Through Cures4Cats 2026, EveryCat Health Foundation is raising funds to support research focused on feline chronic kidney disease, with the goal of advancing earlier detection, better management, and new approaches to treatment. But behind the science are real cats and the people who love and care for them.
EveryCat volunteer Katia Colitti shares her personal experience caring for two cats with CKD and the challenges, uncertainty, adaptations, and love that come with navigating this disease.
When my cat Maya was first diagnosed with CKD, it didn’t seem all that alarming. The vet told us that cats could live for years with the disease, and the best option for Maya was to slow its progression with special food and a supplement to sprinkle on top.
Maya hated the supplement, and, after a few tries, I decided that getting her to eat was more important. She was unconvinced by the renal food I offered. I tried different brands and textures. I opened tin after tin, pouch after pouch, following her around the house as she sniffed the food and walked away. Faced with the choice between the “right” food and food she would actually eat, I often chose the latter.
I knew that renal food is less tasty than normal food and that cats with CKD can experience nausea, making them reluctant to eat. But I didn’t want to give up on what my veterinarian had told me was the best way to slow the disease. Gradually, over several months, I convinced her. We finally found a food Maya liked, and I felt like we were doing something. I hoped it would buy us at least a few more good months together.
Then another serious health problem disrupted everything. Maya had to take antibiotics for several weeks and undergo surgery. She stopped eating renal food and started losing weight. I didn’t notice it right away, as she was quite fluffy and compact. But when I did, it became clear that our top priority was to get her to eat something, anything. Her renal food was forgotten.
Around the same time, her kidney function deteriorated dramatically. I asked the vet, “how much time do we have?” I expected reassurance, but he just looked at me and quietly replied, “I don’t know.” Suddenly, the quiet disease that had accompanied us for so long was no longer quiet. We had to say goodbye not long after.
Today, I care for Margo (19), who also has CKD. She accepts her renal food without protest, though these days, she prefers to lap it up blended with spring water into what I call her cat smoothie. Margo has exacting standards, and the smoothie must be perfectly smooth to be accepted. I laugh and oblige, re-blending the imperfect batches and rolling the mix between my fingers to make sure there are no lumps. Leftovers are stored in the fridge and gently reheated in a bain marie. I test the temperature on my wrist before offering it to Margo. Things seem relatively stable, but my experience with Maya has taught me how quickly this can change.
CKD doesn’t exist in isolation. It influences decisions about other illnesses and treatments. When Margo developed a urinary tract infection, her kidney disease shaped what medications could safely be used. Every new health concern is viewed through the lens of protecting her kidneys.
Over the years, I learned that, while I can’t control the disease or force my cat to eat something she doesn’t find appetizing, I can do small, everyday things that improve her quality of life. I can keep looking until I find quality food she’ll actually eat. I can make sure her water fountains are plentiful and spotlessly clean. I can pay attention to her and report any concerning changes to the vet. That’s what I try to remember every time I blend another “cat smoothie” for Margo. ~KC
Katia Colitti is a Ukrainian-American lawyer living and working in Belgium. A lifelong cat lover, for nearly two decades, she has shared her home with three rescue cats. Katia holds an MSc, International Animal Welfare, Ethics, and Law from The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, The University of Edinburgh and has published and presented on animal welfare issues. Katia, an EveryCat volunteer, has extensive experience and deep interest in caring for geriatric and diabetic cats.