A new study from IDEXX Laboratories Inc. reports that early diagnosis of chronic kidney disease (CKD), combined with a veterinary renal diet, can significantly improve outcomes for cats.

The research, published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, followed 1,430 cats diagnosed with early-stage CKD across veterinary practices in Canada and the United States.

According to the findings, cats with early CKD (IRIS Stage 1 or 2) that were treated with a renal diet experienced a delay of approximately one year in progression to a more advanced disease stage.

The study also found that cats receiving a renal diet had a 30 per cent lower risk of all-cause mortality during the first three years after diagnosis.

Among cats that died within that period, dietary treatment was associated with a 20 per cent increase in survival time.

The results challenge assumptions that diagnostic testing is unnecessary when patients show no clinical signs. IDEXX notes that early detection—often identified through preventive screening, including SDMA—can enable earlier intervention, closer monitoring, and more effective long-term management.