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Vetdle Archive

Archive Case #49: Feline Chronic Kidney Disease

Cat veterinary case - Easy - April 21, 2026

Clinical Clues

  1. An older cat is presented for gradual weight loss, increased drinking, and a decline in appetite.
  2. The owner says the cat has been producing larger clumps in the litter tray for months.
  3. On examination the cat is thin, dehydrated, and has a poor hair coat.
  4. The kidneys feel small and irregular on abdominal palpation.
  5. Laboratory testing shows azotaemia with inadequately concentrated urine.
  6. Progressive chronic loss of renal function commonly causes polyuria, polydipsia, weight loss, and isosthenuria in older cats.

Diagnosis

Feline Chronic Kidney Disease

This case is most consistent with Feline Chronic Kidney Disease because the cat has chronic PU/PD, weight loss, small irregular kidneys, and renal azotaemia with poor urine concentration. The most important clues are the long course and renal findings, which make an acute obstructive process less likely.

Learning review

Review the case evidence

Use the paired clues to explain how the evidence in this cat case supports the provided diagnosis, Feline Chronic Kidney Disease, then compare your reasoning with the case explanation.

Evidence checkpoints

Clues 1-2

  1. Clue 1: An older cat is presented for gradual weight loss, increased drinking, and a decline in appetite.
  2. Clue 2: The owner says the cat has been producing larger clumps in the litter tray for months.

Clues 3-4

  1. Clue 3: On examination the cat is thin, dehydrated, and has a poor hair coat.
  2. Clue 4: The kidneys feel small and irregular on abdominal palpation.

Clues 5-6

  1. Clue 5: Laboratory testing shows azotaemia with inadequately concentrated urine.
  2. Clue 6: Progressive chronic loss of renal function commonly causes polyuria, polydipsia, weight loss, and isosthenuria in older cats.

Self-review prompts

  1. After clues 1-2, what evidence from this cat case shaped your initial interpretation?
  2. When you compare clues 3-4 with clues 1-2, what changed in your reasoning about Feline Chronic Kidney Disease?
  3. How do clues 5-6 align with the case explanation for Feline Chronic Kidney Disease?

Educational Use

Vetdle archive cases are educational veterinary games for diagnostic reasoning practice. They do not provide veterinary advice, diagnosis, treatment, or professional medical guidance.