ADVANCES IN VETERINARY MEDICINE · OCTOBER 2026
Could healthy Birman cats be mistakenly diagnosed with kidney disease?
Can a healthy Birman cat have elevated kidney markers? Yes. In a study of 50 clinically healthy Birmans, 40% had creatinine above the threshold used, while 20% had SDMA above the standard reference interval.
Why does this matter?
Creatinine is used as a marker of kidney function, but other factors can influence it. Birman cats may have higher concentrations than other breeds even when they appear clinically healthy. A single blood test must therefore not be the sole basis for a diagnosis.
What did the study find?
Researchers compared 50 clinically healthy Birman cats with 46 cats of other breeds. Mean creatinine was 1.58 mg/dL in Birmans versus 1.19 mg/dL in the other cats. Forty percent of Birmans exceeded the creatinine threshold used, and 20% exceeded the SDMA reference limit.
What is SDMA?
SDMA is another blood marker used to assess kidney function. In this study, elevated SDMA was less common than elevated creatinine, but SDMA can also be high in clinically healthy Birmans. Neither test alone confirms or excludes chronic kidney disease.
What should owners do?
Ask your veterinarian for a comprehensive assessment, including history, physical examination, urinalysis, blood pressure measurement where appropriate, and repeat testing. Changes in thirst, weight, appetite or general condition should always be taken seriously.
Important for breeders
An isolated creatinine elevation should not automatically be interpreted as chronic kidney disease or used alone to make breeding decisions. Equally, genuine kidney disease must not be dismissed as a breed-related laboratory finding.
This research was published in 2018 and remains relevant; it is not a new breakthrough from 2026. The study was relatively small and could not fully exclude early kidney disease in every participant.
References
For information only; not a substitute for individual veterinary advice.