Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Caring for cats with chronic kidney disease in the UK
By Elliott, Jenna et al.·Published in Journal of feline medicine and surgery·2025·University of Bristol, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Owners' experiences of caring for cats with chronic kidney disease in the UK.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A survey of 100 cat owners in the UK revealed that nearly all of them felt anxious about caring for their cats with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Most owners were aware of their cat's CKD stage and were feeding them a special renal diet, often based on their veterinarian's advice. Many were also using treatments like phosphate binders and natural supplements. However, the emotional toll was significant, with many owners reporting that their daily lives had changed and that they felt overwhelmed by worry about their cat's health and quality of life. This highlights the need for veterinarians to provide more support and education to help owners manage their pets' CKD effectively.
People also search for: cat chronic kidney disease diet · how to care for cat with kidney disease · cat kidney disease anxiety · treatments for cat kidney disease
Abstract
ObjectivesThe aim of the present study was to describe current practices in the management of feline chronic kidney disease (CKD), and the experiences and emotions of caring for a cat with CKD, reported by UK cat owners.MethodsA survey study was conducted of UK owners of cats with CKD that included multiple-choice, Likert scale and open questions reported using descriptive statistics.ResultsResponses from 100 UK owners of cats with CKD were included in the study. Of the owners, 73% had knowledge of their cat's International Renal Interest Society stage and 76% were feeding their cat a renal diet, with 70% reporting that veterinary recommendation had influenced this decision. Of the owners, 35% were administering phosphate binders, 26% natural supplements and 25% antiproteinuric therapies to their cat. Of concern was the high number of owners reporting feelings of anxiety (99%) as well as other negative emotions associated with caring for their cat with CKD. Extreme worry, anxiety or concern were high at both the time of CKD diagnosis and survey completion, related to disease prognosis (72% and 50%, respectively) and cats' quality of life (63% and 46%, respectively). Many owners agreed that their daily routine had changed a lot since their cat was diagnosed with CKD (66%) and that caring for their cat negatively impacted or restricted their own life (37%).Conclusions and relevanceAlthough owners' knowledge and understanding of their cat's CKD and appropriate management was generally in line with expert guidelines, the finding that many owners reported experiencing feelings of anxiety associated with caring for their cat, suggesting caregiver burden, was concerning. This highlights the impact that veterinary professionals, including veterinary nurses, may have in providing greater education and support to enhance the relationship and communication with owners of cats with CKD, thus helping to alleviate anxiety and ensure ongoing successful CKD management.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40235283/