests help assess how well your cat's kidneys are functioning and can detect early signs of kidney disease even before symptoms appear.

Disclaimer

The information provided in this blog post is for educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. It is not intended to replace consultation with a qualified holistic veterinarian or professional feline specialist. Every cat is unique, and individual circumstances may vary. We recommend consulting with a licensed veterinarian before making any changes to your cat's diet, lifestyle, or healthcare regimen. Additionally, we encourage readers to conduct their own research and consider multiple sources of information before making any decisions regarding their cat's health.

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