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Many people assume that an old sick cat automatically has kidney disease. This is incorrect, and my own cat (Prada's predecessor!) Humpy was living proof of it. A young cat, Humpy developed the symptoms early, and the cause was probably an inferior diet in the 2 years before he took charge of me.

In case you aren't sure why kidneys are important, they are basically the waste disposal systems of cat bodies. They eliminate toxins from the blood and also filter out waste products from the food your cat eats.

The higher quality the food your cat gets, the less work the kidneys have to do, and the less likely there will be problems. This is why I feed Prada nothing but the best. There are many symptoms to watch out for - they include constant scratching, tiredness, constant drinking and going to the kitty litter tray. Note that none of these symptoms is definitive - it could be something else, so don't panic if your cat suddenly gets an itch!

The safest way to determine how well your cat's kidneys are functioning is a BUN test (blood, urea, nitrogen concentration) together with a urine test, and only your vet can do this for you. Once a year is best because the earlier you catch a problem, the easier it is to fix. But what's better than fixing a problem? Preventing it! Here are my top tips for preventing kidney disease and keeping Prada fit as a fiddle.

1) Only feed your cat high biological value protein food. Twice daily is best.

2) A fat cat is an unfit cat. Exercise before food!

3) Give her dietary supplements - crushed garlic that contains potassium is good, as are B vitamins.

4) Plenty of fresh water. Change the water in the bowl regularly.

These tips are helping keep Prada fit and heathy - don't you owe your cat the same? She'd look after YOU if things were reversed!

Please feel free to show your appreciation for my little essay by voting for Prada here - http://www.petmillions.com/vote.asp?vote=3140. If she wins, you can be sure plenty of winnings will find their way back to rescue cats!