Muscle loss is not always age-related.
Proteinuria can cause silent sarcopenia, where cats lose muscle mass despite normal eating.
It happens because the kidneys, when damaged, allow essential proteins to leak into the urine. This puts the body in a catabolic state, breaking down muscle to compensate.
What to Do:
What to Do:Urinalysis: Check for proteinuria.
UPC ratio: Quantifies protein loss in urine.
Blood tests: Check serum creatinine, SDMA (early kidney marker), and evaluate Body Condition Score (BCS).
Why It Matters:
Why It Matters:Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) often first appears as muscle loss — even before more obvious signs like azotemia (elevated blood urea/creatinine)
Early detection of protein-losing kidney disease can dramatically improve outcomes
Action:
Action:Routine screening is recommended, especially in senior or at-risk cats
