Bigstock Researchers at Nestlé Purina Research, along with collaborators from Texas A&M University, The Ohio State University, University of Pennsylvania, and Kansas State University, have reported evidence that chronic kidney disease (CKD) in cats is associated with shifts in fecal gut metabolites. The findings, presented on June 12 at the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Forum in Seattle, Wash., are based on samples from 108 cats, including animals and cats across CKD stages. Researchers identified distinct metabolic profiles in cats with CKD, with many changes involving fats and related compounds. The pattern shows impact on gut lining, inflammation, and fat metabolism. N1-methyl-2-pyridone-5-carboxamide, known as 2PY, emerged as the strongest fecal marker associated with CKD. Earlier data showed increased serum 2PY levels even at early disease stages, with concentrations rising as CKD severity increased.1 In the new analysis, 2PY levels also tracked with serum creatinine, a commonly used indicator of kidney function. Cats with CKD also showed higher concentrations of branched short-chain fatty acids, potentially indicating changes in gut microbial activity. “These findings highlight that the gut-kidney axis in feline CKD may play a key role in disease pathophysiology and gut metabolism, opening new opportunities for earlier detection and more targeted care,” says Dr. Jonny Li, from Nestlé Purina Research and the senior author of the paper. For a preprint of the article, click here. Reference Li Q, Cominetti O, Holzwarth JA, Summers S, Wang X, Dayon L: Integrated multi-omics analysis of renal metabolism in domestic cats with spontaneous chronic kidney disease. Commun Biol 2025, 8(1):1794.
