Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 3: Signs of kidney problems
• Method 2 of 3: Checking Your Kidney at Home
• Method 3 of 3: Making a diagnosis
• Tips
• Warnings

Unfortunately, many cats suffer from chronic kidney disease. Although kidney disease cannot be cured, there are many ways to slow it down if diagnosed early enough. If the cat has become lethargic and has lost interest in food, take it to the veterinarian. The doctor will likely order blood and urine tests to help him make a correct diagnosis. Then, work with your veterinarian to develop a treatment plan that will help improve your pet's quality of life.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Signs of kidney problems

1. 1 Watch how the cat drinks the water. Check the water level in the cat bowl every morning. Find out if your pet has started drinking more water. This can also be determined by whether you have recently had to clean a wet cat litter box more often. As a rule, cats are water efficient and do not need a lot of water, so if the animal starts drinking more and visits its litter more often, it may have kidney problems.
   • Kidney disease causes the cat to lose more fluid in the urine and needs more water to compensate for this loss. Diseased kidneys cannot properly concentrate urine and leave water in the blood.
   • If a cat eats liquid food, it needs even less water compared to its counterparts that eat dry food. In this case, the animal receives part of the water along with food. Because of this, liquid food is usually preferred for those cats that may have kidney problems.
2. 2 See if your cat is vomiting and showing an interest in food. If your pet refuses to eat, it may be trying to avoid abdominal pain in this way. Kidney problems can lead to uremia, which is accompanied by painful inflammation of the stomach. In this case, cats often lose their appetite and may even vomit blood due to ulceration.
   • Uremia develops in part because the kidneys are unable to effectively remove toxins from the blood.
3. 3 Check your cat's hair for dullness or odor. Kidney problems can cause your cat to develop painful sores on the gums, in which case it is unlikely to want to brush its coat. The animal can completely refuse to care for the coat. As a result, the coat can look dull and dirty.
4. 4 See if your cat seems lethargic. Cats love to sleep. However, look to see if your pet is sleeping more than usual, and if he has lost interest in his favorite games and activities. If the cat behaves too sluggishly, it may be anemic or low potassium levels due to kidney disease. The accumulation of waste products in the body can also worsen the animal's well-being.
   • Kidney disease can cause blood problems because the kidneys are involved in repairing blood cells, regulating electrolytes, including potassium, and removing toxic substances from the body.
   • Dull or white eyelids (pink in healthy cats) also indicate anemia caused by kidney disease.

Method 2 of 3: Checking Your Kidney at Home

1. 1 Check for dehydration. Kidney disease can cause dehydration. Do the following: take the cat by the scruff and pull it up slightly, then release it. If the skin on the nape of the neck drops quickly, then everything is in order. If the skin sags slowly or remains raised, the cat may be dehydrated.
2. 2 Try chatting with your cat to see how it is feeling. Sometimes it can be difficult to determine if the cat is really bad or if she just decided to lie down. Call your cat and see how she reacts to this. If your pet won't approach you, see if he lifted his head or raised a voice in response. If the cat's gaze remains dim and she does not respond to your call, this may indicate that she has kidney problems.
   • Cats have a very heavy head compared to the rest of the body and require a lot of muscle effort to keep it straight. When potassium levels are low, cats usually bow their heads.
   • However, this symptom is quite rare, and its absence does not mean that the cat does not have kidney problems.
3. 3 Check for sores in your cat's mouth. If the kidneys do not remove toxins from the body, the cat may develop ulcers in the stomach, throat, and gums. Gently grab the cat's head and slowly open its mouth. Look inside and see if there are any red or irritated areas in your mouth. Ulcers may appear as white or gray spots. They can be found on the gums and under the tongue.
   • Ulcers can cause your cat to have a bad breath.

Method 3 of 3: Making a diagnosis

1. 1 Ask your veterinarian for a urinalysis. If you suspect your pet has kidney problems, the first thing your veterinarian should do is order a urinalysis.The doctor will take a urine sample from the cat and send it to a laboratory where its density will be determined to see how diluted it is.
   • The same urine sample can be used to detect other diseases, such as diabetes.
   • The veterinarian may also prescribe a biochemical test, in which the ratio of protein-creatinine in the urine is determined. This test helps to find out if the low urine concentration is actually due to kidney disease or shock.
2. 2 Ask your veterinarian to take a blood test from your pet to rule out other possible illnesses. While blood tests may not always detect kidney problems in cats, they can help narrow down the list of possible health problems, such as diabetes or an infectious disease.
   • Your veterinarian may order sequential blood tests to monitor the progress of your kidney disease and make sure it hasn't caused other complications, such as anemia.
3. 3 Visit your veterinarian regularly to check your pet's blood pressure. Kidney problems often lead to high blood pressure. Measure your blood pressure every 1-2 weeks to help monitor the progress of the disease and assess the effectiveness of treatment. As a rule, no prior appointment is required for such a quick procedure.
   • It is important to monitor your blood pressure. High blood pressure can cause serious complications such as blindness. If necessary, your veterinarian will prescribe medications to help lower your pet's blood pressure.
4. 4 Ask your veterinarian about a kidney biopsy. If your veterinarian suspects cancer may be causing kidney problems, he or she may take a sample of the cat's kidney tissue. Discuss this procedure in detail with your veterinarian as it is performed under general anesthesia.

Tips

• If a sociable and cheerful cat has begun to avoid your company and is increasingly trying to retire, this serves as another sign that she has a health problem (possibly kidney disease).
• Chronic kidney disease is ubiquitous in older cats. If your veterinarian diagnoses your pet with chronic kidney disease, they may be able to determine the stage of your pet, which can help guide more effective treatment.

Warnings

• If you suspect your cat has kidney problems, you need to act immediately. Make an appointment with your veterinarian right away for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.