Researchers from the University of Nottingham have uncovered a biological quirk in domestic cats that may help explain why they are so prone to chronic kidney disease.
Unlike dogs and most other mammals, cats appear to accumulate particular structures of modified triglyceride fats inside the cells of their kidneys, sometimes from a very young age.
While modified triglycerides are the most common type of fat in the body, and are essential for storing excess energy from food, the unusual chemical bonds and branched structures observed in cats are rarely found in other mammals.
The researchers propose that this distinctive buildup inside kidney cells could be an early sign of long‑term stress within the kidney, potentially contributing to tissue damage over time.
The study was led by Professor David Gardner and Dr Rebecca Brociek from the School of Veterinary Medicine and Science at the University of Nottingham, and published in the journal Frontiers in Veterinary Science.
