Feline Polycystic Kidney Disease

Feline polycystic kidney disease is a genetic illness that causes the growth of many fluid filled cysts inside the kidneys of cats. The cysts are already there when the cat is born, and they grow in size during the cat's life. Growth of the cysts can eventually lead to kidney damage and kidney failure.

Risk Factors for Polycystic Kidney Disease

Some breeds are more prone to this type of kidney disease than others. Feline polycystic kidney disease occurs most often in Persians and other exotic Asian breeds. The gene that causes the disease is autosomal, meaning that it isn't linked to gender. If one of a cat's parents pass down the gene, that cat will have a 50% chance of contracting the disease.

Symptoms of Polycystic Kidney Disease in Cats

Polycystic kidney disease in cats causes the appearance of small, fluid filled cysts in the tissues of the kidneys. These cysts are present from birth and grow slowly over the cat's lifetime. As the cat gets older and the cysts get bigger, damage to the kidneys becomes more likely. Symptoms may worsen gradually over time, and include:

  • Vomiting

  • Excessive thirst and excessive urination

  • Depression

  • Weight loss

  • Lethargy

  • Enlarged kidneys

Diagnosing Feline Polycystic Kidney Disease

Once your kitten has reached ten months of age, your vet should be able to make an accurate diagnosis of feline polycystic kidney disease via ultrasound. If one or both of your kittens had the disease, then you should have your kitten examined for it. Kittens who lack at least one parent with the disease are not at risk.

Your vet can also make a diagnosis with the help of a genetic swab test.

Treating Polycystic Kidney Disease in Cats

There's no cure for feline polycystic kidney disease, no way to surgically remove the cysts and no way to slow the progression of the disease. Treatment is similar to that offered to a cat suffering from kidney failure, since the growth of the cysts does eventually damage the kidneys so badly that they fail.

Your cat will need to be fed a special diet that's low in protein and phosphorous, since your cat's kidneys will be less able to remove from his blood the toxins that occur when protein and phosphorous are metabolized. Your vet may prescribe phosphorous binders to help remove excess phosphorous from the blood.

Your vet may also prescribe hypertension medication if your cat's blood pressure climbs too high. Anti-nausea medication can help ease the symptoms of feline polycystic kidney disease.

Feline Polycystic Disease Prognosis

There is no cure for polycystic kidney disease, and cats who have this disease shouldn't be bred, since they may spread it to their offspring. The prognosis varies widely depending on the individual case. Depending on the number of cysts and the speed of their growth, a cat with polycystic kidney disease may live to a ripe old age or die early in life.