CatHealth #CatsAndKidneyDisease #PetCareTips
ELI5: Why Do Cats in Captivity Develop Kidney Disease?
Welcome fur-parents! 🐾 Ever wondered why our beloved indoor kitties often face kidney issues? Let’s break it down in simple terms!
Captivity vs. Wild: The Data Dilemma 🐱🌲
Are captive cats really more prone to kidney disease?
Yes, it seems so. Captive cats have higher rates, but it’s tricky to gather data on wild cats.
- Easier to Monitor: We monitor pets closely, so kidney disease gets noticed.
- Wild Predators Don’t Get Checked: Wild cats often die from other causes before we even think to check their kidneys.
Diet Differences😻🥩
Is diet a factor?
Absolutely! Captivity means different diets.
- Dry Food Dilemma: Many house cats eat dry kibble, which isn’t very hydrating.
- Dehydration Risks: Cats naturally get water from prey. Dry food lacks water, stressing kidneys over time.
- Better Options: Wet food or adding water to dry food can help.
Genetics and Aging 📜🧬
Do genetics and age play a role?
You bet!
- Longevity: Domesticated cats live longer, increasing chances of kidney issues.
- Genetic Factors: Some breeds are genetically predisposed to kidney problems.
Environment and Lifestyle🏠🛋️
How does the indoor environment impact cats?
- Less Exercise: Limited exercise can lead to obesity, adding pressure on organs.
- Stress: Changes at home or lack of stimulation can stress cats, indirectly affecting kidney health.
Regular Check-Ups and Hydration Tips 🩺💧
What can you do to help your cat?
- Routine Vet Visits: Regular check-ups can catch issues early.
- Ensure Hydration: Provide fresh water, use cat fountains, and consider wet food.
- Engage Your Cat: Keep your cat active with toys and playtime.
Conclusion: Helping Your Feline Friend 🐾❤️
In a nutshell, cats in captivity face unique challenges. Diet, genetics, environment all play a role in kidney health. By understanding these factors and taking proactive steps, you can help keep those purrs coming!
Got questions or tips to share? Drop a comment below and let’s keep our furry friends healthy together! 🐱💬
It’s possible that it’s just a lack of data on wild cats, or could be a matter of longevity. Domestic cats live long enough to get kidney disease, whereas strays usually will pass away before getting old enough to get it.
My vet said that kidney disease in cats is basically like cancer in humans. If they live long enough it’ll happen.
Domesticated cats live long enough, feral cats generally do not.
We don’t really know why older gets kidney disease but it’s fairly common. 1/3 of all domestic cats will develop kidney disease at some point. As to any difference between domestic cats and their wild relatives, it’s unclear if there really is one. If there is, it’s very likely due to a combination of limited data on wild cats and the fact that domestic cats live, on average, a lot longer than wild ones, so it’s simply that they live long enough to develop kidney disease whereas wild cats don’t.
I wonder if it’s their diet. In the wild they’d be getting fluid through food/meat of fresh kills but in captivity they’re usually eating dry kibble and having to drink more water directly.
Mostly they just live long enough to actually develop kidney problems. Cats can start having kittens at 6 mo, so a cat could die at 2 or 3 years (e.g. killed by a predator) and already have a dozen offspring.
Food quality can also be a contributing factor. Dry vs. wet might not necessarily matter as long as the nutrients are right, but many cats don’t have a strong instinct to drink water. So on a dry food diet, some cats can end up slightly dehydrated over long periods of time and stress out their kidneys/liver.
I read that cats don’t drink a lot of water. So the dry food diet of domestic cats can cause this.
Cat kidneys work very hard, so if nothing else goes wrong it’s usually the first point of failure.
Humans also often develop kidney disease or at least decreased kidney function as they get older. Being overweight and having high blood pressure and diabetes makes it worse. There’s a lot of excess capacity in the human kidneys so typically it doesn’t cause any actual problems until it’s pretty advanced, but the average glomerular filtration rate (a measurement of kidney function) drops a lot from 25 to 75.
Raw food.
I have raised exotic cats for over 30 years. The saddest thing I have ever dealt with was kidney disease. What I have learned over time is we are killing our cats with the cat food that even the vets sell us. These cats need a raw diet, and it’s not that hard to provide. My cats only eat a raw food diet now and they are amazingly healthy.
editing to add… the raw food diet also makes their poop almost odorless. Seriously. That alone is worth making the effort. The benefits on their coats and claws, overall health… it’s just amazing.
Part of it is that cats don’t consume enough water. When they eat solely wet food or prey, like a wild animal, this is less of an issue. But don’t avoid dry food based on this, it is also partly a fact of their kidney physiology (cats can concentrate urine to a greater degree than we can, resulting in greater likelihood of blockages). Source: I’ve been reading academic papers on cats for my work. I won’t cite them here because I’m lazy