Research overview: the acute-to-chronic kidney injury continuum in cats

Research increasingly frames feline kidney disease as a continuum in which episodes of acute kidney injury, from toxins, ischemia, infection, or obstruction, can leave residual damage that predisposes to or accelerates chronic kidney disease. Recognizing this link reframes prevention, emphasizing avoidance of nephrotoxins such as lilies and certain drugs, and careful management of dehydration and anesthesia in at-risk cats. This overview synthesizes the AKI-CKD literature rather than one citation, describing how acute insults can transition to chronic disease, why even apparent recovery may mask reduced renal reserve, and how this understanding shifts emphasis toward protecting kidney function across a cat's life. It matters because preventing and properly managing acute injury may reduce the lifetime burden of chronic kidney disease.