Diseases That Cause Kidney Failure In Cats

Kidney failure is commonly caused by one of a number of diseases, categorised by experts according to whether they are acquired or congenital.

 

 

Acquired Kidney Diseases

Kidney diseases that the cat acquires during the course of its lifetime, usually as a result of normal wear and tear, infection or injury.

Acquired Kidney Diseases

 

 

Congenital Kidney Diseases

Kidney problems that the cat has had from birth. They may or may not have been genetically inherited from the cat's parents. 

Congenital Diseases

 

 

Whether acquired or congenital, kidney failure is also described as either chronic or acute.

Chronic Kidney Failure
Chronic kidney failure, otherwise known as Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), Chronic Renal Failure (CRF) or Chronic Renal Insufficiency (CRI), is a progressive deterioration of kidney function over a relatively long period of time (typically months to years). As already noted, a cat may lose up to 75% of kidney function before symptoms become noticeable, at which time the cat may appear to have become quite suddenly ill.

Acute Kidney Failure
Acute kidney failure, otherwise known as Acute Renal Failure (ARF) is the sudden shutdown of kidney function, most often as a result of a urinary obstruction, an infectious disease, physical injury or poisoning. Immediate and aggressive veterinary treatment is required for cats suffering from ARF, and in some cases this will successfully reverse the disease. Unfortunately, the outlook is often poor and many cats with ARF will not survive or will be left with residual renal insufficiency.