A common problem in older cats is declining kidney health. One estimate is that more than 30 per cent of cats older than 15 years have kidney insufficiency. The International Renal Interest Society (IRIS) has a classification system based on clinical symptoms and urine and blood test results, and this assists vets in planning individual treatments for “kidney cats”.
Causes are many and may include infections, toxins, trauma, kidney-toxic drugs, congenital kidney disease and metabolic or hormone imbalances. But in most cases the underlying cause isn’t known.
The pathological changes seen
