JAVMA study links renal diets to longer survival in CKD cats

A new JAVMA study led by researchers affiliated with IDEXX found that cats with early-stage chronic kidney disease lived longer and progressed more slowly when they were continuously fed a veterinary therapeutic renal diet. In the retrospective analysis, which used medical records from US and Canadian practices, 1,430 cats with early CKD were evaluated; 839 received a renal diet and 591 did not. Treated Stage 1 cats had a 45% lower hazard of progression, and across early CKD stages, cats on renal diets had a restricted mean survival time of 31 months versus 26 months in untreated cats over three years. The paper was published online January 14, 2026, in JAVMA. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the study gives fresh data to support a conversation many teams already try to have early: diet is not just supportive care in feline CKD, it may materially change the course of disease. That’s especially relevant because IDEXX’s summary of the dataset suggests renal diets were used in only about one-third of diagnosed cats consistently enough to meet the study definition, pointing to a gap between diagnosis and nutritional intervention. The findings also align with existing guidance that renal nutrition should be introduced early in feline CKD management, while reinforcing the value of routine screening to catch cats before clinical signs appear. (ca.idexx.com)

What to watch: Watch for how quickly this study changes frontline recommendations for IRIS Stage 1 and early Stage 2 cats, especially in practices trying to improve diet acceptance and earlier CKD detection. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)