There is no doubt Chronic Kidney Disease is killing our cats. Nearly 40% of all adult cats in the US will experience CKD, and even worse- kittens as young as 6 months old are being diagnosed. It’s truly awful. Zoetis, a veterinary pharmaceutical and testing company, recently acquired Basepaws, a once feline DNA testing company. Now they are spreading the word about their latest and greatest test, a feline CKD test using saliva to analyze the microbiome. But is this really necessary? Do we need to make our cats give up blood, spit and *hit on command every time a potential illness crops up? Short answer, no.

Can certain diagnostic tools work together over time to create a full picture of feline health? Perhaps. But Chronic Kidney Disease can be both prevented, as well as fully cured. Are some cats more pre-disposed to suffering from renal insufficiency at some point in life? Sure, if their mother’s diet was poor or she was under stress, vaccinated, and the like. And like some humans, cats like Persians and Ragdolls and Siamese and others of limited blood lines can share genetic codes which restrict the break down of particular types of proteins- similar to MTHFR pathways in human beings. So why then, are pet food manufacturers continuing to sell food which is known to exacerbate these issues in cats? And why are more tests being created to predict a disease that is 90% preventable? Let’s look at what CKD really is, and what can be done to treat and prevent it.

Kidney Disease, aka Renal Insufficiency, What is it?

There are lots of complex discussions and diagrams out there which can explain in painstaking detail. We won’t cover that here. Instead, we want to give you the straightforward information you can use right now.

Simply stated, the kidney are the central processing units for all proteins in the body (feline and human). The adrenal glands sit on top of the kidneys and produce vital hormones in the body, such as cortisol. The kidneys take the available proteins in the blood stream and covert them to amino acids, the building blocks of all life. RNA, DNA- ALL building blocks of life require amino acids. And cats are obligate carnivores, meaning their kidneys are even more important for their survival, as they have to have high amounts of proteins- compared to other animals- to keep their bodies functioning properly. So you can begin to see the huge problem that happens when a cat’s kidneys become even slightly damaged or inflamed.

Interestingly enough, almost ALL of the mainstream literature surrounding feline kidney disease centers around the fact that kidneys filter the blood, maintain electrolyte balance, as well as blood pressure. All of this is true as well as important. Which is why cats with CKD drink a lot of water and have awful electrolyte imbalances which lead to blood pressure issues and heart failure. Got it. But no one is discussing the obvious- poor protein sources ingested in the body inflame the kidneys and set this terrible chain reaction in motion in the first place. Phosphorous and calcium imbalances are rife in cats with CKD. And where do these problems come from? An unbalanced intake of nutrients. A cat is not born with CKD. They develop it over time. Which means mitigating external factors can mitigate kidney failure.

CKD is usually broken down in to stages I-4, Stage I being the very beginning and Stage 4 being a few days or weeks from death. Know that right now about 2/3 of a kidney can be damaged before cats show noticeable symptoms to humans. However, we don’t need expensive diagnostics to know there is a problem. Here are some clues:

1. Any kind of existing FIV, FeLV, FIP diagnosis

2. Cat or kitten with a dry, rough coat

3. Underweight or overweight

4. Anemia (which contributes to rough coat)

5. Excessive water drinking and litterbox issues

6. Slowdown in activity levels

7. Eye or heart conditions

It cannot be overstated that CKD in cats does not exist in isolation. There are always multiple system issues involved. It’s not enough to simply restrict protein because this will cause heart problems. Also, messing with the calcium and phosphate balance in food can create severe blood pressure and liver problems. All systems are connected. A strightforward dietary adjustment alone can help ant sick cat recover much faster.

Diet 101: Protein Restriction is Deadly for Cats

Let’s clarify- restricting the WRONG protein sources will kill your cat over time. Cat bodies need meat protein. Not denatured (dead) protein found in kibble of any kind. Restricting real meat protein is terrible for a sick cat. Why? A cat’s kidneys were biologically designed to break down mouse, rabbit, and small mammal proteins in raw form. They are apex predators for a reason. Their kidneys know how to break down these proteins and extract all the amino acids they need to flourish, which then get released in to the rest of the body. The amino acids in turn supply life to every single organ in the body, which is why a cat in kidney failure will experience heart failure, vestibular disease, and everything else. No amino acids flowing back in to the body means no proper bodily functions.

But we don’t let our cats hunt any more. They live in bedrooms, basements, and carpet-filled homes with little connection to their native environments. This stresses the body. Then we add artificial chemicals by way of flea sprays, wormers, vaccines, antibiotics, and over-processed proteins by way of dry food. It’s no wonder our cats get sick! But back to the proteins. Education is essential. Here is a lovely starting point for incorporating more meat in to your cat’s diet.

Let’s look at conventional medicine’s approach to feline CKD:

However, this method of care completely negates the core of the issue again, which is the SOURCE of the protein, and the bioavailability of the protein source as well. Not all proteins are created equal. In fact, two very famous prescription diet brand cat foods use corn meal towards their total protein volume. Cats don’t need corn in the first place, as it causes inflammation in the body. Let’s look at a more sensible discussion:

The topic of what to feed our cats is a contentious one at times, but it need not be. Deep down we all know our cats are hunters, no matter how sweet and soft they may seem while asleep. Yet, like humans, many of our loved ones are addicted to the salty, crunchy carbohydrate loveliness found in bags across the world. It’s not their fault- we humans were told it was the best thing to feed them! And, it is far more convenient to open a bag of prepared food than slice up chicken parts. So how do we work through this and find common ground? How can we help our cats who may be struggling but not break the bank or spend hours each week preparing food? Glad you asked! In our next email, we will share with you some practical ways you can help your CKD cat feel better, and prevent CKD altogether in a healthy cat.

As a side note, on October 1st we will be pre-launching 100 units our very own Feline Kidney Revive to help cats and kittens struggling with kidney function. Our own FIP/FeLV/FCV cat, Dahlia Princess, guided us to the protein source she needed and it has been a lifesaver for our sick little ones ever since. If you are interested in sharing some with your own feline companions, stay tuned!

Until next time, be well. And Always Be Curious!