Research overview: renal disease in captive big cats

Chronic kidney disease is a common cause of illness and death in aging captive big cats, paralleling its prominence in domestic cats and reflecting the longer lifespans achieved in managed care. Captive cheetahs in particular show high rates of renal disease, including a distinctive glomerulosclerosis. This overview synthesizes the zoo-medicine literature rather than one citation, describing the patterns of kidney disease across captive felid species, why longevity in captivity unmasks geriatric diseases like CKD, and how monitoring, diet, and supportive care are adapted for big cats. It matters because as captive felids live longer under improved husbandry, age-related diseases such as kidney failure become major management concerns, requiring zoo veterinarians to apply and adapt the principles of feline nephrology to their largest patients.