Introduction
Chronic renal failure in cats is a condition in which the kidneys begin to deteriorate over time. How badly a cat’s kidneys are affected by chronic renal failure depends on what caused the condition to develop and when the condition was diagnosed.
Causes of Chronic Renal Failure
Age is the #1 Factor
There are a number of contributing factors which can result in chronic renal failure, but by far the number one cause of chronic renal failure in cats is age. The majority of these cases are diagnosed in cats over 7 years of age. Some older cats develop this condition as a natural process of aging, and other cats develop the condition as they age due to genetics.
Other Causes
Additional causes of chronic renal failure include exposure to poisons or toxins, structural problems within the kidneys themselves, kidney stones, chronic urinary obstruction often caused by a narrow urethra or bladder stones, as a side effect of some medications, and as a side effect of lymphoma cancer. All of these causes result in a gradual decline and deterioration of the kidneys, which result in chronic renal failure.
Most Cases Cannot be Prevented
Often chronic renal failure has no identifiable cause at all. The fact of the matter is that the majority of chronic renal failure cases can not be prevented- they can only be treated. As this condition occurs most often in cats over 7, veterinarians now highly recommend that cats age 7 and over receive a yearly blood screening test to check for kidney function. While chronic renal failure can not be prevented, early diagnosis and supportive treatment can limit the amount of damage to the kidneys.