The Purpose Of the Kidney In Cats

The "nephron" is the smallest, most basic functional unit of your cat's renal system. Within the kidney in cats there is a network of blood capillaries. Your cat's urine production starts when blood flows down these capillaries to the nephron.

As the blood passes through the nephron it goes through a number of processes where water and waste molecules are extracted and transported down the ureters into your cat's bladder. From there the cat urine passes down through the urethra out into her litter box.

Your cat's urine is concentrated, that is, full of more solid waste than liquid. It is important to note a painful and sometime fatal cat illness called a feline urinary blockage is caused by a build up of wastes in the bladder. Small granules of this waste may start to form into larger pieces creating "bladder stones." It is possible for theses stones to get stuck in the opening from the bladder to the urethra or within the urethra. This is an extremely painful condition and may prove fatal if not corrected within 72 hours.

Did you know that herbs have been used for centuries as a natural remedy to maintain the healthy kidney in cats?

You vet will examine your cat using blood tests and a urinalysis. The blood test will show if there are elevations in your cats blood urea nitrogen (also known as BUN) and creatinine levels. The urinalysis will show if your cat's urine has an abnormally high water content which means that the solid waste material is not being filtered out from the kidney in cats. Sometimes, a vet will resort to a kidney biopsy, but that is usually an extreme diagnosis procedure.

Here are possible diagnosis of a diseased kidney in cats:

Glomerulonephritis
Pyelonephritis
Amyloidosis
Hydronephrosis
Chronic Tubulointerstitial Nephritis

There are a number of things that we can do for our pets to prolong the healthy functioning of the kidneys. First, give you cat plenty of opportunity to get fresh water. Provide her several bowls or cups of water. Cats love running water too, so consider adding a cat water fountain.

Also, make sure you cat has opportunity to urinate often and has an easy-to-access to a clean litter tray, so that she isn't inclined to hold the urine in for long periods of time.

Consider using alternative therapies to keep your cat healthy or to get her through a bad spell. Acupuncture and chiropractic care are commonly accepted as standard veterinary practices. You can even get the Best Cat Care Insurance to cover these treatments.

Finally, consider supplementing her diet with homeopathic remedies to boost her immune system and bolster her renal system. All of these practices promote a strong and healthy kidney in cats.