A Japanese scientist has developed a treatment targeting chronic kidney disease (CKD) in cats, potentially extending their lifespan to 30 years.
Cats and kidney disease: Cats, with an average lifespan of just 15 years, face CKD as a major threat as it dramatically worsens their health, particularly in adults. Affecting nearly 30% of cats by the age of 10, CKD is a complex ailment that can ultimately lead to organ failure and death.
Understanding the problem: In 2015, Dr. Toru Miyazaki, an immunology specialist at the University of Tokyo, discovered a protein called apoptosis inhibitor of macrophage (AIM) that helps the kidneys flush out toxins using immunoglobin antibodies. While AIM is present in the blood of many animals, he noticed that the protein doesn’t always function properly in cats. This prevents crucial waste removal in felines, making them susceptible to kidney failure.
Combating CKD: Fueled by his passion for cats, Miyazaki has dedicated years of research to developing the “AIM” injection, a treatment targeting the root cause of feline kidney disease.
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Miyazaki’s research faced a hurdle early in the process when COVID-19 stalled his funding. But in 2022, he shared his struggles with Jiji Press, sparking a wave of support from cat lovers worldwide. When donations totaling 300 million Japanese Yen ($2 million) poured in, he decided to resign from his university position and focus solely on developing the AIM treatment.
What’s next: The “AIM” injection has shown promising results in ongoing clinical trials, exceeding expectations and even showing improvement in terminally ill cats, reported the Sankei Shimbun. Miyazaki’s team is actively working to ensure the affordability of the medication, making this life-saving treatment accessible to all cat owners. The injection is expected to be commercially available by 2025.
Cats, with an average lifespan of just 15 years
I was curious with the “cats” descriptor and looked up Lions, Tigers, and Cheetahs. All of them top out at about 15 years. I had no idea it was that short for big cats.
Could this same treatment be given to big cats in captivity? In the wild?
I’d be OK with giving it to them in captivity, maybe, but definitely not in the wild. It would crush an ecosystem.
Without context this just sounds like a confusing sexual statement.
“I would give it to them”
I’d be OK with giving it to them in captivity, maybe, but definitely not in the wild. It would crush an ecosystem.
Tigers are an endangered species. Those ecosystems will be crushed when the tigers go extinct too. Those are the ones I’m talking about in the wild.
I’d hate to be the dude dropped off in the jungle with a syringe.
You’re telling me you don’t want to be a veterinarian for wild animals?
To shreds, you say?
The good news is I’ve injected the cat with a life extending serum. The bad news is that there is now a cat with twice as many years to plot its revenge.
The one in the photo doesn’t look at all enthusiastic about the prospect…
It reads “15 more years of dealing with these assholes, I can only knock so much shit off of a counter”.
My first thought
Judging by the picture, this treatment resurrects them as a zombie cat.
They just buried it in the old Micmac burial grounds
I often wondered what would wipe out the human race. I can think of worse things than zombie cats, to be honest.
I don’t think they’d wipe us out. If they’re clawing at your door to come in and get you, you’ll just have to open it - the zombie cat will just walk away
This is what I want science to work on! I don’t care about the next smartphone or brain microchips; help pets live a longer, happier life!
It is okay that things die. Death is okay and you should accept it instead of trying to cheat it.
As if a 30 year old cat could live like a cat is “supposed” to.
The biggest fallacy with this argument is that a longer lifespan will just mean more years of being old and miserable, when the fact of the matter is that a major part of living longer includes feeling younger at an older age.
Improvements in human medicine have over doubled human life expectancy from 32 to 71 since 1900. Do you think anyone above 40 is also “cheating” death?
From my experience, CKD quality of life changes come on quickly, so you’d be giving your cat a lot more high quality years of life. And even an elderly cat can still enjoy a lot of the good things in life, even if they can’t run and jump quite like they used to.
Is it purely medicine or is a big part of that living conditions?
I guess it is a bit more nuanced than I formulated in my original comment. If your cat is healthy and dies of some kidney disease it is completely OK to heal that cat, in my opinion.
I just don’t think a cat, as it stands now, is made to live to 30 years because of cell decay etc.
In my time I have seen people keep other beings in a miserable state just because they couldn’t let go. They pump them full with medicine, not because they have a better life this way, but because they can’t let go.
And those beings where completely helpless and suffering. That is just something I don’t wish for a innocent being.
That was where my initial response stemmed from.
That’s a much more nuanced take that I can fully get behind.
One of the hard parts about living with aging animals is that we can’t just ask them what they want. We have to guess about their quality of life, and do so while trying to put the animals wellbeing above our own emotional distress about losing them, and that can understandably be very challenging sometimes.
Cats in particular don’t complain. If they’re sick, they are more likely to hide and rest. If your cat is quiet or passive, it’s probably not doing well.
If their lives are artificially shortened by one specific condition, why not let them live to what would otherwise be their natural life span? If they could live to 30, it’s not like they would be the equivalent of on their death bed for the last 15 years. They are robbed of what would otherwise be healthy years by this.
No life span increase is ever about how many more deathbed years you get, they are about how many more healthy years you get before having the same amount of time on your death bed later.
You may be right, aging is the enemy
Death is part of a natural cycle. We are still allowed to extend that cycle.
Since when do cats only live 15 years? I’ve never had one die on me before its early 20s.
I lost a cat at 8 and am going through liver failure with another at 14. Enjoy your survivor bias
Cats are notorious for kidney failure at all ages. It’s the number one killer of cats. You’re lucky if your cat lives that long.
Last time this was announced there was no primary research cited,
My cat died to this, she didn’t in anyway indicate what was going on, just a quiet rescue cat. They didn’t detect it in the shelter, and likely suffered for some time before we had her.
Can they do dogs next, please?
