kidney failure, is it catchable?

Question

A cat in my house may have kidney failure and we have another kitten. The kitten bit her whilst playing. My sister now believes that the kitten will catch kidney failure and wants to be reassured that kidney failure isn't catchable. Can someone help me out here please? She also wants me to put the cat drank out the kittens bowl.

Answer 1

Cats do not "catch" kidney failure.

Tell your sister to go here and read all about it and she will see that it is not contageous.

http://www.felinecrf.com/

What Causes CRF?
CRF may have one or more causes. The common contributing factors are age, genetics, environment, and disease. In recent years, more attention has been directed towards high blood pressure, low potassium levels, acidified diets, and dental disease as possible contributors to the development of CRF. Research has indicated that some breeds have a higher rate of CRF than others. The Maine Coon, Abyssinian, Siamese, Russian Blue, Burmese, and Balinese appear to be more likely to develop CRF than other breeds. Although CRF can occur at any age, it is usually a disease of older cats. With dietary improvements in cat food, advances in feline medical care and more cats living indoors, cats are now living much longer and their bodies eventually wear out just as human bodies do.

Many renal diseases result in CRF. Usually the diagnosis in the vet’s office is simply CRF because the cause cannot be determined in most cases. Causes can, however, be divided into two groups – congenital and acquired. Congenital kidney disease may progress and turn into CRF in kittens and younger cats. We have listed some of the diseases and conditions that can cause CRF below with a very brief description.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

Tell your little sister that she can rest assured that your other cat will not catch kidney failure. Kidney failure happens when an individual's kidneys become damaged, for whatever reason. It's not a disease because it isn't caused by a virus. Simply drinking out of the water (unless it was something in the water in general that caused it) or biting someone with kidney failure won't cause it.

Your sister sounds very young. Explain it to her like this: If you drink from the same cup as someone with heart problems, you won't develop the same heart problems. It's the same with kidney problems.

Answer 4

The only things that are catchable (contagious) are diseases caused by bacteria, viruses and the like (like colds). Kidney failure is a disease process caused by environmental factors (usually age). While it is possible for kidney failure to be caused by a disease, or by poisoning, kidney failure itself is certainly not contagious. Using the same drinking bowl will not make any difference!

It is not catchable in the same way that you can't catch cancer off someone. I'm assuming your sister is quite young!

Chalice

Answer 5

Kidney failure is not contagious but it is extremely serious and the cat needs to be taken from the vet. I am afraid that a cat with kidney failure needs a lot of love and attention as it is usually terminal. Good luck, I sincerely hope that it is not kidney failure.

Answer 6

No, kidney failure is not so much a disease as you would think, but rather a disorder. It may be caused by something like lyme disease in a dog, but animals still can't catch this from each other. It is basically the result of either age or genetics, in which the kidney can't properly flush itself and remove creatinine and BUN properly. Your affected cat will need special treatment, but if you see signs in the kitten it will be much, much later and due to age, etc. Many cats are affected by kidney failure so it would not be strange to see it in the kitten later, but once more, that wouldn't be due to exposure to the older cat.

Answer 7

Cats cannot catch kidney failure from each other, so your kitten will be okay.

Kidney failure is fairly common in older cats and if you think one of your cats may be suffering from this, typical symptoms would be;

* Weight loss
* Excessive thirst and urination
* Loss of appetite
* Vomiting
* Obvious difficulty in urinating
* Dull or ill-kept coat

If you have not already done so, please take your cat to the vets so that they can examine her and diagnose exactly what is wrong with her. They can treat kidney problems with medication, but without treatment she is going to be feeling really miserable and ill. If she does have kidney problems, the vet will also advise you about how her diet needs to change, as she will need to eat foods that are low in protein and phospherous.

Answer 8

Kidney failure is not contagious. If they ate the food that was recalled, I'd consider a visit to the vet for BOTH kittens. Although it can't be passed on, it can be taken from parental genes. If your cats didn't eat the recalled food and one of them still has kidney failure (if they have it), check their backgrounds. I'm sure you did that though, before you bought the kittens. Good luck with the kitten, but take her to the vet!!!

Answer 9

Kidney failure means that your cat's kidneys are not functioning 100% and it is a process of deterioration, nothing that can be caught from or to another cat..... No, you cannot CATCH kidney failure.

Answer 10

It is not contagious no. You can put your sisters mind at rest. If the cat with kidney failure is the kittens mother then there is a chance it could be hereditary so you should get her cheaked out by a vet regularly. (6 months) However you canoot catch it any other way.