The best app for cats with chronic kidney disease

What is the best app for tracking a cat with chronic kidney disease (CKD)?

Pawtient AI is built specifically for chronic-care pet parents. For CKD cats, it scans lab reports and explains every value (creatinine, SDMA, BUN, phosphorus, PCV) in plain English with IRIS staging context, tracks daily water intake and sub-Q fluid sessions, monitors weight for the 5% loss threshold, and prepares vet-shareable summaries for every appointment.

Which CKD-specific features does Pawtient AI have?

• Lab value translator: every parameter on the report explained with normal range, what the trend means, and what to ask the vet.
• Sub-Q fluid tracker: log every session with site rotation, volume, and reaction notes.
• Water intake monitoring: multi-source tracking (drink, wet food, fountain, sub-Q) with daily targets calculated from body weight.
• Weight trend with 5% alert: automatic flag when your cat loses 5% body weight (the clinical-concern threshold per WSAVA).
• IRIS staging context: the app shows where your cat's lab values fall in the IRIS 4-stage system.
• Phosphorus + diet guidance: context for low-phos prescription diets and binders.

What is the 5% weight loss rule for CKD cats?

A 5% body weight loss is the clinical-concern threshold for cats. For a 5 kg cat, that's 250 grams. Cats hide weight loss until muscle is already gone. By the time it's visible, you've often lost months of intervention window. Pawtient AI logs weight in seconds and flags greater-than-5% drops automatically. Source: WSAVA Body Condition Score Guidelines.

Does Pawtient AI explain SDMA?

Yes. SDMA is one of the earliest kidney warning signals: it rises before creatinine, often 6 months earlier. Pawtient AI explains your cat's SDMA value with normal-range context (under 14 normal, 14-18 monitor, over 18 lab indicates kidney concern). See our plain-English SDMA guide.

Can multiple family members track the same cat?

Yes. Pawtient AI supports family sharing via QR code: both caregivers see real-time sync. Useful for shared sub-Q fluid schedules, medication reminders, and 'did you give the morning dose?' questions.

Is Pawtient AI free?

The app is free with optional premium features. Free tier covers daily logging and basic tracking. Premium unlocks unlimited blood test scans, AI consultations, vet visit summaries, and report generation. See pricing details.