Introduction
Kidney disease in cats can occur due to a variety of causes such as an underlying medical condition, injury, or malformed structures within the kidneys. However, regardless of the cause of kidney disease the symptoms are the same. Kidney disease is a potentially life threatening condition. In many cases the disease cannot be cured but it can be treated with lifelong medications. Early diagnosis and prompt treatments can prevent further damage from occurring to the kidneys. If you notice any of the following symptoms of kidney disease in your cat, take your cat to a veterinarian as soon as possible.
Symptoms of Kidney Disease
The kidneys’ main job is to flush toxins from the body. Kidney disease harms the kidneys’ ability to work properly, and toxins will begin to accumulate in the body. Excessive thirst and drinking are often the first signs of kidney disease; in an attempt to flush the toxins from the body, the cat will drink large amounts of liquids. As a result, increased trips to the litter box are necessary.
As kidney disease progresses, the cat may experience a lack of appetite or be unable to eat. Weight loss occurs, the cat may become anemic and have pale gums, and the cat may stop grooming itself. Additional symptoms of kidney disease include dehydration, vomiting, ulcers in the mouth or on the tongue, and seizures. Kidney disease can also cause high blood pressure, and as a result the cat may go blind; pet owners will notice a drastic change to their cat’s eye such as an increase in pupil size and cloudy appearance to the eye.