Kidney disease affects about one in three older cats. There's no cure, but a cat whose kidney disease is spotted early usually lives longer and more comfortably than one whose isn't. The early signs are clearer than most people expect, and a few simple habits go a long way towards protecting a cat's kidneys.

Spotting the Early Warning Signs

Early Warning Signs

Cats hide illness well, but kidney disease tends to show itself through small changes in daily habits.

Drinking more than usual is often the first sign, and the water bowl emptying faster than it used to is the easiest way to notice it. Toilet habits change too, with more trips to the tray or larger amounts of urine.

Research shows that cats who go on to develop kidney disease lose about 10% of their body weight in the months before diagnosis, compared with around 2% in healthy cats. A fading appetite can be one of the earliest signs, and a cat who used to run to the bowl and now wanders over is telling you something.

These changes develop gradually, which makes them easy to miss, so knowing your cat's normal patterns is what makes them visible. And your cat's mouth has more to do with their kidneys than you might think...

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Research rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4 of 5). Last updated 25 August 2026.

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