Chronic kidney disease in cats – signs and care

Updated 2026-09-30 · 2 sources

Based on: PDSA, International Cat Care (iCatCare)

Contact a vet today

Contact your vet today if you think your cat has this – it can become serious. It means your cat’s kidneys can no longer fully do their normal work.

What to do now

What you can do now

Contact your vet today.
Note when it started, how often it happens and what else you see.
Take a photo or short video to show the vet.
Keep fresh water available.
Let your cat rest somewhere calm.

Don't

Do not give any human medicine.
Do not wait if it gets worse.

What it is

Chronic kidney disease is a non-reversible disease in which the kidneys cannot fully perform their normal functions.^[2] It is common in cats, especially as they get older, and treatment may slow it down and reduce signs, but cannot cure it or reverse damage already done.^[1]

Signs

Drinking more
Peeing more
Eating less or going off food
Weight loss
Low energy or tiredness
Vomiting
Poor coat condition
Bad breath with a urine smell
Mouth ulcers
Sudden blindness

Causes and risk factors

Polycystic kidney disease (PKD)
Kidney tumours (cancer)
Infections
Toxins
Glomerulonephritis
Persian cats
British Shorthair cats

How a vet finds out

Blood tests
Urine tests

How vets treat it

Fluids or a drip
A diet change
Medication
Antibiotics if a specific cause is found
Anti-sickness medication
Improving your cat’s signs
Minimising complications
Supporting kidney function

Breeds prone to this

Veterinary charities list these breeds as more likely than others to get this condition. Each breed page lists the inherited conditions documented in the breed.

What the experts say

“Drinking more ; Peeing more ; Eating less ; Weight loss ; Vomiting ; Low energy (lethargy) ; Bad breath with a “urine” smell ; Mouth ulcers ; Messy or matted coat (due to not grooming) ; Sudden blindness (due to increased blood pressure)”
— PDSA [1]

“Weight loss ; Poor appetite (inappetence) ; Lethargy/tiredness ; Increased thirst (polydipsia) ; Increased urination (polyuria) ; Poor coat condition ; High blood pressure (hypertension) ; Vomiting ; Bad-smelling breath (halitosis)”
— International Cat Care (iCatCare) [2]

If your pet is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, is having a seizure or can't stand up: go to the nearest vet now.

Not sure how serious it is?

OkPaw asks a few quick questions about your pet and tells you in 30 seconds whether it can wait. Free on Google Play for Android.

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Common questions

What signs can chronic kidney disease cause in cats?

Signs can include increased thirst and urination, weight loss, poor appetite, tiredness, vomiting, poor coat condition and bad-smelling breath.^[1]^[2]

How does a vet diagnose chronic kidney disease?

A vet diagnoses it through blood and urine sample tests, looking for raised levels of certain substances in the blood and dilute urine.^[2]

Can chronic kidney disease be cured?

Chronic kidney disease cannot be cured or reversed, but treatment may slow it down, reduce signs, minimise complications and support kidney function.^[2]

Sources

How this page was made: written with the help of AI from the sources below, then checked claim by claim against those sources. Urgency levels follow OkPaw’s fixed safety rules. It is guidance, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages

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