High BUN Levels in Cats: Units, Context and Vet Questions

What does BUN 80 mean in a cat?

A number without units, a reference range and the patient assessment cannot answer that question. Laboratories may label related tests differently, including urea rather than BUN. Preserve the report's wording instead of copying a range from another website.

Cornell describes blood and urine assessment as part of evaluating CKD. One result should not replace that broader assessment. Cornell: CKD assessment. Ask your veterinarian which findings explain the result in your cat.

BUN, creatinine and SDMA are not interchangeable

Record each test separately with its own units and reference interval. Ask how the results fit together and whether urine findings or a repeat assessment are needed. Do not calculate a stage from BUN alone.

IRIS guidance is for clinical assessment and staging, not a BUN-only lookup table. If a stage is confirmed, record who confirmed it and when; do not replace that record with a guess based on a lab flag.

How should I respond to a high result?

Contact the clinic for the interpretation and follow-up plan. There is no generic “five ways to lower BUN” prescription here. Do not independently change fluids, medicines or protein intake to chase a number.

Tell the clinic about changes in eating, drinking, vomiting or behavior. If your cat is acutely unwell, seek urgent guidance rather than waiting to complete a tracker or compare internet ranges.

Questions and records for the next visit

• What units and reference interval apply to this result?
• How does it compare with the previous test from the same lab?
• What do the creatinine, SDMA and urine findings add?
• What follow-up is planned, and what changes should I report sooner?

Keep the original report alongside a dated note of the clinic's explanation. This makes a trend easier to discuss without turning your tracker into a diagnosis or dose calculator.