Practical articles for cat owners navigating kidney disease.
Keep your cat's original vet reports, dated files and appointment questions organized with a simple folder system, document index and visit-packet checklist.
Organize your cat photos with five simple steps: a home folder, dated filenames, short captions, a monthly selection and a backup copy.
Compare exact renal cat food formulas, nutrient units, textures and cost. Questions to discuss with your vet before choosing Hill's k/d or Royal Canin.
Your vet said your cat's creatinine is 3.0. Here's what that number means, how IRIS staging works, what SDMA and UPC tell you, and what to do next.
What does a high BUN result mean in cats? Keep the lab's units and reference range, review related results and prepare questions for your veterinary team.
Understand your cat's SDMA result alongside creatinine, urine tests and trends. Questions for your vet, not a generic plan to lower a number.
A complete beginner's guide to SQ fluids — supplies, preparation, step-by-step technique, a 3-week training plan, and troubleshooting common problems.
Why is my cat drinking so much water all of a sudden? Increased thirst is one of the earliest signs of CKD. Here's what counts as too much, other possible causes, and what to tell your vet.
The complete IRIS staging table for cats: creatinine and SDMA cutoffs for every stage, blood pressure and proteinuria substages, how vets assign the stage, and what it really means for prognosis.
The most common diagnosis stage. What Stage 2 means, realistic life expectancy, when to switch to a renal diet, and a practical daily care plan.
Stage 1 is often found by accident. Learn how it's diagnosed and the early interventions that can keep your cat stable for years.
The full Stage 3 treatment toolkit — SQ fluids, anti-nausea meds, appetite stimulants, phosphorus binders — and how to protect quality of life.
A gentle, honest guide to end-stage care: intensive options, palliative comfort, quality-of-life assessment, and knowing when it's time to let go.
Why CKD cats vomit (it's the uremic toxins, not a hairball), what morning foam and empty-stomach vomiting mean, at-home relief that works, and the red flags that need a vet today.
A CKD cat eating less needs veterinary guidance. Record intake, symptoms and medicines, and prepare useful questions without delaying care.
Dehydration drives most CKD symptoms. How to check skin tent and gum moisture, the everyday hydration tricks, and when home SQ fluids become the right call.
Fat loss vs muscle loss — why the distinction decides your strategy. A weekly weighing plan, calorie-dense feeding tactics, and when weight loss is a red flag.
Dehydration and low potassium make CKD cats constipated — sometimes dangerously. Safe fiber fixes, why SQ fluids often solve it, and when it's an emergency.
Loose stools in a CKD cat carry extra risk because they accelerate dehydration. The common causes, the 10-day food transition fix, and the red-flag signs.
Bad breath can have dental and other causes, including kidney disease. Learn why smell alone cannot diagnose uremia and what to discuss with your vet.