Wyckoff, NJ, October 4, 2018: Winn Feline Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the health and well-being of cats, is pleased to announce the Feline Kidney Disease Match Campaign. The campaign aims to raise critical funds for feline kidney disease research and provide education for cat owners and cat lovers about this condition. Each new gift made to Winn’s Feline Kidney Disease campaign between now and December 31, 2018 will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to a total of $50,000.
Feline kidney disease impacts 1 in 3 cats and Winn-funded researchers have been on the forefront, working to find more effective treatments and improved diagnostics for this health condition. Additionally, researchers aim to better understand and identify preventative approaches to the disease so cats can live longer and healthier lives. The Feline Kidney Disease Match Campaign is the focus on this year’s Cures4Cats Day on October 20, 2018. This annual day of awareness is dedicated to highlighting Winn-funded research, the critical need for evidence-based medicine, early-stage biomedical research, and health answers involving cats.
Winn Feline Foundation hopes to dedicate at least $100,000 through this matching campaign to fund feline kidney disease research. According to Jessica Quimby, DVM, PHD, DACVIM, associate professor at The Ohio State University, “Despite the large number of cats with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), we have no idea why it happens, why it is so common, or how to cure it—other than a kidney transplant. The fight against CKD remains a major challenge for our patients, but I’m optimistic that with dedicated research support we will make a difference.”
Feline kidney disease is marked by changes in urination, increased thirst, lethargy, poor appetite and weight loss. While there is currently no cure for the disease, veterinarians are able to help pet parents monitor and treat the symptoms.
“Feline kidney disease is a common health condition in older cats and an important focus for this year’s #Cures4Cats Day,” said Vicki L. Thayer, DVM, DABVP (feline), Winn executive director emeritus. “By increasing the funding for research through this campaign, donors can directly impact the treatment options for cats with this health condition.”
Cat lovers can make a donation to support the Feline Kidney Disease Match Campaign and double their impact between now and December 31, 2018.
Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2018, Winn Feline Foundation has funded more than $500,000 in health research for cats in the past 12 months. Winn’s growth parallels that of feline medicine. Cats are no longer viewed as small dogs; they are now a major veterinary specialty. Today, cat owners expect and receive state-of-the-art medical care. They assume their cats will benefit from similar technological advances made in human medicine — and with increasing frequency, they do.
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About Winn Feline Foundation
Winn Feline Foundation is a nonprofit organization established in 1968 that supports studies to improve cat health. Since 1968, the Winn Feline Foundation has funded more than $6.4 million in health research for cats at more than 30 partner institutions worldwide. This funding is made possible through the support of dedicated donors and partners. Research supported by Winn Feline Foundation helps veterinarians by providing educational resources that improve treatment of common feline health problems and prevent many diseases. Grants are awarded at least twice yearly with the help of the foundation’s expert review panel. For further information, go to www.winnfelinefoundation.org.